My cup runneth over!! I can't begin to describe all I was feeling as I sat in church this morning, soaking up all that God was speaking to my heart. To say that I feel God pursuing me, getting me to finally drop my worries and insecurities, would be a gigantic understatement!
I've already shared that we're studying the armor of God (The Believers' Battle) right now in church. Today's message was on the shield of faith. We already know that battles are inevitable. We have to be ready, to stand firm. We are to always be wearing the belt of truth (an attitude of readiness), the breastplate of righteousness (living a holy life), and shoes with a firm foundation ready to stand our ground (and to know and be confident in that God is on our side). These are a part of our everyday lives.
But, Ephesians 6:16 calls us to,
"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one."
The stakes are high and the devil is shooting those arrows. We have to know when we're under attack and need to know how he'll attack. Remember in Genesis 3:1-5 when Satan was tempting Eve to eat the fruit? He was trying to deceive her. Trying to get her question what God had told her.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when Pastor John pointed out how Satan attacks. In that moment, all the questions I've had came rushing back:
Sure you heard it right?
Did He really say that?
Sure you can believe that?
Can you really pray about that because you really don't deserve that.
To fight in the battles I face, I have to remember where the thoughts are coming from. I have to take up the shield of faith when Satan shoots and intercept the thoughts meant to destroy me.
I have to resist him.
(1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith...")
I have to take up the shield of faith.
(1 John 5:4, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.")
I'm so thankful for the truth in this message. I'm so thankful for the way God loves and pursue me!
1 comment:
Tammy, this is so for me today --- guess that is why I have not caught up on my blog reading for a while. Satan so used me to make another miserable because of my doubt. It is hard for me to think that I actually doubted God - so I can justify it all usually....But thank you for smacking me in the face with truth!!!
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