The only resistance to Satan and the doubts and questions he dogs us with is to flee – flee to Jesus; flee to that place where we find protection and help; flee to the crucified. Flee to Christ for His purging, protection, and empowering.
With these thoughts I knew I needed a vacation. I booked a plane ticket for a short get-away trip to Hawaii, where I envisioned sitting on a beach, watching waves and sunsets, and visiting with good friends I knew were at the University of the Nations (YWAM).
The day of my trip, I prayed the words of Charles Ringma: “Lord, I come to You acknowledging my weakness and vulnerability. I pray not only for your protection, but more particularly for your strengthening and transformation. Amen.”
Running deep in my thoughts was the theme: Learning to live well.
It had been a week of too many losses (my cousin at age 57 from brain cancer; an acquaintance in his 70s, and a favorite 95-year-old man at our church from a stroke). I remembered the Scripture, “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”(Psalm 90:12); and earlier in the same Psalm we’re reminded: “We live for 70 years or so (with luck we might make it to 80), and what do we have to show for it?”
On my way to the airport, I’d stopped by the doctor’s office for results of recent xrays – only to learn that I needed to make some tough decisions that could have long-reaching effects on my quality of life. And this too was feeding my thoughts.
“Lord, how long do we have? How do you want us to spend our remaining days for your Kingdom glory? What’s important to you – the one who has numbered all of our days?”
Arriving in Hawaii and settling into my hotel room, I again asked God for a specific word before going to speak to a group of authors seeking marketing tips for their new books. Although I sometimes wonder in my heart, my head knowledge tells me that God is simply waiting for us to ask – and He will meet us at our point of need. But this time, the directness of His answer in my devotional book blew me away:
“I come, I come. You need Me. Live much out here. My sunshine, My glorious air, My presence, My teaching. Would they not make holiday anywhere for you. Sunshine helps to make glad the heart of man. It is the laughter of Nature. Live much outside. My medicines are sun and air, trust and faith. Trust is the spirit sun, your being enwrapped by the Divine Spirit. Mind, soul, and body need helping. Welcome my treatment for you. Draw near to me. Nature is often My nurse of tired souls and weary bodies. Let her have her way with you.” (A. J. Russell in God Calling, August 17)
It is in these times when we know we have heard from God that we can say with David the Psalmist: “He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening” (Psalm 22:24 The Message).
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Spiritual Warfare -- Fact or Fantasy
"'Did the gun go off?' I asked myself. It hadn't. I could still feel the barrel in my hand. ...
"All of a sudden there is a mighty "swooping" sound as angels charge into the room.
"Immediately, a shapeless black glob, about three-feet tall popped up from the floor and the battle is on.
"Each time an angel swooped in, one of the black things pops up and they begin exchanging blows. ...
"The angels were hitting and going at it as the black things struck back. The fighting was intense. They were fighting a fight to end all fights.
"The three-foot black things were all over the room. Whenever another angel swept into the room, they'd pop up and start fighting.
"The army of angels filled the room. I was beyond astonished."
This scene sounded unbelievable to me. Nothing like what I'd been taught as a good little Baptist girl. And I'd not read such a powerful description of spiritual warfare since Frank Peretti's THIS PRESENT DARKNESS hit the bestseller lists.
But its a true story. It really happened. And it is only a small part of the incredible chapter "Motel Warfare Fight: September 16, 1997" in Dudley Perio's new book releasing February 18: LIVING IN GOD'S GLORY: HEARING & RESPONDING TO GOD'S VOICE, as told to Paul & Lynn Crawford (New Sound Media; www.OneInThe Spirit.tv).
My first questions to Paul & Lynn when they asked me to edit the book were: Is this true? Is it verifiable? Are there witnesses? "Yes, Yes, and Yes" were their responses.
This is only one of the amazing stories of "The Supernatural Experiences of Dudley Perio" -- well known in Texas oil fields for his designs and inventions, as well as for 30 years as an oil rig engineer.
If you are a Christian writer or speaker or trying to do anything significant for God, you will also have times when you feel under attack or in a spiritual warfare battle.
Scripture has already warned us to be on guard: "But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT).
Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life, a fierce struggle among invisible spiritual powers is being waged. Our main defense is prayer that God will protect us from the evil one and that he will strengthen us.
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING FOR AND SURVIVING SATANIC ATTACKS:
1. Take the threat of spiritual attack seriously.
2. Pray for strength and help from God.
3. Study the Bible to recognize Satan's style and tactics.
4. Memorize Scrpture so it will be a source of help no matter where you are.
5. Associate with those who speak the truth.
6. Practice what you are taught by sound spiritual leaders.
(Life Application Bible Notes)
"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, agains mighty powers in this dark work, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT).
Demons are not fantasies, they are very real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ's church.
Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord's side.
We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor surrounding us. (Life Application Bible)
Don't try to do God's work without putting on your armor -- you never know when the attacks will come, but they will come. For further reading about our armor for spiritual warfare, read Ephesians 6:10-19.
"All of a sudden there is a mighty "swooping" sound as angels charge into the room.
"Immediately, a shapeless black glob, about three-feet tall popped up from the floor and the battle is on.
"Each time an angel swooped in, one of the black things pops up and they begin exchanging blows. ...
"The angels were hitting and going at it as the black things struck back. The fighting was intense. They were fighting a fight to end all fights.
"The three-foot black things were all over the room. Whenever another angel swept into the room, they'd pop up and start fighting.
"The army of angels filled the room. I was beyond astonished."
This scene sounded unbelievable to me. Nothing like what I'd been taught as a good little Baptist girl. And I'd not read such a powerful description of spiritual warfare since Frank Peretti's THIS PRESENT DARKNESS hit the bestseller lists.
But its a true story. It really happened. And it is only a small part of the incredible chapter "Motel Warfare Fight: September 16, 1997" in Dudley Perio's new book releasing February 18: LIVING IN GOD'S GLORY: HEARING & RESPONDING TO GOD'S VOICE, as told to Paul & Lynn Crawford (New Sound Media; www.OneInThe Spirit.tv).
My first questions to Paul & Lynn when they asked me to edit the book were: Is this true? Is it verifiable? Are there witnesses? "Yes, Yes, and Yes" were their responses.
This is only one of the amazing stories of "The Supernatural Experiences of Dudley Perio" -- well known in Texas oil fields for his designs and inventions, as well as for 30 years as an oil rig engineer.
If you are a Christian writer or speaker or trying to do anything significant for God, you will also have times when you feel under attack or in a spiritual warfare battle.
Scripture has already warned us to be on guard: "But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT).
Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life, a fierce struggle among invisible spiritual powers is being waged. Our main defense is prayer that God will protect us from the evil one and that he will strengthen us.
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING FOR AND SURVIVING SATANIC ATTACKS:
1. Take the threat of spiritual attack seriously.
2. Pray for strength and help from God.
3. Study the Bible to recognize Satan's style and tactics.
4. Memorize Scrpture so it will be a source of help no matter where you are.
5. Associate with those who speak the truth.
6. Practice what you are taught by sound spiritual leaders.
(Life Application Bible Notes)
"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, agains mighty powers in this dark work, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT).
Demons are not fantasies, they are very real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ's church.
Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord's side.
We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor surrounding us. (Life Application Bible)
Don't try to do God's work without putting on your armor -- you never know when the attacks will come, but they will come. For further reading about our armor for spiritual warfare, read Ephesians 6:10-19.
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