The Battlefield of the Mind

Have you heard the term "Spiritual Warfare?" Do you believe there are spiritual forces at war against each other in this world and in the universe? If you aren't familiar with the term, think of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from the Star Wars saga. Love or hate, good or evil, truth or falsehood. Well, I believe that they are alive and well and are fighting for our souls and every thought we have every hour of every day.

There are many verses and chapters in the Word of God that deal with the subject. Probably the most famous ones are known as the "Armor of God," and are the verses from the book of Ephesians 6:10-20. The Apostle Paul talks about the devil and his schemes and asks us to be on the alert:

                                                     <sup>Put on the full Armor of God so you can withstand the devils schemes


10</sup> "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. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Your children may have learned these verses in Sunday school and acted out a situation where they are faced with making the right decision and choosing good, or making the wrong decision and letting the devil win the battle. I was a Sunday School teacher myself for a few years and I remember teaching the kids about the doing the right thing, verses doing what is often the easiest thing.

There is another verse that about spiritual warfare from 1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Satan is a schemer. He is conniving and crafty. He can disguise himself in your thought process and make you think that what you are doing is right and good and pure. Don't buy into his lies. Remember the familiar saying from a few years ago that was put on bracelets for everyone to wear: "What Would Jesus do? It stops me dead in my tracks every time. 


If you are about to do something you know is wrong, your conscience kicks in and says I know this isn't the right thing to do, but I want to do it anyway. Your conscience is something that the Lord gave you. Your moral compass as it's called. We all know the difference between right and wrong. That's something we learn from our parents, grandparents and other family members. It's something that's instilled in us in church and school and boy scouts, girl scouts, sports, and many other character building events that happen in our lives.


But, then there's the human flesh telling you that it's ok to do something which you know isn't right, You're thinking -  nobody will know, it's not gonna hurt anybody? You can talk yourself into almost anything, and you think the only person you are hurting is just yourself, but sometimes your behavior can lead you down the road to destruction. You can spiral out of control and destroy much more than your life. You can also destroy the lives of those who love you the most. Sin is sin and it can destroy lives. 

                                                          Good or evil. Who will win in your life?                                       
                                             

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I strive with every breath that comes out of my body to do what would be pleasing to him. That is not easy at all, because my human nature comes shining through more often than I care to mention. I try to live my life by the 10 commandments, that's the gold standard, right? God gave those laws to Moses and mankind has lived by them ever since. Therefore, for me, I try to stop before I speak, write, whisper or even think something and ask myself if my words or actions are something that God Almighty would approve of, or frown upon. He is the Sovereign of the Universe and I aim to please him in everything I do. Not always easy, but that's my goal.

                                                             Moses with the Ten Commandments

The Bible warns us about throwing off our human nature because it will get us into trouble. Galatians 5:19-21 says:

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." 

But God's Word tells us instead to seek the Fruits of the Spirit which are outlined in Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

                                              

We can choose to live by God's law and have the fruits of the spirit in abundance, or we can choose to live according to what the world says is ok, and NOT inherit the kingdom of Heaven. It says so right in the Bible. That's what free will is all about. God does NOT tell us what to do. It is our choice to make. Black and white, good or evil.


It sounds easy, but it's not as simple as that. Nothing is easy, right?


Jesus was tempted. Shortly after he was baptized, he was led into the desert and tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 says "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." Even Jesus Christ knew temptation. He endured it at the hands of Satan, so he can relate to our problems.


But God does not leave us out there alone without offering us help. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tell us "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 


So, when you are tempted to do something you know is wrong, STOP. Stop and pray, stop and look for a sign from the Lord. Read your Bible. Your out could be as simple as a phone call from a friend to distract you from your temptation, but if you pay attention, you will see that He has provided a way out for you-- if you will just seize it.

The pull of this world and all the world has to offer is very,very enticing. It's not easy to live an upright and righteous life but it is something that we can all strive to do everyday. We can strive to not let the dark side take over our lives, instead seeking to fill our life with things that would be pleasing to the Lord. We can win the Battlefield of the Mind each day if we Walk with the Lord, and we will be Victorious in Him!

                                        To win the Battlefield of the Mind, it's helps to walk with Jesus, everyday


My verses for today are in red.


My prayer for today:


Dear Heavenly Father:


I want to live a life pleasing to you. Help me Lord to win out against the devil and his schemes. Help me to recognize what is from you and what is not and make the right choice. Thank you Lord that you help me each day by giving me strength to resist Satan. Help me to spot the signs you give me when I am tempted to do something I know is wrong. Help me to live for you each day Lord.


In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen

Safe in the Potters Hands~

Do you ever think of your life not belonging to you, but belonging to God to fulfill His purposes? One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from Jeremiah 18: 6 which talks about God being the potter and us being the clay."...Behold, like the clay in the potters hands, so you are in My hands..."

                                                              

But how many of us are willing and wanting to turn our earthly lives over to the one who created us, for His greater purposes? We think our lives are are own, don't we? I used to think that way, before I had a life changing health crisis. I learned very quickly, that my life didn't belong to me at all. It belonged to the one that created me, God Almighty, and He could do whatever He wanted to with it, at any time.

All along, I thought I was in control of my destiny. I had plans for my life. Everything was moving along nicely. I had successes at every turn. I was in the prime of my life. I had a great job, traveled and met interesting people. I had two great kids and a loving husband. I was very excited about the new division of my company that I was put in charge of called "Visions of Faith," an inspirational line of artwork that was new to the company, but one I felt I could handle with some fancy footwork. I knew that the Lord was up to something when I got put in charge of that division, but wasn't sure what it was until a few years later. He was the potter and I was beginning to see that I was the clay.

I was having a spiritual awakening of sorts through VOF, as we came to call it. The Lord was pulling me back to Him and I was beginning to see His hand in my life. I was talking with and working with a whole new group of people that were strong believers in Jesus Christ. Well, I believed in Jesus, it seemed like a natural thing for me.

I began re-connecting with the Lord through my job. Who would have ever thought? Talk about a God-Thing. The company I worked for, Mill Pond Press, was run by a great man named Bob Lewin, and he was a Jew. I never would have thought in a million years that I would end up being in charge of the "Inspiration Art Line" in our growing company, but there I was - critiquing pictures of Jesus with the religious artists before we published them. I was picking out the correct bible verses to go with the images. And, the Lord was beginning to use me in new and amazing ways to touch the lives of the people around me for Him.

Over the next few years, my faith grew at an ever increasing rate and I became closer to the Lord because, in many ways, I had too. He was forcing my hand and I didn't even realize it. I was talking, eating and breathing bible verses, and biblical artwork, and was surrounded by spiritual people at every turn. It was important that I talked their language. I was a believer, but my faith pre-VOF had been in a bit of a stalled position.

I attended church on a semi-regular basis, but it wasn't until a new pastor and his wife entered the picture did I begin to really see the Hand of the Lord upon me and things began to fall together. Not only at work, but now also in my church life as well. My husband had also had a spiritual awakening of his own and we began to worship the Lord as a family. I relished the times that followed and enjoyed every minute of it. God put the fast-forward button on my walk of faith because He knew what was coming, but I didn't. I became involved in a spiritual mothering class at church. God was opening new doors for me at every turn.

The Lord was molding me into the person he wanted me to be and I didn't even realize why until after I became very ill. He knew I was going to get sick before I did. He knew I needed to be closer to Him or I would never be able to withstand the serious health challenges that were coming my way. 

He knows everything about all of us and He was preparing me by drawing me closer to Him so I could feel the safety of His loving arms when I needed it most. He was the potter, I was the clay. He was molding me into the new person He wanted me to be, just like a piece of clay in the potter's hands. Begrudgingly, I came along, knowing it was most likely in my best interest. Indeed it was, because shortly after I began the longest month of my life when the docs were searching for my MS diagnosis. If I didn't have the Lord to turn to during that time, I surely don't know what I would have done. He rescued me in a big way.

That's the thing about the Lord. All He wants to do is protect us, like any loving Father would do. But we buck like a crazy bucking bronco, trying to break free and have control, when we don't have any to begin with, we just don't realize it at the time. Silly us.

I guess the moral to this story is to let the great Potter mold your life sooner, rather than later, because it will just make for a more peaceful life for you. Take it from someone who's learned first hand to rely on the Lord. It's ok to rest and feel safe in the Potter's Hands. He knows what He's doing.

My verse for today is above in red.

My prayer for today:

Dear Lord Jesus:

You are the Potter, I am the clay. Lord, help me to let you do your work in me and mold me into the person you want me to be, knowing that you only have my best interest at heart, always.

Thank you Lord, that I can turn to you for every need, every concern, every little detail of my life. I truly am safe in the Potter's Hands.

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

The Power of Prayer.....

Again this morning, the Lord woke me up early with a head full of thoughts, but the most prominent one was to thank Him for answering my prayers and the prayers of many, for my Mom. I laid in bed for a while, praying and thanking Him, then decided I need to thank everyone else too!

Mark 11:24 tells us "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  That is a verse that has been hanging above my computer for a few years. That is a verse that I know well. That is a verse that I believe with all my heart, and that is a verse that has happened, just as the Bible says.

My Mom has been pretty sick for about a month, beginning with a UTI and dehydration, followed up with a C-Diff infection and her kidneys shutting down. The doctors actually called us in because they said she wouldn't make it through the night and next day.

I'm in North Carolina right now and have been for the past 3 months, escaping the Florida heat. Mom's highly contagious infection and my MS and compromised immune system can't exist in the same room, so I couldn't go see her.

I was heartbroken when my brother called with that news and then I stopped and thought, "Hey, wait a minute. Those docs aren't God, they don't know when my Mom is gonna die." Only the Great Physician is the giver and taker of life."

I began to pray and reach out to my praying friends via email and Facebook, and they did not let me down. They began to pray too, sending me messages of encouragement, hope and strength to get me through this ordeal.

I got that call from my brother on October 3, a day before my birthday. It's now October 18th. Praise God, my Mom is doing so much better! Even though she's on dialysis until her kidneys are fully functioning again, the good news is they ARE functioning, something the doctors said would most likely NOT happen. She is now clear of the C-Diff infection and I am going to see her tomorrow! I am constantly reminded of something a dear friend of ours Ron Watts said to me many years ago when I was first diagnosed with MS. "Nicki, those doctors just keep on "practicing medicine", but God is still on the Throne." He is the Great Physician, not them." Thank you Ron for putting that into my ear during my time of trial, I have not forgotten it and never will.

All I can say is Thank you God; the author of life, our Creator, Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who Heals! And a big thank you to everyone who has prayed for my Mom these past 3 weeks. The Lord answered your prayers in a Mighty way, and my Mom is on the road to recovery. Mom is 84 and this illness has no doubt weakened her, but she is still with us and I will have the opportunity to see her again and tell her how much I love her. I am humbled by your ongoing prayers, love and concern, thank you friends.

As I sit here waiting for the sun to come up in these beautiful mountains of ours, I again, am reminded of the promises of our Lord - to never leave us. Matthew 28:20 says: "Surely I am with you always, even until the end of the age." What a promise that is. No one can say that but God Almighty. He won't ever leave us-- and that, my dear friends, is the gift of eternity.

                                                            Sunrise over Mt. Pisgah.
My verses for today are in red: 

My prayer for today:

Thank you Jesus for my Mom's healing. Thank you Jesus for my brothers and their vigilance in watching over Mom and Dad. Thank you for the doctors and nurses. Continue to give them wisdom and guide them in their decisions regarding Mom's care.

I ask all this in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, My Lord and Savior
Amen