Weapons and War

2 Corinthians 10:5

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


Above is the second verse this month that I have chosen to memorize as part of my Beth Moore,  Siesta Sister scripture memory team challenge.  This verse has always spurred me on while at the same time challenging me.  The notion of taking every thought captive is  something that is only possible when I rely on Him for the strength to filter my mind.  Throughout this season of memorizing Him word, it has been challenging to find the time needed to work on memorizing.  Some of the previous verses were easy for me to commit to heart.  Lately, I have been finding it harder and harder to memorize...something that usually comes very easily to me.  Reason?  Distraction!  As the Lord  revealed to me through a speaker at a day conference yesterday, the enemy is subtle in his attempt to distract.  He places a small bit of doubt in my mind and if I "engage" with the enemy and try to face him on my own.....I have actually sided with him for a moment.  Yes, actually sided with the enemy in this are of my life.


For example, I have had an issue with unforgiveness that I thought I had dealt with a while ago.  In a split second, the enemy was able to slightly turn my thoughts to anger over the situation that caused the unforgiveness in the first place.  See, when we put on our armor and head face first into the face of the enemy, we are to wield our sword, which is the Word of God.  Imagine a warrior heading into war with a helmet, a breastplate, a belt, a shield and the appropriate footwear but no sword!  How long do you think the warrior would survive the attack of his enemy?  Not long at all!


It is through the reading and memorizing of the Word that I am able to wield the Sword (the Word) and defeat the enemy.  Interestingly, in war the idea is to plunder the enemy!  In other words, don't just defeat him in this particular attack, but actually take back dominion of the land he has overtaken in my heart and mind and then bring back what he has tried to take from me!  Without my Sword, I am unable to stand against the attacks and ever so subtly, the enemy will sneak into my thoughts and try to take back what is now mine.  For in war, it is just a matter of time before the enemy comes back to get what was taken from them.  The attacks of the enemy in the weak areas of my life are going to continue until I go to be with Jesus.  As in an war, my enemy will scheme and plot new ways to attack, sometimes (usually) in the very area that I have had victory in the past.  Hmmm....not very fair is it?  Who said that my enemy should be fair?!  He is set on seeking, stealing from me and destroying me!  His intentions are never polite and his attacks are never fair.   Why would they be?  We are at war here!  


Below is this verse in context.  I included The Message version as it gives a little different insight into the power of taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. 

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:5

The Message (MSG)

 ^3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

SSMT Verse 17

Psalm 119:133 NIV "'Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me."


Pretty much says it all.  

Pressing on...

Philippians 3: 7-14 (NIV)
 ⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
 ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


This verse has new meaning for me after today!  God used a sweet sister in the Lord to remind me that my future is ahead and God is in control of my life (if I let Him be, that is).  He has amazing plans for me (and for you too!) and who am I to hold on to past hurts and hinder His Kingdom work that He has predestined for me?  After all, I am not getting any younger, time is ticking and He has work for me to do!  Praying that He would do in me the things that are necessary within my heart, in order to get me to the place He wants me, in His time and in His way!  I particularly like the message version of the following verses:

Philippians 3:12-14 (The Message version)

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Looking forward and pressing on toward that which I have been called, through Christ Jesus!!

SSMT Verse 16

Isaiah 10:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


For those of you who don't read my blogs all that often, an explanation about this post (and others like it).  I have committed (along with many other women for all over the country and perhaps the world) to memorizing 24 Scripture verses this year.  We post on the 1st an 15th of the month and I have been sharing my verses here.  This one is one I came across while listening to a sermon just yesterday.  The gal giving the sermon asked different people to read passages as she gave them out to share.  I was asked to read verses 6-7, but the Lord used these verses to minister to my heart on a personal level.   


Sometimes, I forget that He sees the whole picture an this verse reminds me that His ways are not like mine and His thought are not like mine.  His ways and thoughts are higher than mine and I need to constantly be in a place within my heart where I am seeking Him and His thoughts and ways.  Wouldn't hurt if I reacted as He would either!  LOL!


Easier said than done.....any way you look at it or think about it. .....

Memory Verse #15

Psalm 124: 6-8
 ⁶ Praise be to the LORD, 
   who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 
⁷ We have escaped like a bird 
   from the fowler’s snare; 
the snare has been broken, 
   and we have escaped. 
⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD, 
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

Are You Out-living Your Life?

For many years, I have read the chapter in Proverbs that coordinates with the date each month....in-other-words, today is the 27th, so I will be reading Proverbs chapter 27 this evening just before I go to sleep.   Recently, I was reading through the entire book of Proverbs, all in one fell swoop this time, when I once again came to the last Chapter.....the infamous Chapter 31.  Did you just hear that?  A ghostly "Ooooooooooooh" after reading the previous sentence here?  I think I hear that ghostly sound each time I begin to read Chapter 31, because I know what is coming.  The LIST!


This is the verse most wives/mothers/women dread and some have been known to skip over completely because of the overwhelming list of "requirements" that are needed to be a wife/mother/woman of noble character.  The other day, while I was quickly reading through the words found in this Proverb, I was reading along with a "Blah-blah-blah-blah!  Yeah, yeah, yeah....I know, I know....blah blah blah." sort of attitude.  Then it hit me!  


This is not so much a list of "do-this-do-that", but rather an instruction manual on how we can out-live our lives; how we can leave a legacy.  As I brought this to the Lord in prayer, He revealed to me that I have oftentimes just been out living my life, but am I out-living my life? In-other-words, am I leaving behind things that matter?  Depositing things in the lives of others that are there even when I leave this earth?  Am I letting those I love know that I love them now so that after I am gone, they will know that I loved them and share that love with the ones they love?  Do I look at each day as an opportunity to leave behind something that is meaningful, lasting and worth remembering?  Or am I just living my life moment to moment with little thought of what I am leaving behind?  Am I out living my life, or am I out-living my life?


As I came out of my quiet time with the Lord, I was feeling the need to re-read Chapter 31.  This time with the idea of reading it with fresh eyes, so to speak. With a heart set on Him and with a desire to retrieve something lasting that I could pass along to others.  Yes, to learn from this often misunderstood and avoided passage and gain wisdom from the words the Lord left for us all.  It is with excitement that I re-read those words and took in a little more of the big picture that He allowed me to view. 


The challenge now is to apply what I have learned and to work toward out-living my life on a more continual and steady basis.  To learn and grow and share more than I have been.  To get up a bit earlier than I usually do and spend a little more time learning about those things that last.  Lessons and ways that are His and not my own. 


This "list" is anything but that.  It is the way in which my Father has chosen to show me how to out-live my life for His glory and for Kingdom purposes. 


PROVERBS 31 10-31


 ¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find? 
   She is worth far more than rubies. 
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her 
   and lacks nothing of value. 
¹² She brings him good, not harm, 
   all the days of her life. 
¹³ She selects wool and flax 
   and works with eager hands. 
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, 
   bringing her food from afar. 
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night; 
   she provides food for her family 
   and portions for her female servants. 
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; 
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; 
   her arms are strong for her tasks. 
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, 
   and her lamp does not go out at night. 
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff 
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor 
   and extends her hands to the needy. 
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 
²² She makes coverings for her bed; 
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, 
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, 
   and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
   she can laugh at the days to come. 
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, 
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household 
   and does not eat the bread of idleness. 
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; 
   her husband also, and he praises her: 
²⁹ “Many women do noble things, 
   but you surpass them all.” 
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done, 
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Do You Give Up?

While driving to work and listening to the radio a few weeks ago, these two songs (words below)  played back to back and the Lord has used that experience since then to speak a message into my heart.  Two words in particular stood out to me as I listened to the words to these two songs.   Two words that mean so many different things when put together.  Those two words are "give up".   


When I think of the word "give", my initial thought goes quickly to the word "offer"....as in "I want to give my mom a birthday gift".  Then I thought about the word "up" and my mind immediately wondered to the the opposite word "down".  But when I began to ponder the words together, "give up", my mind wondered through many different renderings of these words.


Praying about, I felt lead to investigate this phrase further, so today, I decided to look up on online dictionary to discover the  meaning of the phrase "give up".  Here is what I found!!  http://www.visualthesaurus.com/app/view


After viewing just a few meanings of this phrase and I am in awe of God's greatness in our lives!  Seriously, check this out!  Here are the amazing things I discovered:


~to lose, or lose the right to by some error, offense or crime (waive, forgo, forfeit, throw overboard)
What dreams in my life have I "thrown overboard" and what visions have I "forfeited" due to fear, anger, frustration, frustrations, or complacency that I have allowed to dwell within me? 


~give up with the intent of never claiming again (abandon, hand over, leave behind)
What dreams/visions/aspirations, that were given to me by Him, have I abandoned?  What gifts has He given me that I have not used and instead have chosen to leave behind (as I continue to do my own thing), or worse yet...hand over to the enemy for his use?


~stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims (abandon)
Where have I compromised and/or given up on the things that I KNOW are FROM Him or on the things that I know to be OF Him?  


~give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another (surrender)
Who is it that I surrender to.......God or the enemy?  WHO do I belong to....WHO do I find my identity in, WHO do I submit to?


~part with a possession or right (resign, relinquish, release, free)
What is it today that He is asking me to relinquish to Him?  What is it that He wanted to release into my life today?  What are the areas that He desires me to be free of in my heart today?


~give up what is not strictly needed (dispense with, spare, part with)
What excess baggage is He wanting me to part with in exchange for Kingdom gifts?  What is it that He wants me to get rid of or dispense with today?


~stop consuming; as in a habit (kick)
In what area of my life to I need to stop consuming things that are not of Him?  What habit do I need to give up or kick in order to experience freedom and growth in the Lord?


~put an end to a state or activity (cease, stop)
What activity do I need to sacrifice in order to spend more time with Him in prayer and conversation through the reading of His Word?


~allow the other team to score (quit, allow)
Where is it in my life that I have been slack and allowed the enemy to score?  Where have I spiritually stated, "This is too tough...... I quit!"?


~give up in the face of defeat, of lacking hope (throw in the towel, fall by the wayside, drop out)
What areas of my life have I experience a spiritual drop out?  What dreams/visions have I allowed to fall by the wayside due to a lack of faith/hope in the One who gave me those very things? 


After some time spent in the Word and after much prayer, I have decided that I do want to be a person that "gives up".  Yes, I want to give up (surrender) to Him, I want to give up (relinquish) my right to this or that.  I do want to stand on His Word and on the truth of all that is Jesus!  However, I do not want to give up as in drop out, throw in the towel, quit trusting Him etc.  My true heart's desire is to be a woman that is willing to take all that He has deposited in me, all that He has planted in me, all that He has nurtured and grown in me, all that He has gifted me with....take it all and give it up....yes, give it up, as in, lift it up to Him so He can use it and pour more and more deposits into my life....allowing me to pour out more and more of Him into the lives of others.  


Father, thank you for the lesson You have imparted to me through these two little words.  Words that when put together have extreme value and meaning when viewed in relation to You.  Father, today, help me to give up all of the things in my life that are not of You and help me to not give up on You and the things that are from You.  May my desires always be Kingdom focused and my responses always be Kingdom grown and Kingdom bound.  In Jesus Name I pray~ Amen




Strong Enough
By: Matthew West


You must, You must think I'm strong 
To give me what I'm going through 

Well forgive me 
Forgive me if I'm wrong 
But this looks like more than I can do 
On my own


I know I'm not strong enough to be 
Everything that I'm supposed to be 
I give up 
I'm not strong enough 
Hands of mercy won't you cover me 
Lord right now I'm asking you to be 
Strong enough 
Strong enough 
For the both of us 

Well, maybe, maybe that's the point 
To reach the point of giving up
Cause when I'm finally 
Finally at rock bottom 
Well, that's when I start looking up 
And reaching out 

Chorus

Cause I'm broken 
Down to nothing 
But I'm still holding on to the one thing 
You are God 
and You are strong 
When I am weak 

I can do all things 
Through Christ who gives me strength 
And I don't have to be 
Strong enough 
Strong enough 

I can do all things 
Through Christ who gives me strength 
And I don't have to be 
Strong enough 
Strong enough 


The Redeemer
By: Sanctus Real


Sometimes I just want to start over
'Cause everything looks like a wreck
And I need the courage to carry on
'Cause I can't see what's ahead

And there are places I've wished I could be
Battles I've wanted to win
Dreams that have slipped through my hands
I may never get back again

But I'm still a dreamer, a believer
Oh, I've lost my faith in so many things
But I still believe in You
'Cause You can make anything new

Sometimes I just wish we could say
All the things that are easy to hear
Ignore the injustice we see
And explain every unanswered prayer

But I'd rather speak honestly
And wear a tattered heart on my sleeve
'Cause in the middle of my broken dreams
Redemption is here

And I'm still a dreamer, a believer
Oh, I lost my faith in so many things
But I still believe in You
'Cause You are the answer, the Redeemer

Oh, I've given up on too many things
But I'm not giving up on You
'Cause You can make anything new

I don't have every answer in life
But I'm trusting You one day at a time
'Cause You can make a weak heart stay alive
Forever

This is where heaven and earth collide
I lift my hands and I give my life
This is how my weary heart stays alive

Oh, I'm still a dreamer, still a believer
And You are the answer, the Redeemer
'Cause You can make anything new
Yeah, You can make anything new