For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
War.
We war for purpose. We war for prosperity. We war for peace. We war for freedom. We war for love.
In this battle, I have found that indeed the weapons are not carnal. When I am battling a "woe is me" mindset or a feeling of rejection, I don't whip out my Jesus machete. (Although one can argue that we in fact whip out a sword - the Word of the Lord - when in the midst of battle.)
I have learned that there are many other weapons in inventory at our disposal. The Lord has been showing me how to wield each one.
Rest is a weapon.
"A lion rests for 20 hours a day. Doesn't make him any less ferocious. When you're divinely in step with your God-given nature and identity, the four hours of activity are filled with power. It's enough to carry your reputation."
-Author Unknown (Graham Cooke maybe?)
Hebrews 4: 9-11 (NIV)
"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people God; for anyone enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience."
I was doing too much. I was in graduate school and I was burnt out. Since kindergarten I was hell-bent on achieving. So when my academic striving became so painful that I cried myself to sleep every night I did not know what to do with myself! Toward the end of my graduate school career, advisers told me to apply to doctoral programs; "just keep going." But I couldn't. I sat down to type applications to five top doctoral programs and I burst into tears. The Lord invited me to rest. I took a break. I stopped working the entire month after graduation and took an entire month off before I started my new job in Atlanta. During my time off, the Lord revealed that I sought acceptance through achievement. He began to unravel this "trait" and that's when I started my journey toward wholeness and freedom. I am now equipped to recognize the lies of the enemy concerning acceptance/rejection, and can apply God's truth to replace each lie. Thank you for rest! It's okay to take a break - to rest one's mind and seek recovery. The creator of the universe rested! We can too.
I was doing too much. I was in graduate school and I was burnt out. Since kindergarten I was hell-bent on achieving. So when my academic striving became so painful that I cried myself to sleep every night I did not know what to do with myself! Toward the end of my graduate school career, advisers told me to apply to doctoral programs; "just keep going." But I couldn't. I sat down to type applications to five top doctoral programs and I burst into tears. The Lord invited me to rest. I took a break. I stopped working the entire month after graduation and took an entire month off before I started my new job in Atlanta. During my time off, the Lord revealed that I sought acceptance through achievement. He began to unravel this "trait" and that's when I started my journey toward wholeness and freedom. I am now equipped to recognize the lies of the enemy concerning acceptance/rejection, and can apply God's truth to replace each lie. Thank you for rest! It's okay to take a break - to rest one's mind and seek recovery. The creator of the universe rested! We can too.
Repentance is a weapon.
"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance."
-John the Baptist (Matthew 3:8 ESV)
Her feelings of discontent had held her down long enough. My dear college friend was ready for a change in her life but did not know where to begin. As she sought the Lord for direction, she prepared a list of stumbling blocks in her life. Lo and behold, the list turned out to be a feature of her broken relationships with men. She pressed in. Guided by a prayer featured in the book Captivating, my friend repented of her sexual sin. As soon as she repented, the Holy Spirit whispered to her. She was instructed to get rid of her furniture and to buy storage bins; the Lord was preparing her for a big move. Needless to say, the instructions were exactly what my friend wanted (and needed) to hear. I believe that if she hadn't repented, she wouldn't have heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit. Her sin pile-up prevented the undistorted hearing of God's Word. As she repented, the sludge was removed and she heard what was necessary to continue her journey of purposeful living.
Prayer is a weapon.
"A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally..."
-Paul (1 Corinthians 14:4)
It goes without saying that prayer allows us to draw near to God and pour out our hearts to Him. When we pray, we bring our spirits into alignment with God's promises and submit our will to His ("thy will be done"). When we pray in tongues, we strengthen our inner-man. The enemy cannot distract our hearts and minds when we pray in tongues. How did I start? A friend gifted in speaking tongues prayed with me over the phone. As she prayed, I kept my heart open, shut my mind off, and allowed my tongue to be overwhelmed by God. I began babbling. As my friend's prayer intensified, my expression of tongues grew. Now, I pray in tongues and am empowered knowing that God has communicated to my spirit - it reminds me that He is real, powerful, and has my back! Hallelujah!
There are many weapons to wield in this battle. What weapons has God shown you?
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