The following five posts came from my journal on the dates given and were all written while in the Wind and Fire prayer room here in Iowa. I love this place. But I love His presence in this place even more. The ministry of W&F is so anointed and I have so greatly enjoyed learning about what they do from one of the staff members, "Mama" Jane. She has been such an encouragement and a blessing to me over the summer.
......
I am His.
He is mine.
His beauty radiates from the throne.
Confession brings His presence.
He wants to give us mercy.
And peace.
And joy.
And healing.
Sometimes what we want to do so greatly is difficult to do.
FOCUS.
Cover me with the blood of the Lamb, Lord God.
Open my eyes.
Ears.
Spirit.
Heart.
Mind.
... only to receive things of You.
Saving grace has been extended to me.
I'd be a fool not to accept it day after day.
What more can I give?
I give You my praise, all my days... all my days.
Rest.
Reconnect.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Showing posts with label 2 Corinthians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Corinthians. Show all posts
July 23, 2010
November 17, 2008
Ch. 248 - Fight!
Today I kept thinking about warfare and what I wrote about the school a few days ago. And then just a few minutes ago I checked my e-mail and was cleaning out my inbox. I noticed that I had actually saved a devotional from Rick Warren titled 'How to Fight Spiritual Warfare'. Hm. Whaddya know? I actually don't remember reading it. I probably clicked on it so that it wouldn't appear as a new email and was going to read it later. I thought I'd share it on here, because I liked it a lot.
How to Fight Spiritual Warfare
'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]
There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:
1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you’re being attacked, it’s proof that you’re a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense. If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8 [NLT], "The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil."
2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers are very ignorant about the authority they have to use against the Devil. Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples …" He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he’s given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on God’s armor. When Paul wrote about the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle. For instance, I will often pray, "Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don’t want to think the Devil’s thoughts. I don’t want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness."
4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul says the weapons God gives us to use demolish arguments – that’s the way people think; they pull down pretension – that’s the way people think. We take every thought captive.
In this battle for thoughts, we have four weapons: humility, faith, truth, and praise.
How to Fight Spiritual Warfare
'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]
There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:
1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you’re being attacked, it’s proof that you’re a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense. If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8 [NLT], "The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil."
2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers are very ignorant about the authority they have to use against the Devil. Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples …" He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he’s given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on God’s armor. When Paul wrote about the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle. For instance, I will often pray, "Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don’t want to think the Devil’s thoughts. I don’t want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness."
4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul says the weapons God gives us to use demolish arguments – that’s the way people think; they pull down pretension – that’s the way people think. We take every thought captive.
In this battle for thoughts, we have four weapons: humility, faith, truth, and praise.
September 19, 2008
Ch. 193 - Sacrifice
I'm not sacrificing anything.
I don't know how, exactly, but I want to change that.
Sacrifice has new meaning for us as believers. Romans 12:1 says we are to be living sacrifices, and that it's our spiritual act of worship. This is pleasing to God. We should want to sacrifice for our God.
We have to give up our lives and continually give more than we have.
When you sacrifice that which cost you nothing, your sacrifice is greater than you can imagine.
What would the world - and the body of Christ - look like if we willingly sacrificed more in order to serve and please God, as well as serve others?
'For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.'
[2 Corinthians 8:3-5]
I don't know how, exactly, but I want to change that.
Sacrifice has new meaning for us as believers. Romans 12:1 says we are to be living sacrifices, and that it's our spiritual act of worship. This is pleasing to God. We should want to sacrifice for our God.
We have to give up our lives and continually give more than we have.
When you sacrifice that which cost you nothing, your sacrifice is greater than you can imagine.
What would the world - and the body of Christ - look like if we willingly sacrificed more in order to serve and please God, as well as serve others?
'For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.'
[2 Corinthians 8:3-5]
September 18, 2008
Ch. 192 - I NEED YOU
My God, my God, where are You?
I'm not doing too well.
I really need some down time with God... for like, a few days.
That's it.
Nothing and no one but God.
I technically have the freedom to do that, but it's so difficult when you're constantly with people who you know will ask questions. Sometimes I wish I could get away with just not talking to people. Ever. Isn't that terrible?
Today was not fun.
I'm dealing with so much at once, it seems.
Lies.
Death.
Oppression, even.
And to top it all off, it's so frustrating that dinner's at 5! Man!
I just feel tired. I'm so tired I want to scream. Strange, I know, but it's me. What can I say? Tonight I was running and I just kept going and going. Running's my tonic. Whenever I'm running, I'm good to go. Nothing can touch me. But I suddenly had to just stop. I cried out to God and prayed and tried to listen for Him, but I felt so alone.
Right now I feel as if having a relationship with God is really easy... but I'm making it really difficult for myself. Ridiculous.
'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.'
[2 Corinthians 1:3-5]
I'm not doing too well.
I really need some down time with God... for like, a few days.
That's it.
Nothing and no one but God.
I technically have the freedom to do that, but it's so difficult when you're constantly with people who you know will ask questions. Sometimes I wish I could get away with just not talking to people. Ever. Isn't that terrible?
Today was not fun.
I'm dealing with so much at once, it seems.
Lies.
Death.
Oppression, even.
And to top it all off, it's so frustrating that dinner's at 5! Man!
I just feel tired. I'm so tired I want to scream. Strange, I know, but it's me. What can I say? Tonight I was running and I just kept going and going. Running's my tonic. Whenever I'm running, I'm good to go. Nothing can touch me. But I suddenly had to just stop. I cried out to God and prayed and tried to listen for Him, but I felt so alone.
Right now I feel as if having a relationship with God is really easy... but I'm making it really difficult for myself. Ridiculous.
'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.'
[2 Corinthians 1:3-5]
August 18, 2008
Ch. 166 - Wide Open Spaces
GOALS. Do you have any? No? Well, you and me both! If you answered yes, then I envy you. Setting goals is tough for me, for some unbeknownst reason. I've been here two and a half days and having goals has come up quite a few times. At times it was just blaring in my face, other times it was so subtle I barely noticed the topic had been breached. Honestly, though, I simply haven't thought about goals very often.
Thus, I'm trying to see what I can come up with goal-wise. There are the obvious goals that I'm sure most people think of, such as having a good life with a nice job or career. Being successful. Getting married and having a family. Of course, 'being successful' would depend on your definition of success. These said goals seem kind of cliché, but they work. I mean, I do want to have a good life. I do want to be successful. I do want to get married and have a family. But that's just skimming the surface, I think.
I believe God's throwing this at me because yes, it is important, and by setting goals I will be able to focus on what He wants me to do and where He wants me to be. What I want is to please Him. Serve Him. Love Him. And I want to serve others. Love others. Share God. What I want are the skills, courage, knowledge, leadership, and gifts to do so. I suppose if those are what I want then I will work, pray, ask, and strive for them. I know God will help me achieve my goals, which I'm sure will multiply as time goes on. Always learning...
'So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.'
[2 Corinthians 5:9]
Thus, I'm trying to see what I can come up with goal-wise. There are the obvious goals that I'm sure most people think of, such as having a good life with a nice job or career. Being successful. Getting married and having a family. Of course, 'being successful' would depend on your definition of success. These said goals seem kind of cliché, but they work. I mean, I do want to have a good life. I do want to be successful. I do want to get married and have a family. But that's just skimming the surface, I think.
I believe God's throwing this at me because yes, it is important, and by setting goals I will be able to focus on what He wants me to do and where He wants me to be. What I want is to please Him. Serve Him. Love Him. And I want to serve others. Love others. Share God. What I want are the skills, courage, knowledge, leadership, and gifts to do so. I suppose if those are what I want then I will work, pray, ask, and strive for them. I know God will help me achieve my goals, which I'm sure will multiply as time goes on. Always learning...
'So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.'
[2 Corinthians 5:9]
July 4, 2008
Ch. 121 - 232 Years
Happy Fourth of July!
'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.'
[2 Corinthians 3:17]
This may seem like a different kind of freedom from the freedom usually thought of on the Fourth of July. But freedom is freedom is freedom. Whether it's given to us by our founding fathers, American soldiers or God, it's freedom. And it's independence to think. To say. To do.
'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.'
[2 Corinthians 3:17]
This may seem like a different kind of freedom from the freedom usually thought of on the Fourth of July. But freedom is freedom is freedom. Whether it's given to us by our founding fathers, American soldiers or God, it's freedom. And it's independence to think. To say. To do.
June 29, 2008
Ch. 116 - My Soul to Keep
'Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to .
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.'
I just asked my mom if she and my dad ever prayed that with us kids when we were younger, because I couldn't remember. She said a little, maybe when we were really young.
The reason I bring it up is because last night I actually prayed that and seriously meant it. Kind of ridiculous.
But lately - meaning the past couple of weeks - I've really been thinking about death a lot. I couldn't tell you why. I simply have. I'm not afraid of death. I don't plan on ever trying to cheat death. I'm excited for it, in a sense, but not so much that I would ever wish for it to happen. Yet if it did happen in five minutes... five days... five years... I'd be fine with it - whether I knew it was going to happen or not. I wouldn't be upset that my life's been cut seemingly short. I don't have any regrets. I'm happy. I'm saved.
So why do I keep thinking about it? Get this, I've even started to think about my funeral. I'm dead serious. Ha. No pun intended, I promise. I should be thinking and dreaming about my wedding at this age - not my funeral! I'm so weird. But I know what hymns I would want sung and by whom. I know what Bible verses I would want recited. I know what I would want to be wearing. I know who I would want to speak. Crazy, crazy Natalie.
I'm not going to think about or read into it. Maybe it's just a very strange phase... ? I am curious now, however, if other people have ever thought about the same. Hm.
'We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.'
[2 Corinthians 5:8]
I pray the Lord my soul to .
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.'
I just asked my mom if she and my dad ever prayed that with us kids when we were younger, because I couldn't remember. She said a little, maybe when we were really young.
The reason I bring it up is because last night I actually prayed that and seriously meant it. Kind of ridiculous.
But lately - meaning the past couple of weeks - I've really been thinking about death a lot. I couldn't tell you why. I simply have. I'm not afraid of death. I don't plan on ever trying to cheat death. I'm excited for it, in a sense, but not so much that I would ever wish for it to happen. Yet if it did happen in five minutes... five days... five years... I'd be fine with it - whether I knew it was going to happen or not. I wouldn't be upset that my life's been cut seemingly short. I don't have any regrets. I'm happy. I'm saved.
So why do I keep thinking about it? Get this, I've even started to think about my funeral. I'm dead serious. Ha. No pun intended, I promise. I should be thinking and dreaming about my wedding at this age - not my funeral! I'm so weird. But I know what hymns I would want sung and by whom. I know what Bible verses I would want recited. I know what I would want to be wearing. I know who I would want to speak. Crazy, crazy Natalie.
I'm not going to think about or read into it. Maybe it's just a very strange phase... ? I am curious now, however, if other people have ever thought about the same. Hm.
'We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.'
[2 Corinthians 5:8]
March 22, 2008
Ch. 67 - Rested, but...
I wanted this week to be so good for me.
I tried.
I really did.
But I realized that although I am rested, I am not refreshed.
So I keep thinking,
'Jesus, lover of my soul -
Jesus, I will never let you go.'
It helps.
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!'
[2 Corinthians 5:17]
I need this. So much.
I tried.
I really did.
But I realized that although I am rested, I am not refreshed.
So I keep thinking,
'Jesus, lover of my soul -
Jesus, I will never let you go.'
It helps.
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!'
[2 Corinthians 5:17]
I need this. So much.
March 15, 2008
Ch. 60 - Sprin-g-Row
Spring. Grow.
At Cru this past Thursday the speaker, Rick, gave us a sheet to follow for spring break. For each of the nine days there is a theme, bible verses to read and possible activities corresponding to the theme. We were to ask nine people if we could pray about anything for them. We can take notes for each day if we'd like.
Today was the first day; the theme was serve. The Bible verses were Mark 10:42-45, 2 Corinthians 4:5 and Philippians 2:3-4. I decided to clean Darcy and Katie's room a bit... just some vacuuming (I love to vacuum, is that weird?), taking out of the trash and recycling, some light dusting (I also love dusting) and cleaning the tops of their desks and dressers. Oh! I also lint-rolled Darcy's black chair, because I love to lint roll as well.
Yes, I'm a freak.
Now that that's been confirmed, I must say that I love serving. You can serve in so many ways. There are many people who need a hand or two - why not offer yours? We are called to be the least by serving not only those who are the greatest, but also those who are considered the least.
'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.'
[Philippians 2:3-4]
At Cru this past Thursday the speaker, Rick, gave us a sheet to follow for spring break. For each of the nine days there is a theme, bible verses to read and possible activities corresponding to the theme. We were to ask nine people if we could pray about anything for them. We can take notes for each day if we'd like.
Today was the first day; the theme was serve. The Bible verses were Mark 10:42-45, 2 Corinthians 4:5 and Philippians 2:3-4. I decided to clean Darcy and Katie's room a bit... just some vacuuming (I love to vacuum, is that weird?), taking out of the trash and recycling, some light dusting (I also love dusting) and cleaning the tops of their desks and dressers. Oh! I also lint-rolled Darcy's black chair, because I love to lint roll as well.
Yes, I'm a freak.
Now that that's been confirmed, I must say that I love serving. You can serve in so many ways. There are many people who need a hand or two - why not offer yours? We are called to be the least by serving not only those who are the greatest, but also those who are considered the least.
'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.'
[Philippians 2:3-4]
January 28, 2008
Ch. 12 - The Surrender
'Please take from me my life
when I don't have the strength
to give it away to you, Jesus'
[Take My Life]
Well first of all, let's go back to the first two lines of the song:
'How many times have I turned away?
The number is the same as the sand on the shore'
I think those lines have me summed up pretty dang well. I don't know how many times I've fallen away from God - and even if I did, I think I'd try quite hard to forget the number. The sad part is, I know it will continue to happen in the future!
'But why would God let that happen continuously? And why don't you try and prevent it from happening, if you say that you know it will?'
You know, those are mighty fine questions. The thing is, I think God lets it happen intentionally. In the end, He will bring us back to Him. It's all for His glory. We learn from our mistakes each time and realize that not only were we wrong in our ways, but that we need Him in our lives.
That's what I've finally realized. I am nothing without Him. He is everything, and in Him all things are possible.
I'm handing the reins over to God.
Returning to the three-line chorus... I have decided to fully let Him take my life. After The Mount last night I finally surrendered to Jesus. It was beautiful. A calm peace like I've never felt before swept over me. I decided I want to be like Paul. He had discovered that strength was found in weaknesses. Instead of trying to carry his cross up a hill, he decided it was best to turn it over to God. When Paul's strength was insufficient, he turned to God. In doing so, Paul walked humbly through life's ups and downs with a perspective that kept his eyes focused on Jesus. He had surrendered to the Lord.
'That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'
[2 Corinthians 12:10]
when I don't have the strength
to give it away to you, Jesus'
[Take My Life]
Well first of all, let's go back to the first two lines of the song:
'How many times have I turned away?
The number is the same as the sand on the shore'
I think those lines have me summed up pretty dang well. I don't know how many times I've fallen away from God - and even if I did, I think I'd try quite hard to forget the number. The sad part is, I know it will continue to happen in the future!
'But why would God let that happen continuously? And why don't you try and prevent it from happening, if you say that you know it will?'
You know, those are mighty fine questions. The thing is, I think God lets it happen intentionally. In the end, He will bring us back to Him. It's all for His glory. We learn from our mistakes each time and realize that not only were we wrong in our ways, but that we need Him in our lives.
That's what I've finally realized. I am nothing without Him. He is everything, and in Him all things are possible.
I'm handing the reins over to God.
Returning to the three-line chorus... I have decided to fully let Him take my life. After The Mount last night I finally surrendered to Jesus. It was beautiful. A calm peace like I've never felt before swept over me. I decided I want to be like Paul. He had discovered that strength was found in weaknesses. Instead of trying to carry his cross up a hill, he decided it was best to turn it over to God. When Paul's strength was insufficient, he turned to God. In doing so, Paul walked humbly through life's ups and downs with a perspective that kept his eyes focused on Jesus. He had surrendered to the Lord.
'That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'
[2 Corinthians 12:10]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)