Spiritual Attacks

If you are anything like me... your shoulders sink a little at the subject matter of spiritual warfare.   You are tired of the dreaded topic that seems to never go away.   We don't just see and hear the evidence of spiritual warfare on television and radio but we see it in our lives and people's lives around us.  It is prevalent or common everywhere... even in the church.   So you can imagine my hesitation in addressing this topic... but after I posted I heard Dr. David Jeremiah and Dr. Charles Stanley) speak of spiritual warfare as well.   This not only confirmed but encouraged my soul.  
 
In my experience and reading the bible, Christians will experience spiritual attacks from the enemy who will use just about anyone or any situation to discourage and hurt us.  We must not only realize the source of these attacks but where our life needs to be securely fastened to so that we may stand as children of God against the wiles of the Devil. 

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11

"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers  and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirit in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

The Very Real Unseen Enemy to Humanity
I once shared with you a time when I asked God if the devil was indeed real and that very night the spiritual veil was taken down to reveal our adversary.  Like a figure of a human- he has no horns, tail, or pitch fork.  He is no longer the once beautiful angel he once was.  He had no wings.  He had no armor. His outer appearance is scared and blotchy and it is reasonable to imagine this was caused when he was thrown from heaven.

 "He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven." Luke 10:18

Satan's penetrating evil eyes seemed to look straight into my soul.  He was in this dark vertical channel of a chamber that had an orange flickering glow below him.  When I could not stand to look at him anymore (which wasn't long) I turned my head away and that is when I heard a blood curdling scream that startled me awake.  The scream seemed like it was right by my bed side.  I sat straight up in bed and listened but no other scream came.  The tortured scream no doubt came from one of his deceived victims.

Needless to say I told God, " I know the devil is real now."  I didn't need any other further proof then what I saw and witnessed.  Don't make the mistake of thinking the devil is some folktale, myth, joke or some poetic symbolic illustration of evil.  He is very real.  His deception is making people think he doesn't exist or he is some friend of the rebellious.  

Satan has been deceiving many since the very beginning.  His warfare seems to be increasing, probably because he senses his time is short.  Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy but Christ came to give life and life more abundantly.  Satan wants to persuade humanity to put their hopes in material possessions and riches, power and popularity or even health -that way when he takes those things away they see no value or hope in what they perceive as life.  But LIFE isn't what the world believes is life.  Life is GOD who gives of himself.   God gives ensuring love, sustaining hope, lasting peace, abounding joy, undeserved mercy and grace. Things the Devil doesn't want us to know or understand.  In fact he rather deceive in order to steal the reality of those things in our life and he works hard at it.
      

 "Then the dragon became angry at the woman, and declared war against the rest of her children- all who keep God's commandments and confess that they belong to Jesus." Revelation 12:17                 

 
We find out a lot about ourselves in spiritual attacks.  We find out how far from God we are or how close we are to God.  We also find out a lot about God and his ability to keep us calm as we allow him his rightful place on the throne of our heart. 

Dream of a Spiritual Attack

In the dream a man brought a white horse into the front of sanctuary of our church building.  The horse got spooked and ran to the back of the sanctuary where I was sitting.  I calmly put out my right hand knowing somehow it would come to me.  When it came to my hand it transformed into furious white hound and took my right hand into its mouth to bite it.  I was not afraid or even surprised by this sight.    I might have been had the bite actually been a bite but the hound couldn’t harm me.  When the master retrieved the dog, I could see into the animal's mouth.  Around the inside of hound’s teeth was a blue substance that prohibited the hound’s teeth from biting down onto my hand. 

I admit the subject matter somewhat troubled me ... but instead of letting it get the best of me I sought God and after a few weeks these images were revealed one by one. 

Spiritual Attacks

 "Dear Friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.   Instead, be very glad- for these trials make you partners with Christ in his sufferings, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." 1 Peter 4:12-13

"God blesses those are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."  Matthew 5:10

We will all experience as Christians spiritual attacks in one form or another but thank God he has warned us of these attacks in His word and by His Holy Spirit.

Keep These Things in Mind.

1.      Be thankful for the warning from God.  Thank Him for his protection. Psalm91:10-11

2.      Don’t become preoccupied with potential attacks. John10:10

3.      Seek discernment from God concerning those individuals and situations that come across your path. James 1:5

4.     Stay Alert. 1 Peter 5:8

5.     Draw close to God. Humble yourself before God. Stay submitted and reliant on God for understanding especially in the midst of an attack.  God will keep you calm.  James4:7-8

6.     Remember God is on sentinel duty in your life. Psalm27:1-5

7.     Thank Him again knowing you have put your life in His hands. He is your peace. John 14:27
Remember our brothers and sisters who are suffering much more-even at the cost of their own life. 1 Peter 5:9-10 

Addressing Hurt

Hurt that is not dealt with properly can solidify into a wedge.   It then can be driven downward by the splitting maul of our emotions and divide.

I believe the best comforter in hurt is God for no one understands you better then he does.  He can minister to you in ways people just can’t minister to you.

I believe hurt heals with the “choice” to forgive.  That choice to forgive puts us in a position to draw from Christ to forgive others and even ourselves.

Forgiveness starts with a “choice”.   This choice then manifests through God into forgiveness.  You and I have heard some horrible stories of victims forgiving those who hurt them and the world can’t understand this because forgiveness doesn’t come from the world’s point of view who screams out for revenge and continues the cycle of hate but this understanding comes from God who manifests that forgiveness in the person who chooses to forgive. 

I believe one of the reasons people don’t forgive is because they don’t know whom to go to help them forgive – who is God.

I believe another the reason people don’t forgive is because of pride.   They are afraid if they forgive someone they will look weak in their own eyes and other peoples.   Pride is the same reason why people don’t come to Christ.  Pride is why they will continue to hurt … because they won’t give it up for the power of forgiveness.   Hurt that isn’t given to Christ turns into something much worse in a person’s soul.   It turns to all kinds of hate, resentment and even guilt. 

People in this world think it looks “tougher, bolder, deserved,” to hold onto hate but in truth hate the easy way out.   Think if God used that excuse and justification on us… none of us would be going to heaven because He would not had sent Jesus Christ for our sake. 

 “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.   He had done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us…..”  Romans 3:23-25

People’s pride makes it so they love the sin of hatred more then coming to God to manifest the power of forgiveness in their life.  They love the sin more then they love God.  They love the approval of people more then the approval of God. 

I can’t help but think of Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian, who is thrown into a dirty dismal Nazi concentration camp where her beloved father and sister die in the hands of the Nazis.   She later encounters a few of those former Nazis in her older age and she chooses to forgive them. And the choice to forgive manifests forgiveness in her in an instant and both are healed of those past evils and injustices.   

I think of the victim of rap that forgives her rapist.

I think of the parent who forgives the drunk driver for killing their child.

I think of the child who forgives the parent for being absent or abusive.

I think of the husband or wife who forgives the cheating spouse.

I think of Stephen who while he was being stoned prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” and then he died.  Acts 7:59

Then I think of God who has forgiven our sins because his son’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins which made it possible to come to God, become a child of God, and learn to live “in” God’s love and Spirit.

When we don’t give our hurt to God but carry it, what does hurt turn into?  What is produced?

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. “ Matthew 6:14-15

Hurt that is not dealt with properly will turn into something that will torture and torment you.  It will stick you in invisible self-created prison.  Your body will be free to roam but your mind and heart will be chained… stuck in that prison cell you created by not dealing with your hurt properly.  Some of the obvious chains of the mind and heart are the want to withdraw, to go some place not be hurt anymore, a low self-esteem, denial, depression, anxiety, fear, anguish, being continually defensive and so on.     

People try to cover up hurt with sexual immorality, drugs, impure thoughts, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, out bursts of anger, self-ambition, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, division, and other kinds of sin. 

Hurt - if not dealt with properly will not allow you to function properly and will not allow you to draw from God’s goodness. 

Christ Jesus is our comforter when it comes to hurt.  He is our burden bearer.   He is our source of comfort and where we can appropriately work through the hurt with him.  In Christ he reminds us of what we should do and the proper mindset we should have so when it is time to address the person who has hurt us, we can do it in a godly manner.

Sometimes just addressing the situation with Jesus we get over the hurt or offense like a little child who so easily forgives.

Through Jesus we may see our fault in the situation.   We may see where we might have jumped to presumption and conclusions of our own.   We may see the reason we were hurt was because we didn’t mind our own business and got involved in the affairs of others, which only added fuel to the hot flames, which were then spewed onto us.   We maybe able see something from that person’s point of view and understand why they acted the way they did.   (It wasn’t us but something affecting their mind and heart which caused them to suddenly act so grossly and ungodly.  Hurt people hurt people.)  Sometimes we may never understand why people act the way they do.   We could kick the bushes to find what spills out but why?   Sometimes it better we don’t know and just continue to live our life in a godly manner regardless of what goes on around us.

We find we have to love people who hurt us again and again like pagan or corrupt tax collectors or else that hurt will eat away at us and make us hateful and resentful towards them.    They won’t admit fault.   They won’t admit speaking negatives behind our back to others.  They won’t admit thinking the worse of you.  They won’t admit they did this or that.   We love them, forgive them but there is some restraint from now on when it comes to those individuals.  We don’t allow them in that tender sensitive place in our heart and instead we place Jesus there- where he should have been from the very start. 

I guess we wouldn’t see where we need Jesus in all the different places in our heart if the hurts never came.  So in a strange way we can be grateful to those who have hurt us because they have made us stronger in Christ Jesus.

When someone’s trash falls out of his or her garbage truck and lands in our driveway you and I have a choice in how we are going to deal with it.   We can either make that trash our own or give it Christ.

You can't be given authority over your hurt unless you submit and give the authority you think you have for your hurt to Christ.   Jesus says, "And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.   Nothing will injure you." Luke 10:19

Hurt heals with the choice to forgive.  That choice to forgive puts us in a position to draw from Christ to forgive others and even ourselves.

A LIFE WITHOUT WALLS

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Jeremiah 1:5

It is startling to think that before we came into being, God had a plan for our life.

That should speak volumes about God’s love for us.

As an artist, I like for whatever I create to have a purpose and a future. I don’t want to create something that is going to be forgotten in a few years or stuck in a closet or an attic…

I believe God is the same way. He doesn’t create things that don’t have a purpose…. I may not understand that purpose of a mosquito but there is a reason for all the things he created.

Have you ever tried to put God in a box? How about your perceived notion of God in a box?

I find that when I try to put God in a box and tell God what He can and cannot do in my life I only put myself in a box.

A place with walls feels safe but it doesn't allow us to see or experience any further then those walls.

God never puts walls or limits upon us but we do. We are the ones that hinder God’s plans in our life when we decide what He is capable and not capable of doing in our life. We are the ones that hinder his love from touching our life.

God isn’t going to force himself on anyone. That is why he gave us a choice. He loves us too much to put walls up around us for he has a plan for our life that is without walls and limits.

That life, however, comes with trusting God not us or others.

Sometimes we put other people’s opinions over what God thinks we are capable of doing.

We believe in circumstances over what may come out of those circumstances.

We are the ones who dash our hopes.

Would a tree that is pruned ever grow back its fullness, if it were capable of holding its misery?

When we trust in God, nothing is impossible. When we trust God, it doesn’t just affect our lives but the lives of others as well.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

What kinds of negative things do we hang on to? What do we treasure that hinders God’s plans in our life?

Do we treasure the potholes of life over the healing rain that fills them? What would a child do in rain puddle? They would jump into it with pure joy and delight spreading it all over everyone that is near them. God isn’t about potholes but filling those potholes with his love.

I would have never dreamed up the things God has done in my life and is still doing if my life.

Remember God isn't about putting up walls in our lives but helping you tear those walls down.

"Those" Times

There will be times you'll stop running and it will just be a struggle to just put one step in front of the other.

There will be times where you'll wonder why all the strange "happenings" come all at once.

There will be times that everything will fail like a sand castle in a rising tide. No matter how hard you work it all falls apart.

You trust God and asked God to prepare the way, things just don't happen.

And like always, people won't understand where you are coming from even though they might have a lot of observational wisdom. And oh how their words seem like a knife even though they mean well.

People will tell you to pray over your house and family and I will say "strive" to pray for your family and your home but if can't know God knows your "temporary" weakness.

There will be times where you want to know where God is and if he is so powerful why did he let these things happen.

There will be times where you will want to blame God and be angry with God.

I will say this, no matter how hard it gets always turn to God even if your words are bitter.

I will say lament to God and lay it all out.

It's easy to keep the anger and let all the hurts burden us BUT something happens when we lay our deeply troubling matters out before God even with tears in your eyes and an ache in your stomach and anger in our cries.

I don't understand why we go through hard times and I won't pretend there are any easy answers.

I won't tell you why the reasons we go through these hard times because there is sometimes no really good answer I can really give.

I will say even if it seems God is against you and you feel you are all by yourself, know he's listening.

Know that tomorrow is a new day.

Know this is all temporary even though it may all seem stuck and even going backward.

Life is hard at times.

Hugs to you who are going through rough times.

God Bless

Building Character Through Circumstances

Circumstances can be extreme. Losing a loved one to- a divorce, someone taking out their anger on you, test results that say you have cancer to just feeling like nothing is happening, as it should. Circumstances happen- things happen that are out of our control.

Last night we talked about circumstances and how our perspective and focus determines a lot on how we are going to handle a situation. If our perspective or focus is on ourselves, the world and/or a circumstance we are going to be miserable. We are going to get angry, frustrated, have anxiety, be fearful, and fall into doubt.

But if our focus and perspective is on God and comes from God then we are going to be able to show God’s power in our lives even if the situation leaves us broken and cut deep. When we trust God through our trials and struggles our faith has a chance to grow stronger and when we fail (because we don’t keep our eyes on God) -hopefully we learn from our failures, so we can have successful results the in the future.

“Circumstances” will happen in life but - are we going to give up our faith or get angry with God when those circumstances do occur?

That is what the devil wants us to do. In fact that is one of the ways he tries to keep people away from the faith in Jesus Christ. John 10:10 Jesus says: “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”

Where is our focus going to stay and be during the trying times in our life? Are we going to run to God or are we going to run away from God? Where are we going to go for shelter to heal and to preserver? OR are we going to sink/ drown our burdens in the ways of the world that only bring ruin to our body, heartache, and spiritual ruin?

Romans 5:1-5 Faith–Hope-and Love.

(Our perspective needs to hold and stand steadfast to Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven -faith)

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because our faith, Christ has brought us into his place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we are confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

(Our perspective –faith- in action)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Personally I don’t know anyone who “rejoices” while they are going through the trials and trying circumstances in life but I have seen those who hold strong to their faith. They humble themselves and ignore the evil natures of the tongue and they put one foot in front of the other in the mist of diversity and struggle. They don’t wrestle with the situation but instead believe in God to bring them out of their time of brokenness, hurt, uncertainly and slander.

Paul points out what at the beginning of this chapter? – Our Faith

Paul points out when we run into trials and problems they help us to learn to “endure” and the endurance develops strength of character and this development strengthens our confident expectation of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

Our relationship with our Brother Jesus and our Father deepens. We learn and experience God in ways that we could have never experienced if we had not gone through those trials and struggles.

Paul then points out this very important fact: “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love. 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says that God’s love “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.” God’s love is in us if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and have followed his ways.

You know even when one faces their greatest trials - where it seems impossible to go on- an awesome thing occurs- sometimes without us really knowing it at the time. We are encouraged by the Holy Spirit to carry on.

Romans 8:26 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. An the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

The Lord led me to a testimony by one of the worship Hillsong leaders on youtube. Click link to see.

Watching Jill share her heartbreaking testimony of her losing her baby son Max… the night after he was born and listening to her friend Brook Fraser speak of the battle her friend was going through spoke to me about Jill’s character. Even in Jill’s hurt and brokenness Jill turned to God. God showed his love by reminding her of His truths and His purpose for her life. The Holy Spirit was interceding for her and encouraging her to continue to sing and worship even though she didn’t feel like it.

And I know there are times when we don’t feel like reading God’s word, worshiping God or singing to him because of whatever circumstance but I have found that during those times just as Jill, the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to do so – regardless of my feelings and gradually my perspective and focus goes back to where it needs to be – on God. The Provider, Father, Counselor, Protector and Savior.

I thought about her deep cut emotions as a mother carrying her child inside of her and losing in him within a 24 hour period and how the Devil had tried use her loss to his advantage to challenge and weaken her faith. How the devil hates when we are salt and light to others and how much we are a threat to him. How we are considered a threat to Satan and his demons when we live and stand for God.

Then I thought what it must have been like to be in the midst as Jill was singing, “Desert Song” knowing what she was going through and how much that spoke of her faith in God and her strong character as a Christian woman. What she was sowing with her outward testimony –powerful!

I remember praying for a pastor and his wife’s newborn baby in California. I was trusting in
God to touch this baby’s organs that weren’t functioning properly and when I got news that the baby died I myself mourned their loss. To my surprise the words of the pastor and his wife weren’t of angry and regret but of gratefulness. God gave them enough time to connect with their son and time to realize that God was in control and even if their child couldn’t be with them, he would be in the greatest arms ever known- The Creator of the universe.

I thought about how delicately God works in our lives and sometimes- without us really knowing. I thought how God helps us overcome our circumstance and supernaturally shows himself in our life. I thought of the love of God in us (the Holy Spirit)- that never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance speaks in volumes of our God who loves us, comforts us, and gives us a peace beyond understanding. How this should speak of the character of God’s people and where our focus needs to be always.

Jill chose to not allow her circumstance to drive her away from God- may God help us do the same in all things- in Jesus name.

There are three things that will endure- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Taken to Heart

Condemnation, fear, accusation, negative sentiment that isn’t from God but is taken to heart can really hurt you. It can strip you of your peace and make you feel physically burdened. Lord Jesus guard our hearts and minds, and restore those who have been hurt by things that aren’t true and aren’t from you. And we thank you in Jesus name. Amen.

Colossians 3:15-17
“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful heart. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

Max Lucado's Fear LESS Part 1 (Video)
http://maxlucado.com/fearless/message01.html

Max Lucado's Fear LESS Part 2 (Video)
http://maxlucado.com/fearless/message02.html

Sharp Words That Get To You

When the other children woke up next morning (They had been sleeping on piles of cushions in the pavilion) the first thing they heard- from Mrs. Beaver- was that their brother had been rescued and brought into camp late last night; and was at that moment with Aslan. As soon as they had breakfast they all went out, and there they saw Aslan and Edmund walking together in the dewy grass, apart from the rest of the court. There is no need to tell you (and no one ever heard) what Aslan was saying, but it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot. As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him.
"Here is your brother," he said, "and- there is no need to talk about what is past."
Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I’m sorry," and everyone said, "That’s all right." And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again - something ordinary and natural- and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward one of the leopards approached Aslan and said,
"Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."
"Let him approach," said Aslan.

Pages 138-139 "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" By C. S. Lewis

What is in the past let stay in the past. Think about that for a moment. If you are holding onto the past you will always be stuck emotionally in the past.

Colossians 3:13
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

Edmund was spoken to about his actions. As Christians, we all know when God has corrected us on something in our lives. We can feel it inside our soul. And it isn’t our business to know what God has said to others just to us. We should just to be glad that God is working in each of our lives.

Proverbs 3:11
"My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."

Third party evolvement. If you didn’t hear it come out of mouth of the person who spoke it then it wasn’t for your ears to hear. A third party, meaning well or not meaning well could easily manipulate or misunderstand the content in which something is spoken by someone else. If someone has said something negative about you then let it be his or her idle word against your silence in Christ.
(Remember it is not our silence, you and I want to stand in because our silence has a tendency to breed thoughts and emotions that lead to sin and a poor representation of Christ.) We want to stand in the silence of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies."

Matthew 12:35-36
"A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And I will tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."

Luke 6:45
"A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say."

Matthew 5:11-12
"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."

Here's a hand to get back onto the ROCK of Christ my friend.

As A Stone in a River.

You know what I miss? I miss hiking up into the hills where there isn’t another soul around and where there are mountain rivers that bring calmness and reflection to ones soul.

A few blogs ago I wrote about understanding hurt.

How about when there is no understanding of why someone has hurt you? How about when there is just the continual or constant reaping of hurtful actions towards you even though you have done nothing to deserve it?

Obviously you haven’t been hostile toward them. You haven’t quarreled with them. You haven’t been jealous of them. You haven’t had some selfish ambition that regards them in anyway. You haven’t wanted division. You haven’t envied them or gossiped about them. (Galatians 5:19) But still you receive these hurtful actions from these people.

You try to practice forgiveness and kindness towards them but you are starting to realize a clog. You want to pull back from everything and everyone one and become a solitary hermit because you see the world and everyone in it as fallible. You don’t want to share with anyone your troubles because they will probably tell you everything you already know instead of give a truly sympathetic and understanding ear.

The reflective hurt of past trespasses circle around you as these same individuals again offend you and leave you bleeding internally. The wound is only made larger has others pile on their ideas, perspectives, struggles and frustrations out upon you. Soon a deadly bacterium called "resentment" begins to consume your soul and you don’t want to care anymore.

You keep hearing Peter in Matthew 18:21 ask Jesus, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" and Jesus replies to Peter with "No! Seventy times seven!"

You know Jesus tells us to love our enemies in Matthew 5:44. But your soul is screaming, "When is enough ENOUGH?" I too have felt this way.

This is where the mind knowledge and the natural tendencies of a Christian soul must fight and seek God’s peace and perspective on situation. We need intercession by God's Spirit to help us fix our thoughts on God alone (Isaiah 26:3). I have cried so many times in the lap of Jesus but each time I have - this jagged rock of myself has become more rounded as a river stone being rounded in the different currents of a river.

I too hope one day, that these hurts won’t mean that much to me anymore and they will run over around me like water over a smooth rounded stone. .

Jesus is our rock and he was beaten so that we might have peace (Isaiah 53:3) I say without Jesus in my life I would find no peace. God doesn’t promise life without hurt and without suffering- we all know that. And it seems mercy is something we cannot attain enough of in this life.

There is time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3).

I’ll leave you with this:
"Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." Galatians 6:8-10

Understanding Through Hurt

When we hurt someone or someone hurts us… what are the reasons for it? 

Why do people choose the words they do?  Why do these words hurt so much?

The enemy of our soul knows the exact why to hurt us.  He knows what words to use.  He knows what words stop us in our tracks.  And he will use anyone to say them...  Some do not believe this but what words scream out for you to speak in the midst of conflict?

What voice are you listening to in the midst of hurt?  Do we absorb those hurtful words- those words that sometimes come out of no where like a sniper shot.   Why now? Why come after you?  What did you deserve to get such words?  Or were you just in the path at the wrong time?  Or is it because you are a child of God?  

Why did people hurt each other? Do they hurt us because of something in their past? Do they lack understanding and compassion? Are they suffering themselves? Do they lack self-esteem? Are they so hard hearted that it has made their brain hard as well. The brain seems to not know or even care what is coming out of their mouth.  Not only that but have seemed to forgotten has badly they have treated you.  You confront them on it and they seem to have to no recollection of those times.   They seem to even think they have done you some kind of good service by doing what they did.  They had some reason to say and do the things they did....   


Beware of such folks... forgive them but keep them arm distance away from you.  Some people believe to forgive is to forget... and I tell you: You are to forgive where they have "pained" you so so the pain doesn't fester and become infected and cause you resent and hate and become revengeful and drag your soul to hell but you don't forget.  God tells us we must forgive others or we will not be forgiven besides you want to go to hell for someone's wrong? You want to live in a prison of your own hate while they walk around free?  WHY?  Christians aren't their own... not only do they have to answer to God for their wrongs but we should feel sorry for those who hurt us because they will have to answer to God because we are His.

I have found we must be careful who we lean towards and trust.  We must be careful who we look to for affirmation.  Some people will take the very words you have spoken in confidence and use them against you.  Learn from those situations.... just because people give you tokens of their thoughts you don't have to spill your thoughts as well especially if you don't want what you have shared to be given to other people.   

Where is the mind when we "expectantly or unexpectedly" get hurt by someone?  Is it all based on emotions and the natural tendency to get even, flee, to get on the side of offense or defense....?  Some people, particularly men have a difficult time pin pointing why they feel a certain way so they cover it over with some other defense... some so afraid of what others might think of them lie and lie and lie and when the lies don't do anything for them anymore they RUN.  That is why is is so important to have loving respectful honest conversation with our spouse.  If they don't feel safe in sharing their feelings and feel as if their feelings will be used against them then you are pushing that person AWAY! 

What is our natural tendency to do when we get hurt?  Do we "stuff it" only for it to blow up later.   Do we let it burden us?  Do we take it to heart?  Where does the mind GO when it gets hurt?  Do we believe what people say more then what God has told us?  Do we hold onto the hurt or give it God?  Do we say, "HERE GOD take it" but on our way out, pick it up again?
 Why do you think God’s word says to love Him with all your heart and mind?

God says to not strike back in word or action for God has total knowledge of the situation.  TURN the other cheek but it is difficult to do when we don't put our focus on God and our spiritual scale is off kilter....  God emphasis on our lives need to be more then people's words and actions- good or bad.  For we will not stand before people but God when God takes an account of our life.

Matthew 5:22 "But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell."
 
Some people might want to seek an explanation but depending on the person we might not want an explanation.   We might humbly say we are sorry for whatever offense we might have caused and if nothing else is said- maybe it is best to let it go without an explanation.  When you talk to someone about how they hurt you, don't get sucked into even more damaging emotions and feelings... some people have a special ability to make you feel worse after speaking to them....  If you know that is the tendency with such a person it is best to let it go.   Do what you know is right... God knows... God knows... God knows...  Honor God and at the right time God will honor you.

When we get hurt, not of any fault of our own, are we gaining some kind of understanding or getting a little taste of what Christ went through for us?
So the actions and whipping tongues hurt for a little while but as long as we are "reminded" what Christ took upon himself we will not lose faith. We will not give into negative thoughts that breed resentment, anger, fear, frustration, revenge and/or wrath but we will hold fast to the tower of our strength and be encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Grace and forgiveness will flow from us- replacing the natural tendencies that only come from human understanding.

Remember everything not done in love is worthless. (1 Corinthians 13:3) Ask yourself, will what I do and say be out of love or out of pointless selfishness and/or vengeance?  Ask yourself- do you belong to yourself or God?

Words can be an ally or an enemy according to Proverbs.

• "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger."
• "Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
• "Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."
• "A person’s words can be life-giving water, waters of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook."
• "Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction."

1 Peter 3:2 states to wives: "Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over by watching your pure, godly behavior."  BUT I believe we all can use this verse as well.   Words sometimes just get in the way but unselfish godly actions speak a lot louder then words.
 
 Ephesians 5:25 says "And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church." (Ephesians 5:28) "Husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife." ( 1 Peter 3:7) "In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together"
Love is what? God’s word says love is:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

Jesus says this in Matthew 22:37-39: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus says in Matthew 5:43 "You have heard the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

In order to love someone who has hurt us we must take on the attributes of Christ.

• We must not get caught up in our emotions of ourselves. If you do you’ll find yourself with more heartache.
• We must fully realize the truth that we are not our own but Christ’s.
• We must be reliant on God's love not just on people who are unpredictable.
• We must seek direction from God.  Be in his word gaining a great depth of wisdom and "knowing" knowledge of God's word where God can help us use them in every situation that arises.

When we are able to resist what comes naturally by the mighty power of God we won't be question where we stand when its all over. You won’t feel the mental set back of your human ways or understandings and you will also be able to pray for those who have hurt you. Besides I rather hear apologies then make them, how about you?

1 Peter 3: 13-17 "Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, then to suffer for doing wrong!"

Many martyrs for Christ have died and suffered for doing what was right and because of their suffering and deaths many souls have been saved.

1 John 5:3 "Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn’t difficult. For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God."

2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 3:2, 3:7, 3:13-18; Ephesians 1:8; Ephesians 6:10-17, 1 Peter 4:1-19

Why God Allows Pain

A relative recently sent this to me in an email and I thought I would share it with you.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here and I am a barber! And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is that people do not come to me."

"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens is that people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

From: "Faith is a journey, not a destination."

Sidenote to this email:
I think suffering does happens to those people who believe in God but it's a person's level of dependence (or faith) on God in how a person will successfully and unsuccessfully get through it. There is a book in the bible called Job. God called him righteous and a friend of God. He suffered more then most of us can even imagine but it was his dependence, reliance and belief in God that got him through it. Job's life was to prove to Satan that even when God's people suffer for reasons beyond their understanding - their faith in God still remains strong.

God has given us all a choice to love and know Him. He doesn't want us to perish in the fires of hell - by us not believing in his Son Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins and made us acceptable by His own blood. He also didn't want his creation to be forced to love Him -because what kind of love and relationship would that be then? God paid the price for us by giving His Son, Jesus Christ, to die a criminals death on a cross for us. And Jesus' obedience to His Father and his love for us made him give up his life for us. Jesus died for you and me and rose again to prove that he was God's son and - so we could have the fullness of life and eternity in heaven and not hell. He was the messiah that all the prophets of old had talked about in the bible. Jesus was the ultimate sign of God's love for us. God and Jesus have done all the work for us to come to him and it's only our choice to believe or not.

God also has given us a choice to do things that are wrong or do things that are right (to sin or not sin). These things are spelled out in the bible. God hates sin. For us to be right in God's sight is to strive to do right with the help of God's Holy Spirit and depend on Jesus Christ as our "interceder and sole priest" for the forgiveness of our sins. There are no payments to get your mother, father, brother, sister, or uncle Joe's big toe or anything else out of hell. It was their faith in Christ that saves them - NOTHING else. Jesus was our payment and to say we can buy someone's salvation over God's only son's body is CRAZY!

Bad things (also) happen to the innocent because individuals choose to sin which affect other people. They choose to drink and drive. They choose to kill and steal. They choose to have prematerial sex. They choose to have to multiple partners who may carry and spread diseases such as herpes and HIV and AIDs. They choose drugs over their own children. They choose to believe in a false god who tells them to kill millions of people. They choose to pick and choose what they want to believe in God like He is some salad bar god. They choose to rape. They choose to hold on to all their hurts, worries and anxieties. They choose to believe more in their circumstances then the power of God. They choose to not listen to God and not believe in what God says is true. We curse only ourselves in our non-belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Innocent people get poked and stabbed by the thorns of others because "these" others don't have their eyes focused on God but themselves and their situation.

Does pain allow us to see in the mirror? Here's an example: If a person says they are a Christian and then they get crushed by someone- what is going to come out of their mouth and actions? Is it going to be something sweet or something bitter? Is it something that Christ would approve of or not? If it isn't something we know God wouldn't approve, then we know we need go to God to and have him minister to us and encourage us to do better.

Pain also shows us all that we are in need of help and we need to give that pain to God instead of holding onto it. Have you noticed that we aren't vessels capable of carrying around hurt and pain? We don't function the way God wants us to - when we hold on to the hurt and heavy burdens. God made us very dependent on him but when we try to handle hurt and pain ourselves we don't do a very good job (Frankly we stink at it) and often it affects others around us.

Well I am sure there are more reasons why their is pain in this world but this is what I was given.

Battles that Are Close To The Heart

The hardest spiritual battles you will face are the ones closest to your heart. They are things you hope and pray for and when they don’t happen or turn out the way you thought, you feel betrayed by GOD. It’s even harder when you know God as your Father, Jesus as your brother, Savior, Lord and King and the Holy Spirit your guide, comforter and encourager.

The Holy Spirit aches inside your soul but anguish rises within your soul too. You have been cut deep and you think God has let you down and not fulfilled His promises but has HE?

Who is the one who made these requirements of GOD? Who made this dagger? Then who slipped slanderous suggests to God in which you swallowed whole? Who said you were to have all those things? Who made up this plan and this hope or desire? You or GOD?

Did your actions "in the end" speak of why you didn’t get what you desired to get?

Did you get so involved in the situation that you ignore the Holy Spirit's advice?

Mentally a seasoned Christian knows what they’re suppose to do spiritually in a spiritual battle.

And in some way God has prepared his children with the knowledge they need to endure such trials for God never gives us anything more then we can handle.

But it is often when a Christian sets the desires of their heart in front of God's desires, God's preparation/timing, and His will, they become confused, angry and feel betrayed.

Anguish causes our mind to be clouded and we let the enemy's fiery of arrows to strike.

Every destructive suggestion goes unchecked against arsenal of biblical teachings and in turn cause major havoc.... for the enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy the Christian.

And it’s not that Christians aren't aware of these tactics and attacks but a lack of thought and judgment at particular moment which is based on "self" can be like standing in a puddle of gasoline and holding a sparkler.

When we are concentrated only on ourselves and the something goes wrong, it is easy to question God, justify our dark thoughts and actions, and fall.

And this trap… once you are in it, can be hard for most people to crawl out of because of pride, hurt, guilt, shame, anger, rejection, and our assumptions of God.

And people who "feel" that they have been hurt by God will sometimes look upon the hurt similarly as if their earthly father had hurt them.

The truth is the devil works pretty hard on the Christian.. but we make it easier when we don't pay attention to what God has to say. Satan has no power over you unless you give it to him.

Dangerous tempting pathways and poisoned philosophy will be offered to you but don't take them. Christ was tempted so we too will be tempted especially when the battle is close to the heart.

Tough battles do come but don't let them separate you from GOD. The Bride of Christ should always be able to approach the throne from of God even with tears of hurt and sorrow.

Remember what God has said. Nothing can separated us from God's love. Romans 8:38-39

Nothing God has shown you and said to you can be taken away but you have the choice to drop your sword and surrender. You have a choice to turn and try to forget. You have a choice to forsake God or not forsake God.

Healing and wisdom often comes when we are willing to admit our failure, our hurt and confusion to God. It comes when we realize that it's not God that has let us down but ourselves.

Sometimes, we may not ever understand the "reasons" why such "things" happen in our lives but we need to let them go and know God is in charge even when we think things have gone wrong.

And if you can't immediately feel peace knowing this - take one step in front of the other, breath in and out, pour out your heart to God, and know this feeling or season won't last forever ... God comforts the hurting. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4