Where the Battle is Won or Lost

Another great Devo

Where the Battle is Won or Lost

'If you will return, O Israel,' says the Lord . . . —Jeremiah 4:1

Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God's presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there. I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I'll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all. In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.

After I read this I just can't help but wonder if it is time to take a sabbatical? Scripture alludes to taking a sabbatical three times a year. Exodus 34.23 Three times each year every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the Lord, and the God of Israel. 24 I will drive out the other nations ahead of you and expand your territory, so no one will covet and conquer your land while you appear before the Lord your God three times each year. This passage is about getting away and the Lord not letting your enemies get the upper hand while you are a way.

So I have questions for you. When was the last time you went away to be with the Lord? When was the last time you actually got with the Lord on a problem and waited for the answer?

This is a very hard thing for me to do. No reading …… no praying ……. Just go to the secret place with your question and get quiet and listen. Try this, because it is not easy. Get on your knees or in your chair or on your floor. Cell phone off, landline off, TV off and computer off. Where it is dead quiet in your home and go to the Lord and listen. Try this for 15 to 30 minutes. Very powerful. I find for me when I do this I will actually go into some type of trance. (if that makes since) Maybe sleep? I always hear the Lord though.

What works for you? Let me know.

Be blessed today!

The Season

I had a dear friend of mine ask me a question Saturday. He said, "What season are you in?"

I did not know how to answer that question. I said I would have to get back to him on that. I have been thinking about that a lot since Saturday. We are all in different seasons of our lives in different areas. We may be in one type of season in our marriage and a different type in our jobs. I can say for me I am in a new season with my daughter Nichole. A healthy season of healing. Some of us maybe in a new season in our life that we are afraid and don't like. God knows what he is doing though.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

The last thing I want to share is this. As I was going through my bible this morning and I landed in Isaiah 61. (This is while I am searching for Ecclesiastes)

Isaiah 61:6 you will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches. 7 Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

As I read this I knew it was a word from the Lord, because I started to weep. I have really been feeling as of late that 2013 will be my best year yet. I feel that this word is saying get ready. I am going to double your business. No more shame and dishonor from the temptations of pornography, I have retired from that area of my life. I am a warrior priest and the priest of my home. I feel that in 2013 there will be more men and women and children to minister too ….. more opportunity as I stay retired.

You cannot give away what you don't have!