Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Prepared


Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Four years ago, I started a great adventure with the Lord, greater than any other in my past. I made a decision and I stuck with it. Never did I realize the full impact that decision would have on my life.

There were truths that I knew at the time. Deep inside I knew that I had to be prepared. That preparation has served me well.

Mind you, I had been growing stronger each year, maturing over time, so I wasn’t a clean slate. I had truths but I also had baggage that was weighting me down.

At times I felt like I was in a race against time. I was running away from my past into the future. Not that my past is horrible or anything of the kind. My past like most contained old destructive thoughts that were preventing me from enjoying the present. I had to stop looking back and focus on where I was and where I wanted to go.

As it turned out I was running from my past into the loving arms of my Lord. My Comforter, my Redeemer…My Loving Father.

Through this wonderful journey I learned how to squelch the deceiving thoughts that were robbing me of this wonderful life that the Lord had given me.

I learned how to remain happy even though the world wanted nothing more than to destroy that happiness.

I read the Bible every day multiple times from cover to cover each year. I studied the Bible from teachings I discovered from Bible teachers across the country. I allowed God to take control and teach me showing me the truth. At times it was overwhelming. God was flooding my brain so much so that I often had to tell Him that I needed sleep. Then we would begin again the next day before my eyes even opened.

Never did I expect when I made that decision that I would be witnessing the world out of control as insanity is taking over the minds of so many. This insanity is quickly spreading throughout the world. We see it on the streets with the paid protesters trying to insight riots dividing our great nation and ruining towns and cities, sex-trafficking rings in Washington D.C. praying on small children and so much more.

I see people whom I have grown to love say some of the craziest things and they actually believe the deceptions without using sound judgment or reasoning.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

A sound mind comes from God. The people who are saying and acting out in an insane manner are void of the truths of God in their lives.

The Bible warns us that there will be deceivers of the truth with wrong doctrines that will come as light. There are people attending churches or listen to the doctrines of their church rather than the doctrines of God. The only way we can know if we are being deceived is by knowing the truth. We won’t find the truth in the world. In fact, it’s the opposite. The only truth comes from God.

Last night, as every night, I thanked the Lord for the day and for His protection having tremendous gratitude for His loving kindness, grace, and wisdom.

I can only imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn’t made that decision four years ago and I shutter at the very thought.

Because the Lord lives and I walk with Him every day, I know I can face today and tomorrow with joy, peace and a sound mind.