EQUIPPED, EMPOWERED, AND ANOINTED FOR THIS MOMENT!

Of all the emotions one must deal with in life, there's one that really messes with my head--the overwhelming feeling of helplessness!

In a world where self-sufficiency is prized above  many goals to achieve in life, any lack of control feels like failure.  Yet, over how many things do we really have absolute control?  Our health? Our finances? Our future?  (Speaking of emotions, what about our thoughts?)

This feeling of inadequacy can quickly morph into depression and hopelessness.  You just want to give up or give in to whichever seems easier. But this state of mind my friend, according to God's Word is...Not where you want to be.  Not where you were meant to be.  Not where you have to be.  You just have to  believe in the promises of God! 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it 
in abundance {to the full, till it overflows}
John 10:10 (Amplified Bible)

 YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE!

This is not your first encounter with the Enemy, the Joy Killer and Peace Destroyer of your soul!  He shows up just when you think you've got it all together!  After you've survived the unthinkable! Right at the moment you slip safely to the other side and there he finds you relaxed, confident and comfortable with self.  Therein lies the problem with self-sufficiency, one can never lose sight of Who's really in control!

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves 
to think anything as of ourselves;
but our sufficiency is of God.
2 Corinthians 3:5 (KJV)

This is a hard lesson Christians must learn.  To be at ease with our helplessness; be comfortable in our inadequacies, to actually enjoy not being in control!  It is often a painful and tedious journey although eventually we all come to the same conclusion, to delay is a waste of time and energy. 

This kind of vulnerability is not popular among Bootstrap Pullers [a faulty motivational technique] of the old days. Haven't we've been taught this from a child: God helps those who help themselves!?  Sorry, but I find that nowhere in the Bible!    

THIS THING IS NOT GOING TO BREAK YOU!

Whatever you're going through, whether it is a devastating loss; continuous disappointments culminating into frustration after frustration.  Whatever the seemingly impossible situation.  Hang in there!  Your limitations are only opportunities to grow stronger giving God room to exercise His infinite power. Your search for Life's Absolutes is not a reality you can depend on.  Are you not convinced of that yet? 

The Ultimate Absolute is your faith in God and He tells you in His Word that He has a purpose and plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11) and that you can be confident of this, that what He has begun in you, He will complete. (Philippians 1:6).  He reminds us to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

YOU ARE READY FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!

God has prepared you for this very moment! It started when you placed your confidence in Him and not yourself. From that time on He's had your back! (Hebrews 13:5b).  Throughout every struggle,  His vision for you was being manifested.  Like a Master Craftsman, He had you on the Potter's wheel shaping, molding, and trimming you to perfection (Jeremiah 18:1-4).  Now you are released to be that Chosen Vessel for His own use!  Nothing is left for you to do but endure.  So, let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4).

His divine power has given us everything

we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him

Who called us by His own glory and goodness

(2Peter 1:3 NIV)

Tough times will continue.  Betrayal and disappointments will come once again but because of Jesus, what, then, shall we say in response to these things? God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

IT'S NOT OVER!

With an army of problems behind us, a sea of troubles before us the temptation is to give up!  This is not the time to do so.  We must hold firm to God's promises: When the Enemy boasted, I will chase them and catch up with them.  I will plunder them and consume them. I will flash my sword, my powerful hand will destroy them (Exodus 15:9)  Stand confidently and say as the Prophetess Miriam declared in this scripture...NOT TODAY!

Truly, No weapon fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD (Isaiah54:17).  

WE ARE:

• EQUIPPED - The Word of God is our sword.  All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work, (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

• EMPOWERED -With a Powerful Helper.  Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (I John 4:4)

• ANOINTED - For This Moment of Trial, Confusion or Devastation.  As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit -just as it has taught you, remain in Him. (I John 2:27)

Do not think that you must be a preacher, bible teacher, or awe-inspiring servant of God to avail yourself of these promises! As frail humans living in a fallen world our experiences are common. The feeling of HELPLESSNESS is natural but the remedy is spiritual!  What is unlike the many we share these feelings with is our FAITH in the ONE who controls EVERYTHING.  That is why the Apostle Paul reminds us, no matter the situation even the DEATHS so prevalent today, HOPELESSNESS IS NOT AN OPTION: 

Brothers and sisters, we want you to know,

  about people who have died so that you won't

 mourn like others who don't have any hope.

(I Thessalonians 4:13 CEB )

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR  scroll to the bottom of my blog page at  http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com  click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.  

UNDER THE SPELL OF SEDUCING SPIRITS!

 When one with honeyed words but evil mind persuades the mob, great woes befall the state. 

-Euripedes, Orestes

How could this Greek playwright from the 5th century express so eloquently the tragedies of our modern times?  Could it be as another wise man said: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Every news pundit I've listened to since Wednesday, January 6th when our nation's capitol was stormed by insurrectionists, have asked the same question:  Were you surprised at the events occurring in our country today?  And no matter the response from the guest, mine is always - OH YEAH, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!

 Like many, I shake my head [almost] in disbelief when I see some still believing proven lies.  Expressing faith that in a democracy of loyal, patriotic citizens, no one would dare turn on their own government.  Even those having just experienced death literally pounding on the door, got up  and pronounced these were merely a few radical extremists!

In a rage, no Christian ought to have, I turn off my television.  Tired of hearing men and women deny accountability and condone evil.  Weary of them rationalizing what they saw and twisting their version of truth into something that would soothe their conscience.  So quickly they were able to create for themselves a comfortable reality they hope would profit them in the next election! Yes, I was angry!

BUT THEN I REMEMBERED...

We are living in a Fallen world!  Fallen from God's intended purpose (I Peter 1:15-17).  Fallen In our treatment of others (Matthew 7:12). Fallen as stewards of all our natural resources (Genesis 1:26-28).  Fallen short in every aspect!  By our own unrighteousness we willfully suppressed the truth (Romans 1:18).  So am I surprised by this national shame: the violence of an insurrection; the double standard in administering justice, negligence in the face of a pandemic, and the impeachment of a POTUS twice!  Surprised?  Not at all!! 

Paul's admonition to Timothy in I Timothy 4:1-2 (NKJV) is a warning to us in this present time:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

• Deceiving or seductive spirits: to be seduced is to find attractive, alluring, enticing, even hypnotic something that appeals to our fleshly nature. It is not as overt and aggressive as one would think, but is a slow, intentional teasing with carefully placed rewards along the way.  Our nation's desire for power and dominance resurrected sinful ethnic pride and was spoon fed to the hungry as patriotism. The promise of low taxes for the wealthy, low unemployment, and a booming economy was the carrot on the stick leading us to destruction!

• Doctrines of demons: Saying it is okay to be outwardly religious without a godly spiritual life is an example of demonic teaching. Holding the Bible while violating U.S. citizens' first amendment rights for peaceful protests using tear gas and violence is another example. Cherry-picking what sins God deems abominable is one more. And senators denying constituents the right to vote by suppression and then disavowing the results is yet another. All have been done in the name of preserving Christian values, upholding patriotism, and maintaining conservative ideals.   Have we learned nothing from our past? 

• Lies and hypocrisy  The Devil is the Father of lies, lying is his native tongue (John 8:44).  When he lies it is so convincing that even if one knows the truth, it will not be accepted for  the mind has been deceived (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).  Lying consist of making false promises; purposely manipulating the truth to fit a particular narrative; pretending to be trustworthy while cheating and  undermining those most loyal to them. The gullible become enchanted and enamored by the liar's delusions.  They hear them so often that to them it becomes truth!  

• Seared Consciences:  A person under the influence of seducing spirits are not moved by the pain or struggles of others.  They have no remorse for their wrong doing, in fact in their minds they have committed no wrong.  They are insensitive to the guilt of immoral behavior.  If they are in the faith, they have quenched the Spirit so often that He no longer has an affect upon their heart or mind. (I Thessalonians 5:19)

WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT TIME IT IS...

 

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise

up and perform great signs and wonders

so as to deceive, if possible,

even God's chosen ones.

(Matthew 24:24 NLT)

IT'S TIME MY FRIENDS TO BREAK THE SPELL!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR  scroll to the bottom of my blog page at  http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com  click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.