Be Open Eyed!

Today, in the quietness of the morning, the unrest that has been in my soul is finally making sense. It's been there for a while now and I haven't been able to really get on top of it. This last week though it is becoming clearer and clearer to me why. There is a verse in Gods Word that has continually been coming to my mind...

James 5:8 NKJ

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Being sober means to be calm...controlled...have a clear mind. When we are dealing with the devil, and the things of this life, those are very important strengths to have. So many times people tell us things...remind us of how life really is...and that spins us out of control. Then the devil comes in...poking and jabbing...reminding us of everything negative that people keep speaking into our lives.

I have been told many times that even though what these people are saying to me/us are truths and make sense...they are not the ones in control of my/our situations or my/our lives. GOD is the one who is ultimately in control. HE is the one that has the final say on everything that concerns us. If we know HIM, and walk with HIM, we don't need to fear what everyone is saying. These are the truths that I am choosing to listen to today. 

To be vigilant means to be alert...on guard...open eyed...awake! Where I live there are many Canadian Honkers...geese. They are everywhere! There are usually a group of them together and most always at least two. If you observe them you will notice that there is at least one sentry watching while the others are eating or sleeping. The larger the group, the more sentries there are. The sentry is on guard and watching...open eyed...all the time. Why? Because they have adversaries. Animals...and people...that are waiting for a chance to attack them...devour them! Just like the devil and all his low-level devils that help him. Their purpose is to attack us and bring us down. Satan will attack our minds...health...family...friends...whatever he can to bring us down and stop us from being productive and living the life that the LORD has planned for us! If we don't stay open eyed and on guard we give the devil a chance to sneak in and devour us! 

A couple of nights ago I wasn't feeling real well so my mind was going places that I try not to think about. So I turned on some worship music and went to bed to listen. I just started to talk to the LORD and He responded to me with this...

When your Faith is lacking...Fear starts attacking!!

I know it was the LORD telling me this. HE wanted me to know that I need to believe that HE is in control of everything and I just need to have Faith. The kind of Faith that stays firm and strong. The kind of Faith that moves mountains in my life and other peoples lives. I have been letting Fear creep in until it is getting a stronger hold on me daily. Fear has no place in my life...or yours...if we are believing and trusting in the LORD. 

There is an acronym I came across for Faith last night...

F-fear

A-ain't

I-in

T-this

H-house

The Fear acronym I like is...

F-False

E-Evidence

A-Appearing

R-Real

This morning I looked up the rest of the passage from 1 Peter...

1 Peter 5:8-11 NLT

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

I/we need to be strong in what we believe. Not just say it so others will think we have it all together. In fact, when we don't have it all together, we should let our Christian friends know so they can pray for us. They in fact are our family...in Christ...and help us and hold us up during times that are hard for us. I have been learning this...experiencing this...many times recently. I am thankful for these people GOD has placed in my life. Some I see and talk to...others I know through this cyber world. But all...the LORD has placed in my life for a reason.

Stay strong and let Faith rule in your life...not Fear.

Ephesians 6:10-14 NKJ

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.