The Battle

When I began writing this blog I knew that GOD wanted me to be truthful in what I say...transparent. It really has not been an easy thing for me to do. I have always been very private about my personal life...not wanting anyone to know much about me. It seems that GOD has had different plans for me since I became a Christian. That hasn't changed. Today I find that I am to let everyone know...again...what I have been going through. So, here goes!

In the past six weeks I have only posted one time because I just couldn't seem to write anything. I would sit here at my computer with my head in my hands just trying to think. When you can't think it's a little hard to write. When it first started I thought that it wouldn't last long and I would be posting again soon. Didn't happen! The longer my "brain block" went the more frustrated I became. So, I started trying to figure out what the problem was. You see...the way I write is that GOD just starts giving me thoughts and I put them down. I noticed GOD wasn't giving me any thoughts. Then I started thinking that HE probably wasn't because I wasn't reading HIS WORD and talking to HIM as much as I should. Well, that just threw me into a Catch 22. It seemed the more I couldn't think or write, the more I didn't want to read the Bible or talk to GOD. We all know that if we don't do what GOD wants us to do, and we know we are supposed to do, that HE just might not do what we want HIM to do either. The longer this situation went on the more I struggled...with everything. It got so bad that I could feel myself starting to get depressed and just wanting to go back to all my old habits. Then I would try to read my Bible and found that I couldn't even make any sense out of anything I read. By this time I knew I needed help but couldn't bring myself to ask anyone to pray for me. I was on a downhill slide and the bottom was just about to hit me. That's when I finally started to listen...

This past week I knew that something had to change. For days all I could say to GOD was...GOD please help me!! I would say it over and over until finally...HE did! Thursday morning I woke up and it was as if I was, almost, my "old, new" self again. But...GOD still had some work to do. HE let me know that I was going to be okay...and I didn't need to go back to my old habits. The issues that seemed to be insurmountable... that started all of this...were going to be okay. Whatever the outcome it doesn't matter. GOD is always with me and things will be alright. Then HE gave me a passage of scripture that most everyone knows. As a kid I memorized this and it all just came flooding back to me. Here it is...King James version.

Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The parts the LORD really impressed upon me were...HE restoreth my soul. HE was doing that in an amazing way right then!! And...Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,...no matter what is going on that I can't handle...GOD can!!! I will fear no evil: for thou art with me...GOD is always with me even when it doesn't seem like it. What do I have to be fearful of? Not one thing...HE is always there, right with me, to take care of me. It doesn't matter how alone I think I am...I won't ever be!!

Then HE let me know one other thing...Tell the devil and all his little workers that I am a child of the LIVING GOD and I am under HIS protection! They are to get away and leave me alone because they are not part of my life anymore!

This life is a battle that we are all fighting. Satan would like to keep us "under his thumb" as much and as long as he can. The thing is...we are the ones that let him do this. JESUS has already defeated him. We are the ones that allow him to take over our thoughts and cause us problems. We have to tell him, when we first notice something is wrong, to get away from us! Tell him you are covered by the blood of JESUS and he has no claim on you!! That's what I did and since that moment life is good again!! PRAISE GOD!!!!

Some of you that read my blog may think this is a little over the top. Well, I am here to tell you that it's not. The next time something like this starts happening to you...or maybe you want to get rid of some old habits in your life...try this. Tell satan where to go and to go there NOW! You will be amazed at what will happen. The LORD will step in and take over. You still have to do your part...talk to GOD and read HIS WORD...and make changes in your life that you need to make. You do your part and HE will do HIS.

As I said before...we are in a battle. We need to pray for each other so that we can stay strong. Be an encouragement to one another. Sometimes just a kind word makes a big difference when you feel like you are sinking fast.

Ephesians 6:12-13 (The Message)
A Fight to the Finish
10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

PROVERBS 3:5-7

Proverbs 3:5-7 (The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!

I have realized lately that just like the roads we drive on daily, the road of life has a lot of bumps and holes in it. Some of the holes are what I like to call "sinkholes"...

Your traveling along thinking things are going pretty well and all of a sudden you hit a bump. It throws you off course a little so you slow down a bit, straighten out, and then go on your way. Next thing you know you spot a hole, avoid it, then wham...you run into one. But, everything is good...no flat tires, so you go on. All of a sudden you drive right into a storm and as we all know, after a while, storms tear up the roads. Then the wind kicks up and things are coming at you from all sides. First something small hits you on the right, then something on the left, then all of a sudden something hits you from the back and your pushed right into a hole. As it turns out it's one that just keeps getting bigger and bigger and your sinking in deeper...it's a "sinkhole" and you can't get out!!

Just like life. Your doing great and then the storms come. How you handle those storms is what matters. When you hit those bumps, fall in those holes, do you get back up and keep going or do you get in a "sinkhole" and get stuck??!!

The Life Transformation study Bible says...We must trust HIM with all our heart and obey HIM in all our ways. That means total commitment to HIM. It says this about the word trust...The word translated "trust" in verse 5 means "to lie helpless, facedown." It pictures a servant waiting for the master's command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.

When the storms come, and the road of our life gets rough, that's what we need to do. "Lie helpless" and follow what Proverbs 3:5-7 says to do.

"Life" is the reason I'm posting this. I have been stuck in a "sinkhole". I just "happened" to read this passage in a devotion and knew that GOD was talking to me. But even though you know, you can't always just get out of it. So...I've read this passage over and over and I will continue to read it. Sometimes, just "knowing" what you know isn't good enough. You have to get it into your head and your heart before things change. Then you have to act on it. I'm thinking this is just one more lesson on...My Road To Maturity...which is what this blog is supposed to be about.

"CHRIST" The Difference

I thought of all I used to be
then where I am right now
There's really no comparison
because to Christ I've bowed

Where once was pain inside of me
that no one else could see
Somehow Jesus came and brought
His sweet peace abundantly

I will go through some deep valleys
and walk up the mountains steep
But in Him I will continue
for He is my coming King

He said He'd never leave me
of that I can be assured
He will always be there for me
and He'll carry me when I hurt

I found in HIM the faith I need
to live this Christian life
It is a journey on a path
with the Savior by my side

He has made the biggest difference
that I have ever known
It doesn't matter what I've done
for in Christ I am made whole