"And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season." Luke 4:13
Remember about a month ago I told you that there was a "crazy" bird around here? Each day, throughout the whole day, I would hear him and watch him fly into the windows in my sunroom. Finally, after a couple of weeks he left. I shared an analogy with you about a lesson that I felt like I gained from that experience. The lesson was- just as those windows were a barrier to keep that bird from getting in my house, the Lord has a barrier, a safe place of protection for us from the enemy when he tries to "get in".
Yesterday I was sitting here in the office and I kept hearing a noise. I was the only one home so I couldn't imagine what it might be. I finally went to investigate because the sound was becoming more familiar. Do you want to know what I discovered? Have you figured it out yet? That's right, it was that same bird flying into the windows-- he's back!
Immediately, it reminded me of our opening verse. When the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, yet is unsuccessful, he will leave, but only for a while, not permanently. Has he "come back"? Are you "under fire" by him? Is he aiming his temptations at you? Is he unleashing his attacks on you? The same word is for you today as it was before. There is still a "barrier" to protect you. The Lord has not changed. He is still there. He is still with you. He is still empowering you to be victorious over the attack of the enemy-- each and every time he comes.
Try as he may, that bird could not penetrate the windows the first time. He might as well give up because he won't be able to this time either. Each time the enemy comes to attack don't worry because as long as you stay in the Lord's safe haven, he can't "get in" no matter how hard he tries.
Have a great day. The enemy will keep coming back, but the Lord will always be stronger on your behalf against his attacks than he is-- no matter how many times he comes.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
"Needs And More Needs"
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
Before I went to bed last night I was praying for various needs. I almost didn't know where to start. Each day I receive more and more prayer requests and become more aware of needs in individual lives. The needs are so numerous and great. Everyone has some sort of need. Some are going through grief because of the passing of a loved one. Some are having a problem in their relationships. Some are sick. Some have financial needs. Others need guidance in a decision they have to make. Then there are those who need to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. And the prayer list goes on and on. In short, we are a needy people and the needs just seem to keep multiplying. It would be easy to pray for hours upon hours and still have not adequately prayed for them all.
My next thought in prayer was that of thankfulness and encouragement as I remembered that it doesn't matter how great the needs or how many needs, God is big enough to handle them all! He does not get overwhelmed by all the needs. He doesn't take a step back and say, "There are just too many!" He doesn't get anxious as they come flooding in before His throne of grace. He doesn't wonder what to do about the amount or size of the needs. They don't become more than He can handle.
Keep carrying your needs before Him. Keep lifting them all up to Him. Don't let the size of the need or the amount of needs stop you. There is nothing and no amount too big, too hard or too difficult for Him to handle.
Have a great day. Take your needs to the Lord, He is not overwhelmed by them.
Before I went to bed last night I was praying for various needs. I almost didn't know where to start. Each day I receive more and more prayer requests and become more aware of needs in individual lives. The needs are so numerous and great. Everyone has some sort of need. Some are going through grief because of the passing of a loved one. Some are having a problem in their relationships. Some are sick. Some have financial needs. Others need guidance in a decision they have to make. Then there are those who need to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. And the prayer list goes on and on. In short, we are a needy people and the needs just seem to keep multiplying. It would be easy to pray for hours upon hours and still have not adequately prayed for them all.
My next thought in prayer was that of thankfulness and encouragement as I remembered that it doesn't matter how great the needs or how many needs, God is big enough to handle them all! He does not get overwhelmed by all the needs. He doesn't take a step back and say, "There are just too many!" He doesn't get anxious as they come flooding in before His throne of grace. He doesn't wonder what to do about the amount or size of the needs. They don't become more than He can handle.
Keep carrying your needs before Him. Keep lifting them all up to Him. Don't let the size of the need or the amount of needs stop you. There is nothing and no amount too big, too hard or too difficult for Him to handle.
Have a great day. Take your needs to the Lord, He is not overwhelmed by them.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
"Bear"
"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1
The word "bear" has many different definitions and applications. I want to look at two this morning in regard to our dealings with others- especially those in the body of Christ.
1) Bear- to bear with; be patient or forbearing with. We are all at different levels, or stages, in our walk with the Lord. Some of us have been walking with the Lord longer than others. Some are new babes in Christ. Not all of us are strong in the faith, some are weak. Some of us walk in victory in certain areas, but seem to fall in others. Therefore, we need to learn to be patient with one another; remembering where they are along the way; and remembering where we are too, and where we have come from. "Bear with the infirmities of the weak."
2) Bear- to hold up; to support. Regardless of where we may be in our walk with the Lord, there are times when we all get weary. Moses was a mighty man of God, but when the battle continued to rage his arms got tired. Someone needed to help "bear" his burden and give him support. Like Moses, we all need help no matter where we are in our walk with the Lord. We are to bear the infirmities of the weak. We are to reach out and help our brothers and sisters. We are to encourage them to keep running the race that is set before them. We need to lift up their hands when they hang down. "Bear, hold up and support, the weak."
"And not to please ourselves". Each one of us are running a race and we have an individual responsibility to keep running toward the prize. You can't run this race for me and I can't run it for you. But this race isn't just about "me", it's about "us". If I am strong then I need to help you in your weakness, and vice versa. In other words, it is not just about me reaching the finish line, but it's about helping others to reach it too.
Have a great day. Be patient with and support one another so that we all might reach the goal.
The word "bear" has many different definitions and applications. I want to look at two this morning in regard to our dealings with others- especially those in the body of Christ.
1) Bear- to bear with; be patient or forbearing with. We are all at different levels, or stages, in our walk with the Lord. Some of us have been walking with the Lord longer than others. Some are new babes in Christ. Not all of us are strong in the faith, some are weak. Some of us walk in victory in certain areas, but seem to fall in others. Therefore, we need to learn to be patient with one another; remembering where they are along the way; and remembering where we are too, and where we have come from. "Bear with the infirmities of the weak."
2) Bear- to hold up; to support. Regardless of where we may be in our walk with the Lord, there are times when we all get weary. Moses was a mighty man of God, but when the battle continued to rage his arms got tired. Someone needed to help "bear" his burden and give him support. Like Moses, we all need help no matter where we are in our walk with the Lord. We are to bear the infirmities of the weak. We are to reach out and help our brothers and sisters. We are to encourage them to keep running the race that is set before them. We need to lift up their hands when they hang down. "Bear, hold up and support, the weak."
"And not to please ourselves". Each one of us are running a race and we have an individual responsibility to keep running toward the prize. You can't run this race for me and I can't run it for you. But this race isn't just about "me", it's about "us". If I am strong then I need to help you in your weakness, and vice versa. In other words, it is not just about me reaching the finish line, but it's about helping others to reach it too.
Have a great day. Be patient with and support one another so that we all might reach the goal.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
"Fourth Man"
"He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Daniel 3:25
I woke up again this morning with another song on my heart. I know I must share it because I believe it is a word of comfort and strength to someone this morning who is going through the "fire". One line of the song keeps playing over and over in my mind. It says, "There's a fourth man standing in the fire. There's a fourth man standing in the fire. You're not alone. You're not alone".
The three Hebrews weren't just thrown into a fire, they were thrown into one that was seven times hotter than usual. It's one thing to be in a fire, it's another when the intensity of the fire has been doubled or tripled. This may be you this morning. It seems like your trials are coming in multiples- like Job, one after another. He couldn't get through one before another hit him, then another, and then another.
If this is you, I have good news that you need to hang on to during this time... "There's a fourth man standing in your fire. You're not alone". We don't often "see" the Lord walking with us in our trying times, but He's there. When the king looked into the furnace, he plainly saw Him and there was no question as to who the fourth man that he saw was- "and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God".
They were brought out of the furnace, you will be too. There will come a point that this/these trials will be over, but until then don't forget that you are not alone in them. Jesus has not left you- He never will. He has not forsaken you- He never does. He is with you always- even in the fire. He is beside you, walking with you through it. You are not alone.
Have a great day. You are not alone in your fire, and it's not a person that is with you... it's the very Son of God, Jesus Himself.
I woke up again this morning with another song on my heart. I know I must share it because I believe it is a word of comfort and strength to someone this morning who is going through the "fire". One line of the song keeps playing over and over in my mind. It says, "There's a fourth man standing in the fire. There's a fourth man standing in the fire. You're not alone. You're not alone".
The three Hebrews weren't just thrown into a fire, they were thrown into one that was seven times hotter than usual. It's one thing to be in a fire, it's another when the intensity of the fire has been doubled or tripled. This may be you this morning. It seems like your trials are coming in multiples- like Job, one after another. He couldn't get through one before another hit him, then another, and then another.
If this is you, I have good news that you need to hang on to during this time... "There's a fourth man standing in your fire. You're not alone". We don't often "see" the Lord walking with us in our trying times, but He's there. When the king looked into the furnace, he plainly saw Him and there was no question as to who the fourth man that he saw was- "and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God".
They were brought out of the furnace, you will be too. There will come a point that this/these trials will be over, but until then don't forget that you are not alone in them. Jesus has not left you- He never will. He has not forsaken you- He never does. He is with you always- even in the fire. He is beside you, walking with you through it. You are not alone.
Have a great day. You are not alone in your fire, and it's not a person that is with you... it's the very Son of God, Jesus Himself.
Monday, July 6, 2009
"The Fence"
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11
My husband and I planted a small garden this year. Since we live in an area where we have deer and the rabbits are in abundance, one of the things we did was put up a fence around it. Because of the fence, the rabbits nor the deer have eaten any of our vegetables.
The fence isn't there to keep the vegetables in, it's to keep the animals that would destroy it out. It's a protective barrier around the garden. Daily the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy our lives so we have to have "protective barriers" around them also. Our protective barrier- our "fence"- is God's word. It is a protection to us as we stay within it's safe boundaries.
When the enemy comes to tempt us to sin, God's word will protect us and keep us from yielding as we look to it and act upon it. God's word is a shield against his attacks to destroy us. God's word is a safe place for us- the temptations can't steal from us, the fiery darts can't destroy us, the weapons he uses against us can't kill us. As long as we stay within the safe perimeters of His word we will be protected and safe.
Don't take down your fence and leave yourself unguarded. Don't remove your fence and leave yourself open for the enemy to come in. Stay in God's word, hide it in your heart, stand upon it's promises, renew your mind with it, in doing so you keep your fence up and your life protected.
Have a great day. There is safety behind the "fence" of God's word.
My husband and I planted a small garden this year. Since we live in an area where we have deer and the rabbits are in abundance, one of the things we did was put up a fence around it. Because of the fence, the rabbits nor the deer have eaten any of our vegetables.
The fence isn't there to keep the vegetables in, it's to keep the animals that would destroy it out. It's a protective barrier around the garden. Daily the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy our lives so we have to have "protective barriers" around them also. Our protective barrier- our "fence"- is God's word. It is a protection to us as we stay within it's safe boundaries.
When the enemy comes to tempt us to sin, God's word will protect us and keep us from yielding as we look to it and act upon it. God's word is a shield against his attacks to destroy us. God's word is a safe place for us- the temptations can't steal from us, the fiery darts can't destroy us, the weapons he uses against us can't kill us. As long as we stay within the safe perimeters of His word we will be protected and safe.
Don't take down your fence and leave yourself unguarded. Don't remove your fence and leave yourself open for the enemy to come in. Stay in God's word, hide it in your heart, stand upon it's promises, renew your mind with it, in doing so you keep your fence up and your life protected.
Have a great day. There is safety behind the "fence" of God's word.
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