Rats and Garbage

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for the enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. I Peter 5:8 (Amplified Bible)

When my perspective about God is accurate it will result in change for me. Being aware of who God is, what God is like, and how God rules is necessary for an intimate walk with Him. Just as I must be aware of the truth about God I must also be aware of the truth about my enemy, Satan. Unfortunately, in many churches there is little if any teaching on what our enemy is really like and how he operates, let alone how to fight him. As long as the truth about him remains unknown he has an advantage in his roaming and devouring capabilities. I would venture to say that many of my defeats have been a result of not being aware of how the enemy works and what it is I can do about it.

Charles H. Kraft in his book, DEEP WOUNDS DEEP HEALING, has helped to open my eyes to one of Satan’s tactics. He refers to demons as rats and states that rats go for garbage. The garbage would be my unhealed wounds, emotional damage, false mindsets, strongholds, generational bents, and sinful practices (for starters). Since Satan and his demons cannot create things out of nothing they must latch on to things that are already present in my life. They are aware of my weaknesses and vulnerabilities and readily use them against me. They love to twist, distort, and falsely interpret the circumstances of my life. I can be sure that whatever lies I have believed about God, others, and myself will be the weapons they will use.

I not only must be aware of how the enemy works but when he is working as well. My mind is definitely his place of greatest attack and the effects are most felt in my emotions and attitudes which in turn affect my words, actions, and reactions. I therefore recognize when he has been active by noticing internal changes in myself. His “calling cards” for me are spiraling moods, feelings of oppression, hopelessness, discouragement, loss of peace and joy, confusion, a sense of isolation, and negative thought processes.

I am learning to acknowledge the work of the enemy and to rebuke him, renounce him, and reject him. With Scripture and the blood of Christ I can take authority (my God given authority) over what he is doing. I am not a helpless, defenseless victim. I am a child of God and a victor in Christ. As the “rats” scurry, God and I are slowly but surely removing the “garbage.” I no longer want to make it easy for them to have a feeding frenzy.

Father, thank you that my greatest enemy is already a defeated foe. Help me to walk in truth and victory. Amen.

You're the Heart of Me - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjXjOndUS7A

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

The Purpose and Power of Acknowledgement

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 (King James Version)

What would happen if, within the company of a trusted individual, you admitted and acknowledged the truth about yourself? What if you told them of a struggle, habit, addiction, sin, or fault that resided within you? What if you admitted to them what you could barely admit to yourself? For me, the result is always freedom. Freedom from condemning thoughts. Freedom from the bondage. Freedom from the spiraling moods. Freedom from fear of being found out. Freedom from the thought that if someone knew the truth they would reject me and walk away.

I have spent the last year and a half in an accountability relationship with a trusted friend. The original “purpose” was to help me walk through the pain and darkness of losing a mentor. What I didn’t realize at the start was my healing would necessitate learning to acknowledge what was going on inside my head and my heart. The first time I had to admit some of the worst things about myself I squirmed in my seat for 20 minutes. The fear of losing this person’s respect and help made it difficult to voice the truth. But when I finally spoke, the hold of my secrets was broken. Rather than being abandoned (as I feared) I was encouraged and accepted. The truth was out, I was free, and the relationship was in tact. It was a scenario that would play itself out many more times. As with forgiveness, confessing my faults to someone is for my benefit.

God knew this and placed the principle in today’s verse. It is the first step to healing and the second step is prayer. The result of combining these two steps is empowerment and freedom.

While the accountability relationship has now ended (it was time) the necessity of acknowledging the truth continues. As recent as late last night a two-day spiral ended with the sending of an email to this person and once again admitting what I was battling. I woke this morning without the weight or downward pull of my emotions.

People have often commented on the transparency of these devotionals. What I am finding is they too are a means of acknowledging the truth. When I admit that the journey is hard and failure marks my path I am the richer for it. May I never again believe it best to hide.

Father, it is by living Your kingdom principles that I am empowered to live. Acknowledging what I am tempted to hide sets me free because that is what truth does. I lift my unshackled hands and heart to You! Amen.

The Power of Your Love - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6Qtxzd6vk&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Leaving the Boat for the Water

When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. Matthew 14:26-32 (New American Standard Bible)

Rather than in clear sailing with sunny skies, it is during a storm in the night that Peter asked Jesus to call him out of the safety of his boat to come to Him on the water. Not calm water but rather choppy waves. Jesus calls. Peter comes. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus and moved toward Him he was fine. Once his eyes spotted the turbulence of his surroundings he began to sink. His next move is what captures my attention this morning. He didn’t start swimming for the boat he left but rather he cried out to Jesus. “Save me” was the extent of his prayer. Jesus’ response was immediate. They returned to the boat, a word about doubting was given, and the wind ceased. All was well once again…..until the next trial, trouble, or tribulation.

So like my life. Moments of anticipated adventure and desire for freedom can cause me to make radical moves in my Christian life. So much wanting to “walk on the water” with Jesus and so ready to “leave the boat” I have been securely riding in. He calls, I come, and then the same scenario plays out. The storms of life hit. The uncertainty of my steps grows. The questions of whether or not I can actually continue to stay afloat abound. For too many years, I swam back to the boat. Back to what felt safe. Back to what I use to depend upon. I had never quite made it to the place of voicing Peter’s prayer. Of crying out to Jesus. Of seeking the safety of His arms. I always turned back to the boat. Back to what I knew. Back to what was familiar.

Last week was another trip outside the boat. At the time, no storm was raging. Just a desire to be free of needing others to help me, hold me, and heal me. Just a desire to make Jesus my Source and the center of my life. Just a desire to have the kind of relationship with Him that I saw in others and wanted for myself. Each day the waters have had ripples and the waves have begun to splash. They are bigger today than they were last week at this time. The difference this time is that I am no longer looking back at the boat or desiring to return to what I am used to. This time I keep crying out to Jesus and His response is immediate and the walk continues.

Father, I need You. Settle my heart in the midst of what feels like approaching storms. I don’t want the safety of the boat. I want You. Amen.

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUtCV2tvmeA&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

My Deliverance Has Come

But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me; for I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. Psalm 109:21, 22 (New American Standard Bible)

I rejoice when a present experience becomes a past position. Up until this week, I lived the poignant words of this Psalm….afflicted, needy, and wounded in heart. Wanting desperately to believe deliverance would be mine I had my doubts that I would see it in this life time. I wondered if I would ever be able to say God had delivered me from my pit of despair and sorrow. David testified of it all through Psalm 108. Others have tasted of the freedom that came with such deliverance. I could only view it as an outsider to the experience. When the people in my life tried to assure me that God would in fact deliver me and I would one day know the joy of such a deliverance I wanted to believe it was true but could not see it happening. The affliction, neediness, and wounding were too deep. Too painful. Too dark. Too much.

I have spent the past two years in a wilderness. During this time I have continued to go to church, read necessary books, seek godly counsel, listen to Christian music, write devotionals, pray, seek, and stay in the Word. But all the while the internal darkness abounded and the dependency issues prevailed. I spiraled in and out of emotional pits on a daily and weekly basis. I felt more like a failure than a success. I saw no way out and often resigned myself to the belief that things would never be different for me. That somehow I would spend the rest of my life this way.

I have never been so hopeless in my life and yet it was in this state of mind that God helped me to open my heart and hands to Him and He lovingly took what I thought would be housed in me until Heaven. When I finally saw that I truly needed no one but Him, when I finally desired Him to be the core and center of my life, when I finally fixed my eyes fully on Him I felt the effects of Psalm 107:13, 14 which says, “They cried out to the LORD in their trouble, He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their bands apart.” This week I was brought out of my darkness and the bands were broken!

I have now experienced God as my Deliverer. God did what I couldn’t do for myself. Now when I hear of other people’s problems, plights, and pain I can say with all confidence that the One who delivered me can and will deliver them also. It will be the platform on which I stand and minister from this day forward.

Father, I am in awe of You! Amen.

My Deliverer - Chris Tomlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmGeeNDJzx0&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Beyond What I Could Ask or Think

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20, 21 (New American Standard Bible)

Have you ever been aware of a time when God was doing something in your life that far exceeded anything you could ask for, hope for, or think? For me, that awareness usually comes after the fact.

In the spring of 2004, I attended a women’s event out of curiosity about the speaker. I had been familiar with her music ministry from the 70s and 80s but knew little of what God had been doing in her life since then. What God did that weekend far exceeded anything I could have thought to ask Him to do. It was there that I saw that His love for me was not dependent on what I was doing. It forever changed the way I was living my Christian life and started me on a journey that continues to this day.

That same year, I asked God to show me His heart in Scripture. I wanted to read His Word and know that He had a message for me within its pages. I wanted Scripture to come alive to me and work wonders in my life. With pen in hand I wrote out a paragraph of thoughts that stood out to me in a practical way. This morning I prepare to send out my 965th devotional and that far exceeds anything I could have asked for or thought up. Both my life and my devotionals have changed much over these past number of years.

Two years ago, I entered the darkest season of my life. My entire world was shaken by the stepping away of a mentor who just happened to be the speaker God used to radically change my life. The loss of her involvement in my life set me on a path of finding God’s hand to take hold of. With the help of an accountability partner I began to wade through the issues of my heart. Slowly but surely, the seeds of truth began to outnumber the embedded lies I had come to believe. I am now in the midst of seeing God once again go far beyond anything I could ask or hope for. Not only has He brought me to the place of once again taking in the teaching and listening to the music of my former mentor, but He has removed the unforgiving spirit, confusion, questions, and hurt that I have harbored for these two years. None of which I thought would happen in this life time.

This week has found me taking the first steps of freedom that at one time I doubted I would ever take. It has also increased my anticipation of what lies ahead!

Father, the darkness is gone and today the light of Your presence warms me like never before. Thank you for all the ways You have exceedingly, abundantly worked. I know that You are not finished and I am ready for the rest of the story! Amen.

Psalm 23 - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVYh63ZF_Vo

*** Special note*** If any of you are planning on attending Kathy Troccoli's concert in Fort Wayne, Indiana, tomorrow evening (Aug. 21) please let me know. I would love to meet you!

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Healthy Guidelines for Living

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live! Isaiah 38:16 (New American Standard Bible)

Isaiah 38 records the story of Hezekiah being told he was to die soon. Upon hearing this, he cried to the Lord for an extension on his life and he was granted his request. What followed his healing was a prayer that included today’s verse. His was one of desiring physical health and extended life. I read his words this morning with a desire for not only physical health but emotional and spiritual health as well.

A little over a year ago, I joined Weight Watchers and quickly saw the need to change the way I was eating. While my desire to eat right included wanting to lose weight it also entailed a life style change. Hence, the need to implement healthy guidelines into not only my eating but my activities as well. Some of those guidelines have to do with drinking water, getting in my fruits and vegetables, drinking milk, increasing my activity level, and other healthy options. One thing I have to be on guard of is my tendency to binge eat. Certain foods can open the door to incredible binges that have no positive value or outcome. Knowing this, forces me to set daily and weekly goals for myself that keep me on track and improve my health.

Recently God helped me to see that those same principles apply to my emotional and spiritual health. For the sake of my internal well being, it is imperative that I follow specific healthy guidelines designed to bring about that emotional and spiritual health. While I don’t know what that entire list looks like yet, He has given me a few to get me started. The first of which is to guard and control my thoughts. I have often found it easy to binge on wrong thoughts which can stem from unforgiveness, self- pity, wrong perceptions, and judgmental attitudes. That is a “diet” I cannot afford to continue to embrace. At present, the healthy guideline God is urging me to implement is to think on better things on purpose. To chose to redirect my thinking. There is so much I can think on that is encouraging, beneficial, and healthy for me. Things that would give me freedom in my day and in my relationships.

This is just one aspect of Him restoring my health and letting me live the abundant life of which Jesus spoke. He will forever leave the choice to me as to whether or not I apply what He tells me. He won’t force good health on me but He will certainly provide all I need to experience that health.

Father, my desire for physical, emotional, and spiritual health has finally come into agreement with Your desire. Continue to show me the guidelines for my own well being. Amen.

By Grace Alone - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lhilgWXIE&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

The Only Opinion That Counts

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4 (New American Standard Bible)

For those of us who hunger for approval and acceptance, the opinions of others can have a hold on us if we let them. We cannot stop others from judging us or forming an opinion about us. It happened to Christ when He walked on this earth centuries ago. It happened to God’s children in both the Old and New Testament. It has happened to us all. Freedom from the effects of what others think of us is only found as we see the truth that God’s opinion is what counts. Our actions are right or wrong according to Him.

One of the most apparent times of being judged by others, for me, was when I began to seek freedom from a legalistic way of living my Christian life. Learning the truth that God’s love was not dependent on what I was doing had a huge impact on me and led to the desire to walk in freedom rather than in rigid conformity. It opened the door for me to allow God to set the boundaries and standards in my life. It paved the way for me to be accepting of things that at one time were unacceptable. I cleared away the self imposed list of does and don’ts that had defined my life and allowed God to begin to rewrite it.

For decades I had struggled in the area of music. What was appropriate to listen to and what was not? What was right and what was wrong? My view was based more on what others had told me rather than on what God told me. At one time, if the music had a beat of any kind it was deemed wrong and dangerous. Never mind individual tastes and preferences. So for decades I set aside anything of a contemporary nature. Once in a while I would attempt to break free and I would actually buy a tape or CD of “forbidden” music only to turn around and out of guilt throw it away or destroy it. This all changed in the spring of 2004. In the privacy of a guest room at my grandmother’s house, with tears I finally asked God to give me the freedom to listen to the music that ministers to me. He graciously did so and once I received His approval, the door to praise and worship music swung wide open that I had previously shut.

While I enjoyed this new found freedom with passion it came at a price. It cost me a teaching job at a Christian school as well as the respect of others as they felt I had backslid. The sting of that was only relieved as I rested in the truth that God approved of my changes whether others did or not. It will continue to be that way as other areas of my life are affected. To Him I stand or fall and by His grace I stand!

Father, continue to open the doors I have shut and backed away from. Christ came to set me free and I choose to dance in that freedom for the rest of my life. Amen.

With All I Am - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.