I have felt a little bit funny this whole semester. I have had this ongoing battle of devotion and apathy. It's been pretty horrible. Some days, I am SO on fire for the Lord. Other days, I feel like I am battling whether or not I even believe. I think that is the worst feeling in all the world. It isn't a fearful feeling to me. I am not afraid of death, at least not really. It's a feeling of total and utter emptiness. Why? There are two reason.
1) Laziness. It is so much easier to sit around feeling sorry for myself and for my struggles than it is to actually confront the situation and choose to have faith despite the struggle. "Be strong in the Lord and in his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV) I so rarely use this armor. I it on my bed and pray, but I am so seldom ready for battle. A warrior should have no fear, for he serves the king and knows that his cause is noble. After all, imagine the armor of God? How glorious and perfect is it? All I need to do it put it on. I need to recognize it ever day. "Our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (vs. 12) So what is our armor? How do I use it? Along side the only weapon we have. The Sword of the spirit. The Word of the Living God.
The Belt of Truth: "For I am the Lord your God the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Before me there was no god formed, nor will there be after me. I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior." (Isaiah 43:3&11) AND "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1)
The Breastplate of Righteousness: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) Just believe. "And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)
The Shoes of Readiness and the Gospel of Peace: How can you run a race without shoes? :) "Let us run with endurance the race that has been set before us" (Hebrews 12:1) Be ready. "Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 4:2,3)
The Shield of Faith: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we don't see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) What the heck, just read all Hebrews 11! - This is so "we can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." (Ephesians 6:16)
The Helmet of Salvation: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart the God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9). And we have assurance of salvation. "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promise of the Holy Spirt, who is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance unto the redemption of those who are God's possession." (Ephesians 1:13)
And The Sword of the Spirit: "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) SWEET.
We are also called to pray in the Spirit at all times, with all prayer and supplication. "To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints"
Wooh, that was a mouthful to talk about laziness. Moving on:
2) I can be this way because Satan knows just how to get us here at IU. Knowledge. Whoever thought knowledge wasn't always a good thing? I read a verse today in Isaiah that really hit me:
"Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
'I am, there is no other besides me.'" (Isaiah 47:10 ESV)
That is so me sometimes... Academia... ya, not so approving of the God thing. Often professors ever label the Bible as a "fable" or "tall tale" in many classes. Christ is a huge part of history, but definitely not the savior of the World. That would be foolishness in academia. Don't get my wrong. I am not saying at all the knowledge is always bad! It is a wonderful blessing, but it has some definite drawbacks. Solomon says, "For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases in knowledge, increases in sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:18) The more we learn about the world, often times, the less we trust the God created it. Evolution and the Bible don't match up. Sorry, friends. I listen to what all these incredibly intelligent people say and I question what I have seen with my own eyes. The miracles of my God. I fear man, but "what can man do to me?" (Heb 13:6) I have the Lord.
That why God calls us to come one way, and one way only. As children.
"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3,4 ESV)
Stop over thinking everything! Trust in the Lord! Use His precious and inerrant Word, use his Holy Spirit that he has sealed you with, "trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding!" Trust God to provide. Step out in faith so God can provide, and your faith will be built up as well. Praise God. :) Be calm. Have peace. If you do these things. I promise you will see God if you persevere, and I do not promise things lightly anymore...
Be blessed, brothers and sisters!
His,
Melissa
PS. Don't think I am so cool cause I know all these scriptures. I couldn't remember where 90% of them were, haha. : )
1) Laziness. It is so much easier to sit around feeling sorry for myself and for my struggles than it is to actually confront the situation and choose to have faith despite the struggle. "Be strong in the Lord and in his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV) I so rarely use this armor. I it on my bed and pray, but I am so seldom ready for battle. A warrior should have no fear, for he serves the king and knows that his cause is noble. After all, imagine the armor of God? How glorious and perfect is it? All I need to do it put it on. I need to recognize it ever day. "Our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (vs. 12) So what is our armor? How do I use it? Along side the only weapon we have. The Sword of the spirit. The Word of the Living God.
The Belt of Truth: "For I am the Lord your God the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Before me there was no god formed, nor will there be after me. I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior." (Isaiah 43:3&11) AND "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1)
The Breastplate of Righteousness: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) Just believe. "And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)
The Shoes of Readiness and the Gospel of Peace: How can you run a race without shoes? :) "Let us run with endurance the race that has been set before us" (Hebrews 12:1) Be ready. "Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 4:2,3)
The Shield of Faith: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we don't see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) What the heck, just read all Hebrews 11! - This is so "we can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." (Ephesians 6:16)
The Helmet of Salvation: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart the God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9). And we have assurance of salvation. "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promise of the Holy Spirt, who is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance unto the redemption of those who are God's possession." (Ephesians 1:13)
And The Sword of the Spirit: "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) SWEET.
We are also called to pray in the Spirit at all times, with all prayer and supplication. "To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints"
Wooh, that was a mouthful to talk about laziness. Moving on:
2) I can be this way because Satan knows just how to get us here at IU. Knowledge. Whoever thought knowledge wasn't always a good thing? I read a verse today in Isaiah that really hit me:
"Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
'I am, there is no other besides me.'" (Isaiah 47:10 ESV)
That is so me sometimes... Academia... ya, not so approving of the God thing. Often professors ever label the Bible as a "fable" or "tall tale" in many classes. Christ is a huge part of history, but definitely not the savior of the World. That would be foolishness in academia. Don't get my wrong. I am not saying at all the knowledge is always bad! It is a wonderful blessing, but it has some definite drawbacks. Solomon says, "For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases in knowledge, increases in sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:18) The more we learn about the world, often times, the less we trust the God created it. Evolution and the Bible don't match up. Sorry, friends. I listen to what all these incredibly intelligent people say and I question what I have seen with my own eyes. The miracles of my God. I fear man, but "what can man do to me?" (Heb 13:6) I have the Lord.
That why God calls us to come one way, and one way only. As children.
"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3,4 ESV)
Stop over thinking everything! Trust in the Lord! Use His precious and inerrant Word, use his Holy Spirit that he has sealed you with, "trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding!" Trust God to provide. Step out in faith so God can provide, and your faith will be built up as well. Praise God. :) Be calm. Have peace. If you do these things. I promise you will see God if you persevere, and I do not promise things lightly anymore...
Be blessed, brothers and sisters!
His,
Melissa
PS. Don't think I am so cool cause I know all these scriptures. I couldn't remember where 90% of them were, haha. : )
1 comments:
:) good stuff sister
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