I’ve had several conversations this week with people who are struggling with the fact that their biggest troubles are with the ones closest to their hearts. In the middle of the storm is hard to remember that the enemy makes a point to know where things will hurt you the most. If you were to have the same issues with someone who wasn’t closer to your heart you would not care as much, and the purpose of the enemy is to steal, kill and destroy, so he’s not going to have tender thoughts towards us, because YOU servant of God are a threat to his plans.
The bible warns us about this when it says, “ From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:52-54
The most important thing is to remember that there have been times when we have allowed ourselves to be used by the enemy to hurt others and that at this moment when you are the one hurting it’s not them, it’s him.” For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12
Try not to engage and fall for the trap. Retrieving is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. Go to your Father because “the Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14) Pray that the Lord will give you wisdom to handle the situation. Sometimes the Lord will tell you that you need to confront the situation and set boundaries with that person. Sometimes the Lord will tell you to allow him to deal with them, and then ask him to comfort you on your pain…
As always I like to hear from you… Have you been in a situation when you feel defeated because the hardest blows are coming in the shape of the ones you love? If you want to share, I’m here to hear it. Even if you don’t I pray God’s wisdom over you.
Many blessings
Do you want to be encouraged in times of trouble? Do you know someone who could use some light out of their tunnel? Don’t forget to pick your copy of Growth Lessons, which is still at 99 cents. It’s never late for giving the gift of faith.
writing in the last few days, between Camp Nano and other distractions I have not been able to sit down long enough to concentrate. I’ve been thinking a lot about how sometimes we are affected by issues regardless if they have direct or indirect impact in our lives.
We believe that we have no control over those feelings and that’s not totally true. Yes, those feelings are normal. We should not stuff them or deny them. We should talk about them and process them, the problem arises when we sulk and get stuck on them.
r on while cleaning floors and that’s when he was killed. I think this is an inspirational story. I believe that in the eyes of God there are no sins bigger than other. A lie and a murder carry both the same weight; maybe not in our eyes, but in God’s eyes. (1 John 3:4-5 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness)
As a believer, a Christian seeks to do God’s will and remain in it. There are times where if we’re not careful, we can take a legalistic approach to the Word of God that could hinder God’s purpose in our lives. In this case I’m talking about sickness and healing.
situation that Bishop Eddie Long is being named in.
It is terrible that as a people we have to be watchful even with those who we have been conditioned to trust, namely men and women who claim to come in the name of God. Sex scandals have not been exclusive to the Catholic Church, many preachers and pastors have fallen short of the grace and those things have become public. It is always disappointing. I think part of the disappointment comes from forgetting these individuals are merely men and women. We have the tendency to elevate their position because of the part they play in our communities, social settings and the body of Christ. The reality is that yes, their responsibility is to lead and teach us about the Lord, but their humanity doesn’t leave with their calling. Actually, as Christians we need to pray harder for our leaders because their attacks and strongholds are often as large as their calling.
know that this is a requirement of the commitment they have made. If sex was the driving force then priests having relations with Nuns or other secular adults would be just as, if not more, prevalent. The truth is pedophilia, rape, and sexual abuse is not sexually driven. They are driven by a deeper disturbance; it’s about control and power more than the sex itself.
Naty Matos 