It was as an eleven year-old girl lying afraid in the night watches, that I had my first experience with spiritual warfare as my family was in the midst of deep personal turmoil. It was a scary and confusing place. One that, sadly, the church historically has not done a good job in guiding and caring for its sheep. I have observed consistently across many years of church experience from Episcopal to Baptist, Presbyterian to Brethren, that true, Christ-honoring dealing with spiritual warfare is rare. Why? 1. Dealing well with Spiritual Warfare is, in itself, Spiritual Warfare. What better way for the Enemy to keep us divided as believers and impotent in the fight, than to see our views polarized? Those who talk more freely about spiritual warfare are seen as having a low view of the sovereignty of God. Those who are reluctant to use the term 'spiritual warfare' are seen as ignorant to the battle in the heavenly places. If we cannot agree on how to teach an understanding of spiritual warfare, confusion will overtake the flock. So we remain in disunity and skeptical of one another as disagreement pushes out prayer. 2. The term 'Spiritual Warfare' has lost its meaning due to this confusion and inadequate teaching. If I initiate a discussion on 'spiritual warfare', the predominant response is that I am speaking about physical manifestation of demonic or angelic powers. While I have had isolated instances of these experiences, I believe someone can engage in spiritual warfare daily, faithfully, and never experience any overt representation of demonic or angelic power. Yet, the strong connotations of the term 'spiritual warfare' stunt our ability to learn and grow together around God's Word. 3. We are proud and lack humility to learn from those with different understanding. It is true that we must test and not blindly believe what those in other Christian denominations believe. This is good and right. But our own personal understanding is shaped by our environment, even when there is solid Scripture behind it. There is too much in the infinite depths of God and His Word for anyone to claim complete understanding on something as complex as spiritual warfare. We need to learn to engage in discussions that increase all of our fervency and heart for prayer. Returning to my story, I am so thankful that the Lord did not leave me as a confused little girl of eleven. While I struggled for many years with questions without answers and no one whom I found the courage to ask, the Lord led me gently as He increased my faith and heart for prayer. I am forever thankful for the legacy of prayer in my family. I have always been exposed to those whose views would range from a charismatic-bend to strongly reformed, yet whose prayer lives I deeply respected. When on their knees, in the presence of God, they all knew how to battle. In turn I learned to lay my questions down through a spirit of worshipping the God of All Love, Goodness, Faithfulness and Power. Questions are good. Discussions can be beneficial. Yet NOTHING ought to hold us back from increasing time in prayer, as we embrace, in faith, the God who, in Christ, has put all things under his feet...the ones pierced to redeem all of the darkness of this fallen world. Join me next time for Re-Defining Spiritual Warfare Part 2 :: The Three Essentials About AbbyI am wife to a wonderful man, mama to three precious now-little-but-soon-will-not-be loves. Each born in a different place--two states including 2 states and 2 countries. I am a farm girl who found her heart in the city. I can now claim fluency in 3 languages :: English, Spanish & Hungarian.This combined with the all-too-true 'mommy brain' explains much regarding my mental state most days;) I am a sojourner longing for Home. Yet, in my messy and broken, I embrace the moments given with all I have. I am seeking, praying, and learning again and again that it is for His Glory I live. My prayer is that my little life would make much of Him! I write regularly at Abigail Alleman. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
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“Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” 1 Samual 16:7 It’s Sunday morning. Dress dances around my ankles as I rush into the Dollar Store for a few last minute items before our house fills with people. I don’t know what it was; my business, me thinking about what “I” needed, or the fact that stress alone nearly consumes me… But my eyes fix on her, there, behind me in the checkout isle. Black, tightly fitting clothes revealing her bra and tattoos from well…all over. Booty shorts with a guarder attached to long, fishnet stockings. Excessive weight bursting out from her scantily clothed body. I try to “see” her, trying not to stare. Head down, her multicolored hair strung over her heavily pierced face. Day old make-up caking her face. The first thought that came? “Street-walker. Strung out from a party she’d just waken from”. I mean after all, what was she doing in here? Didn’t she know it was Sunday? And isn’t it funny how high heels, a little anxiety, and a week full of feeling pretty-darn-good about yourself, can turn a heart from saint to sinner; Jesus loving to people condemning….revealing judgments and criticisms hidden, like a monster, in places resurrecting from a place we don’t see. Yet, before I really stop to understand who she is, I prance out the door, filled with more than the party supplies I came for. In the depth of my soul, hid an ugliness I had never known…the kind you don’t dish out at parties, on Sunday. But finally, my lack of Philippians 4:8 mind, gripped me. I started repenting. I mean, how did this monster of criticism resurrect, taking a “normal” Christian, and changing her into one of “those” judging, critical, self-righteous people”? You know…the ones we all detest. See, the thing about criticism is that it hides, lurks, quite frequently waits to show its ugly head when no one’s looking; disguising its existence with pity, a prayer request, sympathy, or even a smile and a fancy dress. But in reality, judgment rips and scars, divides, and pierces; being the same spirit behind those who exalted themselves, justifying their reasoning for putting Jesus to death on the cross. The only remedy? Humbling ourselves. Repenting. Remembering who we were before Jesus rescued us. In my twenties, I lived blocks from where prostitutes walked in Seattle. I have always loved the “different”, compelled by originality, curious as to what makes people “tick”. Yet, what happened to me? How did I become someone who now plays God, judging between who is “good” and “bad” simply by how they look, on the outside. Worse yet…Where had this monster of piety been hiding? And why had I never seen it before? Didn’t the Great Physician come to heal? And how can we reach the world, if we can’t even love the ones God puts in front of us…here, now, in our very own neighborhoods? Living missionally requires our heart of hearts to purge themselves from secretly harboring the monster of criticism and judgment. The Bible talks about a feast. (Luke 14:1-24) Jesus tells about how the master prepared the table and told his servants to invite others to eat. Everyone makes excuses. The master gets mad. Then He says, “Go, invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame”. And they came and ate the fullness of what the Master had. Oh, let us not forget, “the first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Matt 20:16) And that those who are most needy, are the exact ones, Jesus came to die for. Even if it’s me…disguised in high heels. About JenThough born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations. Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios. Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s. Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family. You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda . Jen is also on facebook. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
I could daily feed a starving nation with the crumbs from my floor. I have a 4-year old and a 2-year old. I am fairly certain that my 2-year old feels it is his calling to make sure I have plenty of housework. He is most content when he is making a royal mess someplace. One morning as I was sweeping up the remnants (read: an entire plate) of food from the floor, I looked down and saw a message from God right there in the pile of food mixed with dust bunnies and dried play dough. Would you feed these crumbs to your children? The voice asked. I knew the obvious answer. Of course not! What mother would feed her child garbage when she has a pantry full of healthy food? And yet you feed your spirit with dry, stale crumbs from last year’s feast. Those words slammed against my heart with a force I could not ignore. When was the last time I had a testimony to share? When was the last time I had slowed down long enough to allow God’s Word to speak something fresh and new? When was the last time I read God’s Word for me and not to find a message to share with my Bible study group? I knew the answer to those questions; even though I didn’t want to admit that the answers were not impressive at all. Moldy crumbs from the floor. That’s what I had been feeding myself. All the while, sitting next to me on the table was a feast of fresh rhema that was waiting to be devoured. How will we have the energy to battle for a world that is being ravaged by the forces of darkness if we are malnourished and weak? Revelation tells us that saints overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. We have the blood of Lamb on our hearts; but what about our testimony? What has the Lord spoken to you lately? How has He come through for you in a supernatural way? Has He healed your body or provided for you in time of need? Do you have a fresh story to share with the skeptic who questions whether God is real? You see, we don’t feed ourselves to make ourselves fat and happy. We feed ourselves so we can continue to labor and serve in the kingdom! We live in a spiritually impoverished world that has gorged itself on the rottenness of immorality, profanity, and hedonism that has left it sick and bloated with sin that has completely eaten away every healthy cell until it is diseased and wasted. We hold the healing in our hands; we carry it in our spirits: the Word of God, our testimony, and the gospel message that brings healing and salvation. We receive so we can give. This week I purpose to be more intentional about turning off the noise, gathering my scattered thoughts, focusing on Christ and His Word, and receiving a personal word from Him to me; so that in turn, I can feed a starving world with fresh goodness from the Lord that will heal souls and draw them to the One who both saves and delivers! About RosilindRosilind is an American girl married to a Bosnian guy who lives in a small village just outside of Zagreb. They have two crazy boys 3 and under who are as opposite as boys can be. When Rosilind isn't writing, she is dreaming up recipes and searching for ways to organize her home better. You can find her at A Little R & R where she writes about missions, marriage and family, toddler activities, and her recipes. You will also find her onFacebook, Twitter and Pinterest. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs This past Christmas Malcolm bought me a pearl necklace and earrings from a Narimon box (which is this amazing organization that helps women out of sex slavery - please go to www.narimon.org to find more). We are not wealthy people, but knowing that Malcolm thought I was worth the money to buy me something precious made me literally cry! The first month I owned them I wore them almost every day - didn't matter if I was wearing a nice sweater and clean pants or a grungy sweatshirt and jeans they made me feel beautiful no matter what my situation or mental mindset. I feel a little silly that I am this excited about an earthly object, but I seriously have not received a gift that made me feel so worth while! At the Missional Women Conference (which you all HAVE to go to next year, it was amazing), I was realizing I had been holding parts of my heart back from God because I was tired of being disappointed. (So really that's the spiritual way of saying I was throwing a hissy fit.) I was talking to the Lord during worship Saturday morning, being honest about how I was afraid of getting my heart broken for not getting these good things that I thought I should get. "Leah, what's around your neck?" The Lord asked me. "Well, my pearls. They are the prettiest thing I own," I replied. "How are pearls made?" "Well, pretty much they are the results of irritants inside a clam, right?" BAM! I think the Holy Spirit filled in the rest for me from there. I realized that my most precious earthly possession reflects the most precious thing I get to invest in. The Lord gently brought to mind all the girl's I've had the chance to invest in this year. He brought to mind those times where they have been difficult and irritating for me, and how I constantly remind myself that they are being perfected in Christ. He reminded me of the people I have persevered with to share the gospel with, and how this year I got to see someone come to know Christ before my eyes! Christ is the prize, and Christ is the ultimate reward of heaven, but God showed me just how much He has blessed me with precious gifts - these girls I get to work with every day, and the lost that I am called to reach out to - are the most beautiful thing I have been given. My little string of irritants! They start out as something unwanted in the world, and are now a new creation - this beautiful pearl that has been transformed by God's grace and redemptive work in their life. "Leah," the Lord cries to my soul, "take care of my pearls! They are precious to me, just like you, my pearl, are precious to me. I hear you and know, now hear and know Me - don't fix your eyes on what you don't have yet, but remember what you have now." I have no clue if this has made sense to you, dear reader! But the main thing is that you are a gem - a rare jewel produced through extraordinary circumstances! And so are the people around you. Investing in people is the most worthwhile thing you could ever do because they are precious to God too. Don't ponder on what you don't have, but realize the precious gift you have been given right now. Who is making up your string of pearls right now? Who have you been investing in in discipleship and evangelism? Take time and pray for these precious pearls, and ask God what your next step is to lead them towards Christ. To my pearls this semester- Rachael, Missy, Katarina, Jemletta, Kate, Kelsey, Sarah, Jordyn, Rachael, Layla, Meghan, Becca, Kara, Anna and all my other Connect ladies - you are so precious to me! You make the great commission a great line of work to be a part of! You are beautiful inside and out. I know you have been facing difficult things, and that you haven't always done things perfectly this semester, but God sees you as His perfect pearl - completely different from before you accepted Christ! And if I love you and see you as precious, God does too - abundantly more so!! About LeahLeah works with Master Plan Ministries at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Other than watching college students' lives change, she enjoys getting her mind blown by God and His Word, watching sci fi, baking cupcakes, and spending time with her hunky husband. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. -Philippians 4:8 God gave Adam and Eve every blessing under the sun. The Lord walked with them in the garden daily. Every one of their needs were met. Can you imagine not having to wonder what you were going to do for supper each day? There was no sin. Can you imagine a life without any regrets? They were naked and they knew no shame. That’s right ladies we can quit blaming our husbands and children for those endless piles of laundry – that curse came from Eve. Yet, even though Eve had everything she could ever want or need she found herself discontent. Have you been there? When my parents were first married they were madly in love but just like most newlyweds they didn’t have two dimes to rub together. They had a home to live in, a car to drive, food on the table and each other. They had everything two, happily in-love, newlyweds should ever want. However, while they were out one day they came across a stereo. Now this wasn’t any regular stereo this was the stereo. They thought this was the only thing that was missing from their lives. It had everything a fully-equipped stereo should have in 1979: record player, 8-track tape deck, cassette player, large speakers and AM/FM radio. This stereo was top of the line and loaded! It even had a beautiful wooden cabinet for storage. They were in love! They desperately wanted this stereo, they daydreamed about it and talked about it. They even went to visit it together on their days off work. Seriously. It sounds ridiculous, right, but I am sure you can relate to this as well as I can. The enemy knows that one of the easiest ways he can distract our eyes from following God is by sowing a tiny seed of discontentment into our hearts. The problem was that the stereo was $600. The equivalent of $600 in 1979 would be approximately $2000 in our day. Not that the average newlywed can afford $600 in today’s money, but $2000 is a large chunk of change when your income barely covers your month’s expenses. My parents realized very quickly that it would take years for them to be able to save up enough money to afford this stereo. So what did they do? After a year of daydreaming and silly visits, they were finally able to build up enough credit to take it home with them. They excitedly brought home their very first, top of the line stereo. They opened the box, plugged it in and enjoyed their favorite records on large, expensive speakers. But by morning the excitement had faded. They awoke and realized the fulfillment they were expecting was not there. They were not only feeling emotionally empty, they did not receive the joy they were so sure they would have after a year of waiting and now they were $600, plus interest, in debt. The same seed of discontentment that my parents battled was the same seed planted by the enemy into the heart of Eve. Can you imagine the grief that swept over Eve, after being lured into making this brash decision? She fell for it. She bought the enemy’s lies of empty promises. God warned, “Don’t even touch the tree.” But instead of choosing to believe and trust His word she had to explore the why. My friend Laura Krokos put it this way “If Eve wasn’t content in the Garden, what makes me think I will be content if only my circumstances were different? Contentment doesn’t come from perfect circumstances but from fixing our eyes on Jesus and what’s eternal, not on what’s temporary.”
Did you pay attention to the form in which Satan appeared to Eve? It was a serpent. I think it’s interesting that the enemy never pops up with temptation saying, “Hey, it’s me Satan. Follow me and watch your life crumble before your eyes.” Remember at this time the world was sinless. The animals lived in unity with one another and the humans. There wasn’t death. Although, this is hard to imagine, at this time the woman did not look upon the serpent with disgust and fear. From experience and knowing how Satan usually draws us into sin, it’s likely that Eve was very close to the serpent. I cannot say that with certainty but it wouldn’t surprise me. Especially with how much hatred is now between the woman and a serpent – sin destroys unity. Did you also notice how the serpent spoke to Eve? The enemy is very crafty in his deception (Genesis 3:1-5). He posed his deception in the form of a question. Think about it, have you heard this question before?
Satan is not omniscient. He is not all knowing, but he sure knows how to come after us. If you want to destroy a person’s confidence, plant a seed of doubt in their mind in the form of a question. For instance, imagine that someone came up to you and said, “Did you really think about that outfit before you put it on today?” If I was asked that question you can bet your bottom dollar I would be rushing to the nearest full length mirror. I would be checking to see if there were any unknown holes in my pants, if my shirt was see-through in that horrible florescent lighting or if my cellulite was showing? This question Satan poses here infuriates me - because of all the many times I have heard this lie and how often I have believed it. We must take note of this lie, pray that the Lord will put our minds on high alert to recognize when Satan’s deception begins to trickle into our thinking. The only way we can guard ourselves against the deception of Satan is to relentlessly pursue a relationship with Christ. Learn His voice and believe Him when He says, “No”! Not only do we need to believe it, we must train our hearts to run. Run with urgency away from the sin that is trying to lure us. We can’t even allow our minds to tiptoe around the enemy’s lies. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Take a minute to reflect:
If you find that the enemy has been playing the comparison game in your mind, if you find that you are living in the land of “if only”. If only I had this, if only my life was more like, if only…– catch it, catch that lie friend! Hold it up to the light – you have been deceived! Look over your life right now, are you believing or wrestling with lies of justification? “Did God really say…?” If you are discontent right now – a change in circumstances will not fix it. We can find contentment only when our lives are aligning with the goodness and guidance of our Savior. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. – 1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NIV) About MelissaMelissa Bradley is married with two small children. She is a co-founder of a City-Wide Women’s Ministry, The Well. She currently serves and assists in various churches around her community. The burden of her heart is to see the churches in her city come together to be the hands and feet of Christ. She is passionate to live every day missionally. You can also find Melissa at www.Melissa-Bradley.com. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs Never before in history has success been so attainable. The ability to create and distribute digital media has unlocked the door to an international presence in unprecedented ways. Success truly lies at the fingertips of anyone with a computer and Internet capability. But what does this mean for us as Christians? The sad truth that this era of social media, YouTube, American Idol, and the knowledge that this fame, which was a mere fantasy for previous generations, can be a reality, has fed our tendency to narcissism, indiscretion and a belief that the world’s definition of success is the only viable measure. But is it? Is success having a secure financial future, a nice retirement, and a piece of the American dream? Is this what Joshua meant when he said, “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success”? – Joshua 1:8 Wisdom is the ability to view this life, our journey, and destiny through a completely different lens – through a spiritual lens that offers more than just a different perspective to discussion of success, it offers a whole new definition. Even among Christians, the concept of success is paired with notoriety, money, status, and visible, traceable results. Successful ministers have books, large followings, nice suburban homes, and rub elbows with other notable ministers. While these things are certainly not wrong, when we choose to use them as landmarks for success, we are forfeiting the opportunity to view success in a deeper dimension. The spiritual dimension of success I am awed by many of our Christian predecessors. By today’s standard of success, they were miserable failures. They not only had few material possessions and certainly no financial future to speak of; they were often rejected by the mainstream church and its followers. Some were forced to resort to outdoor meetings because no church would allow them to darken their doors. Missionaries, after having buried loved ones in faraway lands, died themselves without one known convert to Christianity. Only after their own death did the flames of the true gospel of Jesus Christ spread like wildfire through the villages and tribes where they served. My grandmother, an invalid and unlikely evangelist, led many souls to Jesus Christ in her small one-bedroom apartment. She was neither rich nor famous; certainly no paragon of success. And yet she had something that many lack today. Eyes to see eternal riches One day our kingdoms of success will disintegrate into ashes of worldly aspirations built on faulty foundations, and we will see what these heroes saw through the prism of the eternal; true success cannot seen with the natural eye, tracked with spreadsheets and pie charts, rewarded with trophies and diplomas, or glorified with biographies and fame. True success is measured in souls. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” – Psalm 11:30 One day we will stand before the throne of Almighty God, and on that day He will not be interested in our books or CDs, our youth and music programs, or our huge outreaches that attracted hundreds of spectators. He will not reward kingdoms built by man. On that day He will reward those who labored to build His kingdom with no thought for their own notoriety or reputation; those who were willing to lay aside secure financial futures, corner offices, and nice condos on the beach to labor in the fields like a common man. For they realized that in the common lays hidden the extraordinary. Out of the filthy dirt will arise a kingdom not made by hands. Out of one tiny rotted seed will grow a mighty harvest. And those who dared to soil their hands will one day receive a crown of life from the holy hands that stretched out wide on a splintered cross for us. On that day, those who turned a deaf ear to the chants of worldly fame will hear the holy voice of God say, “Well done good and faithful servant”. And on that day, we will come to know the meaning of true success. About RosilindRosilind is an American girl married to a Bosnian guy who lives in a small village just outside of Zagreb. They have two crazy boys 3 and under who are as opposite as boys can be. When Rosilind isn't writing, she is dreaming up recipes and searching for ways to organize her home better. You can find her at A Little R & R where she writes about missions, marriage and family, toddler activities, and her recipes. You will also find her onFacebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
Yesterday, I was driving on the turnpike and my mind started making a mental list of all the concerns that are weighing down on my spirit right now. We are in a valley season at our house – everywhere my husband and I look in our circle of influence we see a hurting friend or a critical need. I am tired. Sometimes, the cares of this life will make you weary. But, God sees me. He knows my need. So, there in my car, His grace met me through a song. My radio dial is pre-set to a local Christian station, and as I sat there lost in my thoughts, suddenly God grabbed my attention through the lyrics. Praise the Father, Praise the Son. Praise the Spirit, Three in One. Clothed in power and in grace the name above all other names. Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power. Yours is the glory forever. God graciously reminded me that today is His day, not mine. I can walk in confidence knowing that He is sovereignly orchestrating every moment of my day. He has a greater redemptive plan. This morning, I got into my car and drove with greater hope and a sense of purpose. I lifted my heart to Him in prayer. Lord, Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory today and every day. I found freedom in that 3-fold prayer -- Yours is the Kingdom: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 Yours is the Glory: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 Yours is the Power: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 I am so thankful that God’s grace reached out and refreshed my Spirit as I drove to work. May I never forget that my Creator God is firmly in control of every aspect of my life. He is Lord of all. His majesty fills this universe. Nothing is impossible for Him. As I lift my eyes to Him in worship, my perspective changes. As I surrender my day to Him, I find new hope. Through prayer and meditating on His Word, my mind is renewed. I am His. Sweet freedom is mine as I rest in His care. About LyliLyli Dunbar loves teaching. For 17 years, she mentored teenagers in the Christian school setting, and now she has serves as Associate Director of Curriculum at Trinity International University Florida. Lyli married her Prince Charming in her 40’s and has a heart for encouraging young couples and singles in God’s waiting room. She enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. Lyli writes about life lessons and faith on herpersonal blog. You may also connect with her on Facebook,Twitter, and Pinterest. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs When I think of John the Baptist I think of a bold, fearless, leader who had it all together. This man had one of the most important callings to serve God than anyone before his time. If anyone needed to be sure of who Jesus was, it was John the Baptist; that was his sole purpose in life. Yet after being wrongfully imprisoned John began to have doubts about Jesus. In Matthew 11:3 John asks, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Sometimes it can be tempting to say, “Come on John get it together, you of all people aren’t supposed to question who Jesus is!” Or perhaps you are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Perhaps you are thinking that John the Baptist sounds a lot like you feel. A lot of times Christians are either standing in judgment of those who doubt their faith, or instead of having faith that moves mountains, their faith is being crushed by a mountain called Doubt. For both types of Christians the problem is a misunderstanding of the meaning of faith and doubt. Doubt can be intellectual, this type of doubt might need answers regarding the historical evidence for Jesus or whether or not the Bible is reliable. However, most doubt is emotional, this is where you keep revisiting and agonizing over doubt even after you have all the questions answered. Jesus says a very interesting thing about faith in Matthew 17:20, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” It seems that Jesus really wanted his disciples to catch the meaning here because he says it again in Luke 17:6 after his disciples pleaded with him to increase their faith. Now, I don’t know if you have ever seen a mustard seed but they are pretty tiny. It seems to me that any one that has teeny, tiny, super puny faith (like a mustard seed) will also probably have a lot of doubt. So the point of this passage is that even if your faith is really teeny, tiny, and super puny you have enough faith. When we are born, we are born with a certain amount of muscles. It is the same with our faith. When we are born again as Christians we are born with a certain amount of faith. Now as we grow physically we don’t gain another bicep or tricep. As an adult I do not have more muscles than my children, my muscles have grown stronger with use. It is the same with my faith. Now, Jesus gives all of us a measure of faith and it seems that he expects that we will have doubts. However, he doesn’t want us to remain with mustard seed faith, but he wants that faith to strengthen. How do we strengthen our faith? Well, through the power of the Holy Spirit, through applying what the Bible tells us to do, through walking through various trials, and through doubt. Doubt??? Yes doubt can help us strengthen our faith. When doubt drags our faith muscle down, we have the opportunity of pulling our faith muscle back up. It is like spiritual weight lifting. Many of the greatest Christian scholars have used their doubt to find answers and the answers they have found not only strengthened their faith but the faith of countless others. We don’t want to wallow in our doubt but use our doubt to go to Jesus for help, and find answers. Yes, by all means ask questions and research the answers. The answers will strengthen your faith. When you have emotional doubt it is vital to take your thoughts captive. However, realize that there is a spiritual component to doubt. Strengthening your faith is a spiritual battle and must be fought spiritually as well. Doubt needs to be understood as a human condition and not a Christian condition. You will doubt everything in life. Did I marry the right person; find the right job? Did I eat the best thing for lunch? Did I say the right thing? Does so-and-so like me? It goes on and on. Our fallen condition as humans makes us doubters. I want to encourage you with Romans 14:1, “Accept him whose faith is weak.” And again in Romans 15:1, 7, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak. . .Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” For Christians who are quick to judge remember to accept him whose faith is weak and help bear their burdens (Gal. 6:2), and allow them to ask questions. For those who doubt, Jesus still loves you and accepts you. About ErinErin Herbst gave her life to Jesus Christ around the age of eight and has been joyfully serving the Lord since that time. Erin is happily married and has two young children with another on the way. She has been ministering to college students since 2004, with Master Plan Ministries. As well as being a wife, mother, and minister to college students she has also earned a Master’s degree at Liberty University and is in the process of starting a Great Commission Training Center with her husband. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs I saw at my computer in the basement that chilly Sunday evening in North Dakota pounding out a long email to my sister that could rival War and Peace. A missionary had visited our church and shared with us what the Lord was doing in the country where he and his family served. It touched a deep place in my heart, as I was preparing to leave for the mission field in a few months. I was overflowing with excitement! In my mind’s eye I could see an amazing work of God: a revival, an awakening, a New Testament church arising to power and victory in Jesus and the Kingdom of God advanced with authority! The passion of this vision surged through me as I sorted through my belongings; deciding what could fit into my limited luggage and what would have to stay behind or be given away. It wasn’t easy – but that vision in my heart enabled me to make the hard choices. And I embarked on a journey that looks nothing like what it did that wintery night in North Dakota. When ministry doesn’t go the way we plan This August will mark my 10th year anniversary on the mission field. And I can say with full assurance that nothing – literally nothing – has gone as I dreamed it would. Why, then, does God give us these visions and dreams, if He knows they will not come about as we thought?
As I look back on that night 10 years ago, and recall those dreams and ambitions, I can’t help but chuckle a bit. They were immature and filled with deadly pride. During my time here, I have struggled to hang on my those selfish dreams, been forced to let them go, cried tears of loss and disappointment, considered myself a miserable failure, and come to peace with the fact that I cannot - must not - live. It must be Christ who lives in me – and He must work through me. And the joy of death, the sweet aroma of that sacrifice, is worth the loss. Because in dying we live, and in being destitute of self we are rich in Him. This is when ministry truly becomes ministry! About RosilindRosilind is an American girl married to a Bosnian guy who lives in a small village just outside of Zagreb. They have two crazy boys 3 and under who are as opposite as boys can be. When Rosilind isn't writing, she is dreaming up recipes and searching for ways to organize her home better. You can find her at A Little R & R where she writes about missions, marriage and family, toddler activities, and her recipes. You will also find her onFacebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs "God wont give you more than you can handle". We hear it all the time. And here are a couple reactions it provokes, "Yeah, I'm strong, I can get through this" and, "I must be pretty awesome for God to give me harder stuff to deal with than other people." Neither of these are what God is in the business of doing, puffing up our self-sufficient self-esteem. God is in the business of helping us look to Him and depend on Him instead of ourselves. He actually will give us more than we can handle to get us to desperately depend on Him. He is glorified by us depending on Him since He is the All-Sufficient Great I AM, not us. His grace is sufficient, not ours. And besides being utterly false and as far from God's plan for our life, it leads to thinking people who have hard things going on in life have more faith and can "handle more" than those who don't. God doesn't allow hard things to come into our lives to prove how strong we are but rather how sufficient He is. He allows hard things to refine us and reveal Himself as Comforter, Redeemer and a thousand other things. Jesus told us hard times will come to those we perceive as strong and those we perceive as weak, but we can have courage because Jesus has overcome the world. He didn't say, hard things will come only to those who are extra strong. Nope, He was talking to all of us, all who feel strong and all who feel or seem weak. (My good friend Sara just put so clearly into words what it actually does to people who are going through impossibly hard situations to tell them how strong they are because you don't see them crying.) So where did this come from? 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "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." This sure can seem like it's saying God wont give us more than us and our strong selves can handle right? Well, lets look at it. "you are able" in Greek is the word Dunamai and Dunamis which beautifully is the same word used when talking about the Holy Spirit living through us. It means "to show ability (and power); able (enabled by God), empowered. Power to achieve by applying the Lord's inherent abilities. Power through God's ability." Pretty awesome huh! Basically it is saying God will give us more than we can handle, but not more than He can handle. After all, when we are weak, then He is strong! One other interesting thought I'll throw out is the word tempted is the Greek word Pelrazo which means to test, trial, try and tempt. Exodus 20:20 says, "Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." God does test us and that testing can come as hard times but Proverbs 27:21 says it can also come in the form of praise, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives." When we are tempted, let's turn to the Lord and yield to Him, letting the Holy Spirit enable us to endure. To endure means (Gr. Hupopphero) "to bear by being under". It's the word picture of being carried away by an underwater current. As we yield our own self-sufficiency of being able to get through it by ourselves by being strong, the Holy Spirit will give us the strength the Lord provides and we will be carried along with the strength and ability He provides. This verse is all about the Lord being strong in our weakness, not about us being strong by the power of our own might. Let's desperately depend on the Lord today! About Laura Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks to college and women's groups. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
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