Is God's army ready for battle?

“Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones; and those who have knowledge than those who have strength; for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 24:5-6)

“Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; for their minds desire violence, and their lips talk of mischief. Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker. The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to all.” (Proverbs 24:1, 8-9)

“If you faint in the day of adversity (trouble), your strength being small; does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?” (Proverbs 24:10, 12)

God sees all, knows all. It is in His strength, His power, His wisdom that we are enabled to overcome evil. Wisdom and knowledge will take us farther than any strength we alone possess. Wisdom, His wisdom, guides us. In wisdom we can discern right from wrong. We can defeat the enemy.

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)

“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice; but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.  Do not be ashamed … join (with me) in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:7-9)

“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; share in suffering like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.” (2 Timothy 2:1, 3-4)

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

If we endure, we will also reign with him;

 If we deny him, he will also deny us; 

If we are faithless, he (STILL, YET) remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

“Remind them, … warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good  … do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.  Avoid profane chatter. … God’s firm foundation stands – The Lord knows those who are his. Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness. (2 Timothy 2:14-16, 19)

We can be ordinary or we can be special. We can continue in former ways and neglect, reject God’s call on our hearts or we can reject the world’s tug and pursue God’s righteousness, faith, love and peace.

“Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. ” (2 Timothy 2:22-24)

“You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

“Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient; equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13, 16)

Beware of those who oppose but don’t give in to them.

“Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching, for the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, … they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

God’s battle … and ours, for He abides in us who abide in Him. .. We put on the Lord Jesus, His armor, to do battle in the world.

“Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.” 

(Romans 12:11-12 NLT)

“The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness … Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:12-14 NLT)

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God … Take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand, to resist the evilness, and thereby, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13)

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:14-18 NLT)

And may God grant you peace.

(All Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible except where noted.) 

Satan's ploys are no match for the Savor's power

Satan's ploys are no match for the Savior's power.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2: 3)

That is to say build up one another, but in so doing, don't get caught up into thinking you are worthless. For we are not. We are not to tear ourselves down. In the eyes of God, each and every human being has value. He cares for you and me.

"Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion." (Romans 12: 16)

Do not follow the path that takes you away from God and toward Satan. ... the path that distracts you from what you know is true and right and ultimately leads to destruction. ... the path of thinking and acting upon your own advice and has no regard for the things of God.

"Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans15: 5-6)

God is so patient with us, continually working to show us the way. We are not so patient ... not with others, not with ourselves, not with God. We want what we want now.

"... having compassion (be sympathetic) for one another; ... be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil ... but on the contrary, blessing, ..." (1 Peter 3: 8)

Where is our compassion for others? When are we tender, courteous? Is it only for select individuals? God is not so choosy. All have value in His eyes. We are to be a blessing to all, to give what the Lord gives. Judgment is not for us to give ... we must leave that to a higher power, God will judge.

"He who would love life and see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking guile (deceit);
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And his ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3: 10-12)

Satan strives to take the joy out of living for the Lord. His whole goal is to destroy.

"Likewise you husbands, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, ... that your prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3: 7)

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church ... So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ... Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wive see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5: 25, 28-29, 33)

Praise defeats the devil quicker than any other battle plan, but it must be genuine heart praise, not just lip service.

Must have a personal relationship with Jesus for the spiritual weapons of praise and prayer to work.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, ... but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8: 5)

Joyce Meyer, author of "Battlefield of the Mind," says if we think fleshly or worldly thoughts, wrong thoughts, negative thoughts, we cannot walk in the Spirit. Our life will not get straightened out until our mind does.

We must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to even begin to be able to overcome our negative views.

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit."

The tree is you and me. The fruit is what we are known for, our works, bad or good, works of the flesh, or of the Spirit.
We have to choose to think good thoughts, pleasing thoughts. We have to keep going, not give up.

Acceptance, believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again is the first step in your personal walk with Him.

"The renewing of your mind will take place little by little, so don't be discouraged if progress seems slow," Meyer noted.

When you have setbacks, or bad days, don't allow yourself to withdraw into negative thinking. Must stay on course. Think positive. God loves you. Don't allow others to discourage you. Think "I am above this. I will not allow your negative thoughts and comments to become mine. I will not be drawn down to your level." Positive breeds positive. Good, positive thoughts bring promise, faith and hope for a better tomorrow. Bad, negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt. When we have a negative outlook, our thoughts are negative, our words coming out of our mouths are negative, our life is negative. We must turn around and begin to think positive about our life.

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23: 7)

When we don't get what we want, we go into pity-mode and negative attitude. We need to get away from that, need to stop complaining, stop murmuring, stop finding fault with everything and everyone, including yourself.

If you truly desire to change from being negative-minded, believe God will change you as you trust Him. Must trust, must listen to the Lord, study His word, immerse yourself in His word, meditate on what you know is true and right. Not what you think or believe about yourself, but what God knows about you. He loves you. He has a purpose for you.

He who abandons himself to God will never be abandoned by God.