Our Weapons by Dr. James Merritt

DESCRIPTIONYou don’t have to know all the answers and speak with eloquence and charm... you need only be willing and walking in God’s Spirit.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

Every day that we live on this earth, there is an unseen war raging. It is an epic battle of good versus evil, and the hearts of mankind are at stake. Sometimes we can sense the fighting, and sometimes we cannot... but either way, it is real and ongoing. Throughout the New Testament, Christians are exhorted to be ready, to stand firm, to be strong, to never stop praying, to abide in Christ, and to have on the full armor of God.  

This passage makes a comparison between the weapons used by God’s people, and the weapons of the world. We do not fight in the same way, or for the same things. How are the weapons different? Ours are not carnal—they are not of the flesh. We do not depend on what worldly people do to advance the cause of Christ. Our dependence is not on eloquence, or talent, or education, or wealth, or beauty, or anything else external. While these things are not bad, they should not be the weapons in our hands.  

The weapons we use have no inherent value or power in themselves. Their strength is from God alone. While Paul does not name these weapons specifically in this passage, he had written of them earlier in this letter to Corinth (2 Corinthians 6:6-7). Our weapons are true and pure. They come from God and they lead to Him as He accompanies them with His power to the hearts of those who hear the gospel.  

How incredible, in this world that is literally deteriorating before our eyes and taking countless souls with it, that our ministry can be powerful and effective through the blessing of God and the influence of His grace and Spirit for the conversion of sinners, the building up of the Church, the defense of truth, and the enlargement of Christ’s kingdom, not to mention the destruction of Satan’s!

As a Christ follower, are you fighting faithfully for Christ’s glory? If so, are you using the right weapons? You don’t have to know all the answers and speak with eloquence and charm... you need only be willing and walking in God’s Spirit.

Gracious LORD, Thank You for equipping me for every good work. Please help me to depend on You and fight using Your weapons and not anything of this world. And above all, help me to love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How's Your Spiritual Maintenance? by Gloria Copeland

DESCRIPTIONThe seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it. Don't allow it.

The cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. Mark 4:19, The Amplified Bible

Did you know that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it?

A friend of mine said the Lord told her in prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men. You have so many things to maintain, He told her. You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your machines, your hair....

It’s true. You can become a maintainer of so many natural things that you don’t have any time left to maintain your own spirit!

When you find yourself in that situation, it’s time to simplify your life. I’ve had to learn that myself. Now when I’m considering something I think I need, I don’t just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it.

Second Timothy 2:4 tells us not to get entangled in the affairs of this life. One thing I’ve learned over the last 45 years: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer and in the Word with the Father. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that.

Scripture Reading:

Mark 4:18-24

These Walls

https://youtu.be/Ga_m8wqg3us

Power of the Tongue by Os Hillman

DESCRIPTIONUse the power of the tongue for good, affirm someone close to you today.

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21).

Words have the power to motivate or destroy, energize or deflate, inspire or create despair. Many successful executives can remember the time their father failed to give affirmation to them as a child. The result was either overachievement to prove their worth, or underachievement to prove he was right.

Many a wife has lost her ability to love because of a critical husband. Many a husband has left a marriage because of words of disrespect and ungratefulness. Stories abound regarding the power of words. There are just as many stories of those who have been encouraged, challenged, and comforted with words that made a difference in their lives.

Jesus knew the power of words. He used parables to convey His principles of the Kingdom of God. He used words of forgiveness and mercy. He used words to challenge. He used words to inspire His disciples to miraculous faith.

Do your words give life? Do they inspire and challenge others to greatness? Who does God want you to encourage through your words today? Affirm someone close to you today.

No Condemnation; Only Love

http://links.intouchministries.mkt4193.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTc2NjQ4NjcS1&r=MTA3MzY0NTYyMDQwS0&j=MTA2MTIxNjU2NAS2&mt=1&rt=0

Stuck In-between? by Shana Schutte

DESCRIPTION
An in-between place is when you have let go of the old, and embrace the new thing God has for you.

One afternoon several years ago as I walked through the front doors of my favorite grocery store, my heart was heavy. I feel so alone, I thought. My friend, Judy, had died unexpectedly days before from a brain aneurism and my friend Gene had died the month before.

When I reached the checkout, I made small talk with the woman in front of me. “This weather is really great, huh?” I scanned the beautiful Rocky Mountains out the large picture windows, thankful for the sun. “Yes, it’s really great. I moved here last year, and I love it.” She smiled, rolled her cart away and I found a seat where I could quietly eat my lunch. Loneliness engulfed me.

As I stood to put away my plate, the woman from the checkout approached me. “You were really nice to talk to me, but the Lord wants me to tell you something.” She faced me and looked square in my eyes. “He wants you to know that you are not alone and He wants you to know that He hears you.” Tears immediately started to roll down my cheeks, then big sobs of relief came.

God was giving me His love through a stranger. She went on. “The Lord wants you to also know that He is going to put your feet on a new foundation. I don’t know what that means, but be open to change.” We hugged, I cried some more, and she walked away.

As I drove home, I pondered these things in my heart. “God is going to do something new.”  If change meant emotional and spiritual relief, I was ready because I was in an in-between place. An in-between place is when you have let go of the old, and you are ready to embrace the new thing God has for you. As I think back to this grocery-store memory, I am thankful for God’s comfort in that present moment of loneliness, for the reminder that He knows our thoughts, is concerned with all things that concern us, and also for His affirmation that He would also be there in my future, sovereignly leading me to positive change.

Maybe you feel like you are an in-between place. You’ve let go of something old, but you are waiting on God to move you on to the new thing. Perhaps you have let go of a job, home, a friendship, dream, or calling, and you are wondering what’s next. Rest assured. Just like the woman in the grocery store told me, He is telling you: “I hear you. You are not alone. Behold! I do a new thing!” (See Isaiah 43:18-19).

God may not have revealed your new thing yet, but rest assured, it is coming because God is always at work. And, He will never stop working in our lives all the days of our lives.

While you are in your in-between place, remember not to allow your expectations blind you and make you think that God has forgotten you. It may just be that He is trying to get you to shift your focus off the old onto the new.

Keep looking to Him and waiting patiently in faith. In God’s time, in God’s way, He will reveal His plan to you, just as He did for me.

How Do I Let It Go? by Suzie Eller

DESCRIPTIONLetting go means giving up what's beyond our control and embracing what we can change. We can't control the past, but we can focus on the miracles around us today.

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

Three-year-old Elle arched her arm and pointed her fingers. “You’re frozen, Gaga!”

I stopped in place, one arm behind me, the other in the air. She giggled, then quickly unfroze me.

If you’ve been in the vicinity of anyone under the age of 6, you’re probably familiar with the movie, Frozen. In it, two sisters struggle in their relationship with each other and in finding acceptance.

At one point Elsa, the older sister, sings these words: “Let it go, let it go … And I’ll rise like the break of dawn … ”

Let it go.

Those are words I sensed God speaking to me years ago.

“Let go of the past that you cannot undo.”

“Let go of the warped view you have of yourself. It doesn’t match the one I have as your Heavenly Father.”

“Let go of the hurts that hold you too tightly.”

Just as I playfully stood frozen while my granddaughter giggled, there was another time when I felt frozen. I couldn’t take a step toward healing.

“Let it go, sweet daughter,” was a whisper I heard from God to discover the Suzie He saw me to be.

Maybe you’ve sensed God asking you to let something — or someone — go.

“Let go of the mistakes you once made. I’ve forgiven you.”

“Let go of the anger that’s consuming your thoughts.”

“Let go of condemnation, so you can live free.”

You want that desperately, but it can be hard to let go when you don’t know what that means. May I share my definition of letting go with you? It was freeing for me when I finally understood it.

Letting go is giving up what is beyond our control to embrace what we can change.

In Isaiah 43:18-19, God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah saying: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert.”

The people held so tightly to the past that they missed the new things God wanted to show them.

God speaks the same warning and truth to us. We can’t control the past, but we can focus on the miracles around us today.

We can’t unhear the words that once shaped our hearts, but we can replace them with truth from Scripture.

We can’t control negative people, but we can choose joy for ourselves.

Letting go isn’t easy in the beginning, because holding on is our natural response. But there’s so much hope! Just as the prophet Isaiah describes new roads in the desert and rivers in the wilderness, as we give up what we can’t control to embrace what we can change, new ways of thinking, relating and living are carved into our very being.

And the beautiful thing about letting go?

It doesn’t just change us.

It has the power to alter the next generation, and the next after that, like the cute little blonde-haired, blue-eyed darling chasing her Gaga through the house, singing, “Let it go!”

Dear Jesus, I’ve wanted to let go for a long time, but I didn’t know how. Now that I do, I’m ready to take that leap of faith. I give up what I cannot control to embrace what I can. Thank You for carving new roads in the desert of my heart and new rivers in the wilderness of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

RELATED RESOURCES:
We partnered with Duck Dynasty's Missy Robertson to release the "Making You New" necklace. Made of shed deer antlers, it reminds us of Isaiah 43 when God says He is “doing a new thing" — a perfect symbol of His love and our redemption. Get yours today!

CONNECT:
Visit Suzie Eller on her blog for more resources on letting go and living free.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Write down one thing you’ve been trying to control. Now, list those things that are within your influence.

Write one way you can give up trying to control what you cannot change and embrace what you can.

He tore down the wall

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=MSG

The Real Enemy by Steve Noble

DESCRIPTIONMan is personally responsible for his actions. But, behind his actions are years of messaging by the forces of darkness who utilize human depravity and their victim’s sin nature to ensnare them into a self-deluding fantasy.

Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

For some the enemy is a political party. For others it’s an ideology. Perhaps it’s “the system” or “the man." Maybe for you it’s capitalism, or socialism, or some other “ism." There are plenty of things in the world that seem like the enemy for a Christian, but today’s verse boils that down into one critical fact: behind all of them is a dark spiritual reality.

Satan and his minions have been given a lot of latitude in the here and now of life on earth. The combination of a fallen world, sinful man, spiritual darkness and an aggressive enemy makes for a potent war scenario. Yes, man is personally responsible for his actions, but behind his actions are years of messaging by the forces of darkness who utilize human depravity and their victim’s sin nature to ensnare them into a self-deluding fantasy where anything goes and there is no ultimate judge. Take a few moments to read the first two books of Romans for a refresher course.

Instead of seeing other people as your enemy, it helps to see them as people who have been offered an elaborate lie and have chosen to believe it as a way of escaping that which they actually know is true (see Romans 1 & 2). It also helps to remember that you used to be just like them, trapped in a strong delusion that was part their making and part the lies of a vengeful former angel known as Satan. Jesus saw His “enemies” as such and was able to say, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). We are called to do the same.

F.I.T for Jesus Day 6

Good Day All! 

Today was my day of excuses. It's raining Jesus so I can't workout when I get home; he stops the rain. Jesus you know I can't jog more than a block; I ran 7 blocks and a total 35 minutes according to Fitbit.  Every time I tried to get out of my fitness routine he made the way and gave me strength.  

Check out this interesting - Faithful Workouts

Workout video link : faithful workouts video of the week

A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential. 

— John C. Maxwell

F.I.T for Jesus Day 5

Good day Godly Crew!

First thing first, I've got to give God the glory for letting us greet the morning. So I  was looking at my personal Facebook page comments and my sister said on my pic which I took last evening Proverbs 31:10 and it got me thinking. Are all not trying to live a virtuous life! And isn't part of that working on our physical and spiritually health.

It give me an extra boost this morning for my stretching and I'm grateful God used my sister to remind me of what I'm striving to do!

Check out this site:  Proverbs 31 Fitness

F.I.T for Jesus Day 4

Good morning Godly Crew.

I hope all those living in the USA enjoyed their Independence day. I sure did I caught myself jamming to some Christian rap on YouTube and the only Little Mix soundtrack on my phone.

I looked online for some non gym ideas for my lower stomach. Just cause that's where my mind was at the time. Also I did this thing that I don't think I've done before and that was take Jesus grocery shopping. At the supermarket I asked God, so what I eat that would fill me, make my body grateful and fancy my cravings. And I have to say I like what I got simple but useful tell Jesus.

F.I.T for Jesus - Day 3

Good day my godly crew!

I hope everybody had a awesome day moving around with God consciously in thoughts behavior and workouts!

I had a great day after coming back from my hike in Bear Mountain New York. I woke up late my body was tired not sore but just tired but I felt accomplished in doing what I set out to do.

I plan to go back later this summer with the rest of my family and hopefully some friends as well but it's a great work out climbing that mountain talking to Jesus contemplating and just being one in his garden.

When I finally got off the bed today I moved around the house doing bills and other things. I think that making sure your budget is right is also a form of a fitness, Financial Fitness which is also important.

Once that was done I knew I had to get groceries and I figured why not walk since I don't live far from the supermarket. Once there I started asking God to help me figure out what I should buy; that would help keep my body in check. I have never really done that before. God is the best nutritionist in the world right!

I really didn't listen to anything specific I did have the Music Choice hit 100 playing in the background when I was in the house doing my budget and walking around but other than that nothing specific and when I walked to the grocery store I actually didn't have any music playing I just had my earbuds in cuz I hate flies in my ears! 🤣

F.I.T for Jesus Day 2

Good morning Godly fam this is your girl Sheila here rise and shine and give God the glory!

https://youtu.be/63qgBPj2fFo

Woke up this morning while I was waiting for the shower I was using the hallway banister to do some ballet warm ups in my mind I was listening to faith hope and love and then I started doing the kids song no you can't get to heaven for like 20 minutes

https://youtu.be/04PfAqwcZuA

https://youtu.be/poFXyFEC_vA

I'm off to the mountain to pray and Hike Amen catch you later!

F.I.T for Jesus! Day 1

Good day all this week's theme is to make sure your body is on the right course in terms of your health along with making sure your spirit is aligned with Christ.

F.I.T = Faith Integrity and Trust.
We need to walk by faith. You don't want to do anything without knowing that God is right beside you at all times.  We need to be a person with integrity. We need to stand by our principles and lead by example.  We need to trust God's plan for us is better then whatever we can think of on our own. We know that he doesn't want us to be unhealthy and that taking care of our gifted bodies is important.

 This 7-Day get F.I.T challenge; I'd like us to take 70 minutes out of our day to spend time with God  in some form of movement/exercise. Share your thoughts or emotions by leaving a comment of what it was like. What music you played, video watched, book you are referencing. Let's just get fit with Jesus are you ready!