Battles

When I started this blog, I told you (my readers) that it would be personal and honest. I’ve tried to stay true to that throughout this endeavor, and I plan to continue. Each of our lives is unique; we all face different triumphs and struggles, but that is what makes living so special. We all bring something different to the table-distinctive gifts and talents to be used for God’s glory.

However, while the Lord made us each different for a reason, in essence, we’re all the same. We’re all made in his image, Genesis 1:27. We all bleed. We all breathe. We all have a body. We all have a soul. We all love. We all have doubts and insecurities. We all have bad habits. We all sin.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23). I am no different. I’m just a child of God striving to fulfill the Lord’s will in my life. However, sometimes I fall short. Sometimes things are out of my control. Sometimes I get knocked down. Sometimes I feel alone. Sometimes I feel defeated.

When I began this blog in March, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I haven’t posted every single week like I planned, and I haven’t done the greatest job soliciting women to be a part of my feature page. If you’ve read my blog or if you know me personally, you know my life is very busy, so I often struggle to keep worldly things at bay and stay focused on what God is calling me to do.

However, I continue to pray that God will lead me down the paths He wishes for me and will guide me in my writing. I have been obedient to blog about topics He has placed on my heart, and I will continue to do so despite the distractions and insecurities that tempt me to falter.

I’ve heard many preachers talk about the devil attacking us the hardest when we’re trying to live our lives for God. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,” (1 Peter 5:8).

If you’re not doing anything for God, then why would Satan bother with you? The devil tries to poach those who are doing the Lord’s work to lure them to his side, down the populated paths of life.

However, the Bible teaches us to resist the temptation to follow the devil and the crowd on that comfortable journey. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it,” (Matthew 7:13-14).

It’s hard not to be distracted by the world and what is going on around us, and we can easily fall into the devil’s trap if we’re not vigilant. That wide gate and that broad road look very inviting and easy to traverse. It can be difficult to choose the more challenging path that you know will test you.

However, the Bible teaches us that faith doesn’t grow without challenge, without battling it out with the enemy, without suffering. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope,” (Romans 5:3-4).

I am fighting some battles in my life right now. Through it all, I’m trying to stay focused on the Lord and be obedient to the plans He has for me. However, Satan is on the war path, and he knows right where to hit to make the biggest impact. “…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies,” (John 8:44b).

However, our instruction manual, the Bible teaches us how to combat Satan’s assaults in Ephesians 6:11-17. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

That’s quite the task, and while it seems daunting, we can do anything with God on our side. Therefore, ladies, arm yourselves with the equipment that God has provided us. While we may not win every battle in life, know that no matter how many small victories the devil may secure, when it comes to the war, he doesn’t stand a chance against our Lord and Savior. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet,” (Romans 16:20a).

Seasons

As usual, when I’m working on a blog, God provides words of wisdom through someone else that is in-line with my blog topic. Yesterday, I attended a women’s conference with some of my sisters in Christ. The main speaker addressed changing seasons in life, which is one of the topics I planned to write about this week.

Yesterday was also the first day of fall, which is my favorite season of the year. I enjoy the cooler weather, layering clothes, the colorful foliage, savoring warm drinks, fall decorations, and being outside doing activities without the annoyance of pesky bugs.

Just as the yearly seasons shift, so do periods in our lives. We all go through different seasons, some good and some disheartening. Sometimes these seasons change abruptly, before we even realize it’s happened, and we’re caught off guard.

Sometimes they shift so slowly that we can feel the change occurring. When our personal seasons alter in a negative way, sometimes we can intervene. However, there’s often not much we can do to stop the change, and God’s Word speaks to this.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

We can place blame on others and even on ourselves when bad circumstances arise. However, the conference speaker yesterday said it best, “No one is your enemy but THE enemy.” James 4:7 instructs us to, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

This is a difficult period in my life. I could go into details, but to respect privacy, I will not. I only ask that whatever the outcome of this changing season, you would not judge me too harshly but would instead pray for my family and me. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” (Matthew 7: 1-2).

We are all tested at different times in our lives, and I am no different. Because we are human, sometimes we fail. As much as I’ve tried to mend the situation, I have failed. However, I have not given up hope. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, (Romans 12:12).”

There’s only one who can get me through anything, and that’s my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is He to whom I will cling as I go forward down the narrow path. I’ve turned whatever happens next over to the Lord, and I will accept His will because I know that while the journey may not be easy nor the outcome what I want, His plan is greater than mine.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28).

As I ask for prayers from you, I too will be praying for those of you struggling through a difficult season in your own life.

Temptations

Just as we all battle our common enemy and we all go through high and low seasons in life, we all also deal with temptations. Like every other human being before or after Him, Jesus met with temptation too.

You can read the full account of Satan’s attempts to entice Jesus to sin in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13.

In these accounts of Satan’s testing of Jesus, it’s important to note first that Jesus was out in the wilderness, completely isolated from others. Not only that, but He had been out there for forty days and forty nights. Furthermore, He had been fasting during this time. Just imagine if this was you…lonely, dirty, tired, uncomfortable, discouraged, and hungry (or hangry which would likely be the case for me).

Then, while dealing with all these suboptimal circumstances, along comes the greatest deceiver, Satan himself, to tempt you. Do you think you would be able to stand against the enemy in such conditions? If we’re being honest, I can’t even overcome the devil’s temptations on my best day, let alone my worst. How about you?

Thankfully, Jesus can and did overcome each of Satan’s three tests. The devil first tempted Jesus while He was alone, alluding that the Father had abandoned Him. Satan encouraged Jesus to ease a basic, physical need, His hunger, telling Him to turn stones to bread if He is truly the Son of God.

However, Jesus wisely answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,’” (Matthew 4:4).

Satan then tempted Jesus a second time. From Jesus’ first answer, Satan knew that Jesus lived by God’s Word and therefore, next tried out a test of pride by taking Jesus as near to God as possible, to God’s own earthly dwelling place, the temple in Jerusalem. There Satan quoted scripture to Jesus, encouraging Him to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple because God would surely send His angels to save Jesus if He is truly the Son.

Not to be outwitted, Jesus answered, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test,’” (Matthew 4:7).

Satan tried a third time to tempt Jesus, this time with the enticement of power. The devil took Jesus to a high mountaintop, and as Jesus looked out over the world, Satan promised Him rule over all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus bowed down to him in allegiance. Jesus replied, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only,’” (Matthew 4:10).

Because Jesus was tempted himself, He understands what we go through when Satan dangles a tasty morsel in front of our hungry faces. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin,” (Hebrews 4:15).

That is the difference. Jesus, despite temptation, lived a sinless life in order to become that living sacrifice, that atonement, for our sins.

Struggles and suffering will be a part of each of our lives. The Bible tells us that to become more Christ-like and grow closer to Him, we must experience those things which Christ experienced, including temptation and suffering. “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed,” (1 Peter 4:13). 

However, know that with every defeat comes a victory. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast,” (1 Peter 5:10).

Despite our trials and changing seasons, God’s love for us doesn’t change. He’s always there for us, even when we don’t realize it. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” (Isaiah 41:10).

Whatever struggle you may be facing today, know that God is for you, not against you. When we lean on Him, He will aid us in every battle the enemy wages against us. “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory,” (Deuteronomy 20:4).

Have a blessed week!

-Becky