Rise up! In His Word
We
wrestle not against flesh and blood... even though some days it seems
that is actually what we are doing; when we walk with God's promises
and hope for His directing of our path we learn to let go of what we
feel like each day.
For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
Some
days I wake up 'feeling my druthers' to coin a very old phrase. You
know what that is; “I'd ruther not get out of the comfy covers,'
I'd rutther' not have t go to work.... you get the picture!
When
we rise up thinking we are ready for our day and yet start to grumble
we can blame ourselves for being lazy, or for doing too much the day
before, or staying up too late but really it does not matter why,
what, where, or when. Each day we rise up what matters is Who. Whom
do you talk to first thing, your self, You know, the person who put you
in the place you are in. Or, do you talk to the One who can pull you
out of the pit and put you back on your feet?
Some
things I have learned this past year with my 'series of unfortunate
events', as I called them, is that I can make a difference in no ones
life if I put myself down in the pit to begin with. I also can not
encourage anyone else if I choose to stay down when I fall. Its
really hard to feel encouraging when you trip over a curb while
someone tries to help you pick up your groceries that just dropped
out and are rolling all over. Yet you can do this! When the world and
all of its troubles are weighing so heavy on you that you do not
think there is a way you will get through the day; you can do this!
Sometimes
food is far from where you are, both physical and spiritual food. You
may feel like you are in a dessert place and all alone; but He will
not leave you alone! You can do this!
Let
me rephrase this.
With
God's help you can do this!
I
know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned
the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full
stomach or empty, with plenty of little. For I can do everything
through Christ who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to
share with me in my present difficulty. Philippians 4:12-14
We
now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves re like
fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear
that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed
on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed,
but not driving to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by
God. We get knocked down but we are not destroyed. Through suffering,
our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life
of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
I
am learning a glimmer of what Paul learned that we are to be content
with what we are at in life. If I fall down I will get back up. The
enemy will not defeat me! I will not walk around in fear that every
step I take will be my last, instead I will walk with the hope of
never falling again.
Now
I may think of this on a personal and physical level today but
tomorrow God may show me the spiritual impression of my falling.
For
instance the first fall; I had the attitude of “I can do this”
and I went one pain and all to complete the task before me. You can
relate no doubt that in some part of what you are walking through
right now you feel as though “you can do this'. I knew I had
Christ in my life but I have to admit that only part of my I can do
this was about Him giving me strength. And so I fell again.
My
attitude was “I'm Okay”. And, “I will make it through this”
with a little bit of “what in the world am I falling for?” stuck
in there. Throughout the next few months I went from the first
strong statement of “I can” to “I can't do this!” as the pain
got worse, and the movement less. I had a good day at my workout and
was on my way home with joy in my heart and a spring in my step when
it happened. My attitude of trusting the Lord, knowing I had Him on
my side because I felt so good would be tested. I dropped a half bag
of groceries heading to the car and even as the store employee began
to pick up my parcels I tripped over a curb and sat on the ground.
Assessing my possible injuries I cried out to God “seriously?”
Then I started to cry, then laugh as the scriptures from 2
Corinthians 4 came to mind. I may get knocked down but it is not
going to destroy me! I may fall down but I will get back up! I
laughed aloud and told the enemy he would not defeat me!
From
that day I have had gains and I have had failures but over all I know
that my God is with me and though I may stumble, I will not fall
beyond His grasp. How can I say that? I could have been damaged worse
than I was, but I wasn't. When my body gets down and worn out I can
find Spiritual strength to sustain me. I find that listening to
Worship songs as I walk empowers my body to go faster, to extend my
distance and to do so with a spring in my step and a song in my
heart!
The
connection to God, and His words in our heart and mind can bring us
through whatever we are struggling with today. We just need to seek
Him, read the Word and follow His example to get to that next answer.
It will be there, even if we have to humble ourselves and ask for
help. When God is for us, nothing, no one, no problem can stand
against us, but we have to trust Him.
Do
you trust Him today?
Dear
Heavenly Father, help us all to trust You to provide our needs this
week. Whether it is for healing, or food or a job, or a way out of a
sticky situation. Help us to trust you more, in Jesus name, amen.
Suggested
Readings :2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Psalm 56:1-13, and Philippians
4:1-23