This past week, I heard a couple radio programs on bullying and then saw a news show on the subject of bullying. The Lord uses these everyday experiences to get my attention, so I asked, "Lord, what are You trying to say to me about bullying?" God pointed me to the enemy, Satan....the biggest bully and the creator of that evil idea of bullying.
The information given on the radio programs and the news show, gave insight to the problem of bullying. The bully uses verbal and physical means to put down another, to the point of discouragement, abuse, isolation, and even suicide. No longer is it just "playground bullying" that happens; the internet now plays a role that can be a 24/7 means of bullying with social media sites, such as facebook and video sites like youtube.
Satan, our bully, hates us and will do whatever he can to cause us to be defeated; emotionally, physically and spiritually. Discouragement is one of the enemy's key tools that opens the mind for him to use all his other tools: pride, hate, greed, oppression, depression, anger, etc. I Peter 5:9 tells us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Our enemy is a bully. "Diabolos" is the Greek word for devil and it literally means to hit and beat and beat and beat to penetrate the mind, which will build a stronghold or prison. So many believers are letting the enemy (our bully) beat them into discouragement....what holds the enemy off?
The best way I have found to hold back the enemy, is to stay in God's presence....to sit in the Lord's presence. I know it sounds foolish and trite~ there must be a 10 step program to hold back the enemy's bullying tactics! BUT, what I have found is that it is quite simple, except for the fact that it takes a determination of the will sometimes to not give in to the feelings of discouragement, etc. I need to determine in my heart that I will meet with God. I know it is building a stronghold in my mind to keep the enemy out! When I am feeling discouraged or not at peace or worried, depressed, angry, etc, I ask myself, "How much time have I been spending in God's presence?" There are so many things in life that come against our time with Jesus, but if we are purposeful and make time to listen to His voice, to share our needs, confess our sins & receive His forgiveness....Jesus will make a way when there seems like there is no way. The enemy must flee when we resist him.
Watch for these traps of the enemy that will cause us to lose our solid footing and give the bully a way in:
1) Busyness (being under Satan's yoke)
2) Temptation with money (feeling greed get ahold in my heart)
3) Working long days and very hard (wearyness sets in)
4) Overstimulation by TV, computer, movies
5) Books or magazines (worldly culture that permeates the mind)
6) Chasing material possessions
7) Focused on outward appearance (takes time, energy and money)
8) Too exhausted for intimacy (marriages suffer greatly)
9) Self-sufficiency
10) Distracted by "good causes" that keep you from the focus of "eternal causes"
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
School of the Wilderness
Back to school is such an exciting time each fall...shopping for new clothes, new school supplies, new backpacks...so much new! The first day is filled with anticipation~ new teacher, new friends, new routine, etc. As a former public school teacher, I always loved the first day of school and the days preceding it. Getting my room ready~ bulletin boards that would entice the kids, setting desks in formation that learning could happen, praying for the students that would be entering my classroom each year...oh, it brings me joy even as I write it out!
BUT, there is one school that none of us would sign up for~ the school of the wilderness. And yet, we eventually find ourselves in that school (and unfortunately, it is usually more than one time). The wilderness marks an important experience for us all. When you find yourself in it, take heart, you are not the first one, nor will you be the last....Abraham, Isaas, and Jacob lived in tents in the wilderness. Moses spent 40 years being trained in the desert to lead the Israelites. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. David escaped death from King Saul by fleeing to the desert and hiding in various caves. Elijah spent time in the wilderness. Jon the Baptist had his ministry in the wilderness and introduced Jesus in the desert. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the enemy. Paul spent 3 years in the wilderness. The school of the wilderness is training ground! Don't miss out on a chance to learn in the desert. Here are several lessons we learn in the wilderness:
BUT, there is one school that none of us would sign up for~ the school of the wilderness. And yet, we eventually find ourselves in that school (and unfortunately, it is usually more than one time). The wilderness marks an important experience for us all. When you find yourself in it, take heart, you are not the first one, nor will you be the last....Abraham, Isaas, and Jacob lived in tents in the wilderness. Moses spent 40 years being trained in the desert to lead the Israelites. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. David escaped death from King Saul by fleeing to the desert and hiding in various caves. Elijah spent time in the wilderness. Jon the Baptist had his ministry in the wilderness and introduced Jesus in the desert. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the enemy. Paul spent 3 years in the wilderness. The school of the wilderness is training ground! Don't miss out on a chance to learn in the desert. Here are several lessons we learn in the wilderness:
- God will always take care of His people in the wilderness. God provided manna for the Israelites for the entire time they walked in the desert. Their shoes never wore out, nor did their clothes. The Israelites were supernaturally sustained in the desert (Deut. 8:4, 29:5)
- The wilderness has the goal of sifting us; stripping us so we are left with Jesus alone. It is meant to empty us of religious baggage; getting the core of being totally dependent on God alone.
- The wilderness is not a place where you remain. If you do not get out of the wilderness, you will eventually die (Deut. 6:23).
- The wilderness is a symbol of new beginnings. After 40 years in the desert, Moses moved out to deliver the Israelites from bondage. After 40 years, the Israelites moved into the Promised Land. David moved from wilderness to a Kingly palace. Elijah left the desert and was taken by heavenly chariots into His forever Heavenly home. Jon the Baptist was set apart and prepared the way for the Messiah, marking a new beginning for Israel with Jesus on the scene. At the end of Jesus' 40 days in the desert, His ministry began in miraculous power from the Holy Spirit. Paul, being trained in the desert by the Holy Spirit, became a bold proclaimer of Jesus and goes on to write much of the New Testament. His ministry began after the wilderness experience.
If you are in the school of the wilderness now, trust God in it. And remember it will not last forever; he will supernaturally provide for all you need in it; allow the wilderness to sift you~ keep your heart open to what God is wanting to do in you. Lastly, be ready for the new thing that's coming.....the wilderness marks the beginning of something new.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Waiting Room
The season of waiting is extremely difficult. We are such a culture of "hurry-up" that when it is a time of w-a-i-t-i-n-g, we feel that we've missed something. But in all harvest, there is a season of waiting.
Farmers sow a seed and wait. They don't stand along the row of newly planted seed and proclaim "come forth new plant"....no, there is a season of growth that is happening under the soil (the growth that is unseen) with the rains and the sun; and at just the right time, the plant bursts through the ground. This is the season of The Waiting Room.
The Waiting Room~ how many of us have spent hours in the physical waiting room; at any doctors office. To worry, get frustrated or angry during the waiting time does not bring about a quicker result....
In The Waiting Room we learn patience and perseverance and contentment.
How did Abraham wait 25 years for the promised son, Isaac to be conceived & birthed?
How did Noah wait, while constructing an ark, for 120 years, with the promise of rain and destruction of mankind (if they do not repent)?
How did Moses wait at the top of the Mountain of God, in silence/fire/thunder, for 7 days~ waiting to hear a Word from God?
How did Joseph wait, years in prison, knowing what God had destined for his future?
How did KING David wait, on the run and in hiding for many years being chased by a mad-man king, for the promise of a Kingdom to be fulfilled?
How did Joshua wait, wandering 40 years in the desert waistland, for the promised land of Canann to be delivered?
How did Moses wait for the Promised Land to be within reach....and then see the promise from afar?
How did Esther wait, watching the time draw nearer of the extermination of her people; patiently preparing a banquet, then another; waiting for the right time to expose Haman in this brutal, murderous plot?
How did Mary wait, pregnant with the promised Messiah?
How does all of heaven wait, for the Glorious, Majestic, King Jesus to be revealed on the earth?
The list goes on and on of our heros of faith, from Old Testament to New Testament to early church fathers to present day. We find ourselves....
waiting to be rescued
waiting for healing
waiting to be delivered
waiting for the promise to be fulfilled
waiting for the harvest
waiting for the birth of the dream God has given
waiting for prodigals to come home
waiting for God to show Himself Mighty in power
While we wait, are we being strengthened in the Waiting? The Waiting Room produces patient endurance in us, even if it doesn't "feel" like it. Trust the working of the Holy Spirit in your inner man~ to cause a deeper hope and faith and belief in your heart. Romans 4:20-21 says of Abraham {during his season in The Waiting Room of 25 years}, "YET he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, BUT was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised."
Let us proclaim an "Abraham response" while we are in The Waiting Room: "Lord, I will wait for Your promise, growing strong in my faith and bolder in my assurance that You will do exactly what You have promised at exactly the moment You have ordained. It will not delay!!!"
Farmers sow a seed and wait. They don't stand along the row of newly planted seed and proclaim "come forth new plant"....no, there is a season of growth that is happening under the soil (the growth that is unseen) with the rains and the sun; and at just the right time, the plant bursts through the ground. This is the season of The Waiting Room.
The Waiting Room~ how many of us have spent hours in the physical waiting room; at any doctors office. To worry, get frustrated or angry during the waiting time does not bring about a quicker result....
In The Waiting Room we learn patience and perseverance and contentment.
How did Abraham wait 25 years for the promised son, Isaac to be conceived & birthed?
How did Noah wait, while constructing an ark, for 120 years, with the promise of rain and destruction of mankind (if they do not repent)?
How did Moses wait at the top of the Mountain of God, in silence/fire/thunder, for 7 days~ waiting to hear a Word from God?
How did Joseph wait, years in prison, knowing what God had destined for his future?
How did KING David wait, on the run and in hiding for many years being chased by a mad-man king, for the promise of a Kingdom to be fulfilled?
How did Joshua wait, wandering 40 years in the desert waistland, for the promised land of Canann to be delivered?
How did Moses wait for the Promised Land to be within reach....and then see the promise from afar?
How did Esther wait, watching the time draw nearer of the extermination of her people; patiently preparing a banquet, then another; waiting for the right time to expose Haman in this brutal, murderous plot?
How did Mary wait, pregnant with the promised Messiah?
How does all of heaven wait, for the Glorious, Majestic, King Jesus to be revealed on the earth?
The list goes on and on of our heros of faith, from Old Testament to New Testament to early church fathers to present day. We find ourselves....
waiting to be rescued
waiting for healing
waiting to be delivered
waiting for the promise to be fulfilled
waiting for the harvest
waiting for the birth of the dream God has given
waiting for prodigals to come home
waiting for God to show Himself Mighty in power
While we wait, are we being strengthened in the Waiting? The Waiting Room produces patient endurance in us, even if it doesn't "feel" like it. Trust the working of the Holy Spirit in your inner man~ to cause a deeper hope and faith and belief in your heart. Romans 4:20-21 says of Abraham {during his season in The Waiting Room of 25 years}, "YET he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, BUT was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised."
Let us proclaim an "Abraham response" while we are in The Waiting Room: "Lord, I will wait for Your promise, growing strong in my faith and bolder in my assurance that You will do exactly what You have promised at exactly the moment You have ordained. It will not delay!!!"
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