PRAY-ARMOR UP-STAND YOUR GROUND-STAND-PRAY-STAY ALERT-PRAY

I sat straight up in bed, fear tingling from my fingertips to my toes.  Something had happened. Something had awakened me from my pitiful sleep.  This something was happening a lot lately.  The attacks were coming on strong and fast and hard.  The only thing I remember of the dream was the man getting into my car and turning and looking directly into my eyes.  Oh the evil that poured from him, that is what shook me awake.

As I said it’s not the first attack I’ve experienced this week.  And this month has been on onset of attack after attack.  In fact the past few months have been filled with this burning, gut retching, feeling of impending doom that something really bad is about to happen. 

Mr. Evil is attacking every part of my life from physical to emotional to spiritual.  There have been weird health issues,  Crazy relationship mishaps,  Constant self-esteem issues,  the list goes on. 

AND IT’s TIME FOR IT TO STOP!

I will fight back.  I will fight with all that I am, because the Devil has no place in my world.  The lies that he tells me and the lies that he tells my friends are unacceptable and I will not listen to them. 

I am seeking truth.  John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  I will be set free from these lies.  It’s time to take a stand and see this for what it is and to quit tolerating it and dive into the battle.  

Ephesians 6:10-18 ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

PRAY-ARMOR UP-STAND YOUR GROUND-STAND-PRAY-STAY ALERT-PRAY

the MAN

Let me tell you about the Man who flipped my life upside down. 

I met Him when I was 6 years old.  Our relationship over the years has been one of constraint change and growth.  There have been times when I walked away from Him not wanting anything to do with it, and there have been times I have done everything in my power to bring Him down and destroy Him.  But He is the never changing constant in the midst of the crazy.  He has never stopped loving me.  When I walk away from Him, He just comes after me and loves me anyway.  He has loved me through the worst and the best.  He knows it all and doesn’t care. He just loves. 

One day some men came and pulled out a list of my crimes and the laws I had broken.  The punishment for my crimes was death row.  I cried when I saw it, but I knew it was too late. I also knew that I deserved it.

As the men where about to take me away, He stepped in and told them to take Him instead.  He said that He wanted to take the penalty for my brokenness and that He would die for me.  The men agreed.  They took Him and as I watched, they beat Him and they abused Him.  When He was almost dead, He looked up and said, FATHER, Forgive them.  They don’t even have a clue what they are doing.

I cried.  I fell on my face and I bawled. 

A hand was laid on my shoulder. That voice spoke softly with words of love.

It couldn’t be Him.  I had watched them kill him. I had watched them bury him in the ground.  I had seen it all. It couldn’t be. 

But it was.  Death couldn’t keep perfection in the ground.  Death couldn’t take the love of that man and destroy it. 

i am more.

I stand in the presence of God. Fully unaware of where I am or what I am doing.  I live my life as if it is just a life and not a treasured gift from my holy creator.  I spend my time doing what I want to do instead of living and breathing the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I call myself a follower of Jesus Christ.  I call myself a Christian.  I call myself a good person.  Who am I really?

I am wrong.  I am a sinner.  I am a wretch.  I total liar and a thief.  I am not worthy to be called a daughter of my Father.

I have betrayed my Holy Father and I have done it without a thought. And then I have done it again. 

Who am I to stand? To live this life of ease?

I am all of this, but I am more.  Out of God’s great mercy, I am so much more. 

Because of Him, I am forgiven.  I am blessed. I am made new.  Because of Him I am.

I have been brought to my knees and I have laid down my heart.  I have given up my hopes and my dreams, my plans and my future.  Because I know that there is nothing outside of the will of God that I desire. 

I stand in His strength and the dignity He showers upon me.  I live my life with the breath of His voice.  I speak what comes from His love and “I AM” only by His amazing Grace.