Have you ever planned on taking a shortcut to get somewhere and it ended up taking you much longer to get there. Here in Los Angeles it's easy to fall into the trap of not taking the freeway because it's backed up only to find out that the streets that you planned to take are closed for street repair, or there's police activity, or only one lane is open for some unknown reason. One or more of those things have happened to me many times. The same sort of thing has happened to me when I thought I could skip a step or cut a corner or two in order to complete a project only to end up spending twice the time cleaning up a mess.

When we try to take the easy way we're doing the opposite of what our parents, teachers, and coaches have told us and what we tell our children. "Study hard. Practice, practice, practice. Work, work, work. Keep at it. Don’t give up. Don’t take the easy way out. There aren’t any shortcuts to success".

The easy way almost always ends up taking longer and costing more.

Wise King Solomon had some thoughts about this.

Ecclesiastes 7:7‭-‬9 ESV Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

The first thing we notice is that a bribe, which is nothing but a shortcut to get something without earning it, corrupts your integrity and destroys the purity of your heart

The Hard Way Made Easy.
From 31 Days to Happiness by David Jeremiah

Yes, the hard way is better. As Robert Frost said, “The best way out is always through.”

Imagine Jesus in the wilderness, on the very periphery of His ministry and mission to the world. There, in the most vulnerable possible zone of His life, the devil made his approach. He gave Jesus his three best pitches, and what were they? Shortcuts all.

“If you want food, just turn these stones into bread.”

“If you want fame, just leap from this temple, into the arms of angels.”

“If you want followers, just bow down to me.”

The devil knew exactly where Jesus was going, but he suggested the wrong ways to get there.

Yes, Jesus wanted food, but He needed fasting, not fast food.

Yes, Jesus wanted fame but through the way of the cross, not ways that were crass.

Yes, Jesus wanted followers but through victory over sin, not by giving sin the victory. The testing of Jesus was all about convenience versus commitment. He refused “wonder bread” for himself but offered it to a crowd of five thousand. He refused to make an impressive spectacle at the temple but made a shocking spectacle at the temple. He refused to accept the kingdoms of the world by bowing down to Satan but bowed down to death so that the kingdoms of heaven and earth would bow at His name.

Philippians 2:9‭-‬11 ESV Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Perhaps it came easier for someone who was the Son of God. Never think that. There was a night when Jesus prayed and wept in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God if there might be some other way. He actually perspired in blood, which modern doctors have recognized as a legitimate symptom of profound anxiety. In the end Jesus acknowledged that God’s will was the only way, even when it was the hard way — the way of the cross.

Matthew 26:36‭-‬44 ESV Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

And because Jesus took the hard way, He opened heaven to those on earth.

​God’s Way Is the High Road

There is a saying: “Let the devil take the high road.” But in fact, the devil takes the shortcut and wants us to do the same. He knows that if we can be persuaded to take the easy way, we have shortchanged ourselves. We have sold ourselves out in the name of convenience and opened the door to selling out everything else that is meaningful.

When you are in school, the easy way is to cheat on the big test. It’s all about the grade and graduation and getting on with life, and who is going to know?

When you are in business, the easy way is to cut some corners, turn in the phony expense report, give the customer a little less than he contracted for. It’s a jungle out there, and who is going to know?

When you are married, the easy way is to give in to that extra-marital flirtation and have a little fling. It’s all about animal drives, and who can help it? Besides, who is going to know?

And when you are a parent, the easy way is to buy your kids televisions and computers and toys rather than to spend a lot of time with them. They have never turned down the gifts, right? And what difference could it make?

Then you come to a time in life when you realize you have no moral compass. There is no inner strength, no marital closeness or family solidarity. You made the journey, took the shortcuts, and this is where they led. Who knew? You — and your Lord.

Ecclesiastes 7:7‭-‬9 ESV Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Solomon says the hard way is, in the end, the happy way. He says that it is better to make the right decision now and to be patient in spirit than to be proud. God’s way may be the hard way, but it is always the high road, and if we will simply wait on Him it will lead us to higher places in life.

As Solomon said “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.”

It’s true over and over in life. When you learned to ride a bicycle, the beginning was nothing but hard spills on the road and skinned knees and hurt pride. But once you got the hang of it, the end was worlds better than the beginning.

Your first year in high school — what was that like? Low man or woman on the totem pole, new standards, tougher teachers. But by the time you were a senior, you felt like you owned the place. The best way out is always through.

Joseph in Egypt found that out. The end was the Egyptian throne, but by way of slavery and the darkest prison in the country.

Genesis 41:38‭-‬40 ESV And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you."

Job found it out. He ended up with twice as much as he had ever had. But he got there the hard way, including the collapse of his wealth and the loss of his family. God provided two blessings for every bruise.

Job 42:10 ESV And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Jesus knew it too. His road led through a trial, beatings, and the most violent and painful death we can imagine. But the destination was an empty tomb, a glorious ascension, a seat at the right hand of the Father.

The hard way will always be tough; there are no shortcuts. But it’s made just a bit easier when we stop to remember that God never fails, that all His endings are happy ones, and that every bruise leads to deeper blessings.

We hear a lot about Spiritual Warfare these days. It is a real war and we need to take it seriously but we need to see it for what it really is. If you are a believer in Jesus and have received Him as your Savior, you are in the body of Christ, and this means you are in the spiritual war between God and His enemy.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV) 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

A lot of believers either don’t realize that they are in a war or don't take it seriously. So they are not actively engaged in the war,even though they are on the receiving end of the consequences of that war. They are attacked and become wounded and incapacitated because they are totally unprepared to face the enemy.

In order to survive the first thing we have to realize is that there really is a war and we do have an enemy. What we must realize is that our enemy is God’s enemy. In fact he is our enemy because he is God’s enemy. The mere fact that you are a child of God means that you are subject to attack at any time. You may believe you don’t have to engage in the battle, but you do.

Satan does exist and he has a military force. The war is never over because the enemy never never gives up. Jesus has defeated him but he continues to engage in gorilla warfare. Much like Isis or any other defeated enemy does until they are totally destroyed.

This is a spiritual war, but it’s every bit as real as the conflicts that we see being waged the world today. The Bible is clear that this is not a battle which is fought on a physical plane at all, but rather a spiritual one.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We must never go to battle without the things we need in order to protect ourselves and to win. Remember our battle is spiritual, so our protection and weapons are spiritual. God has provided some armor for our protection.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬17 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
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We must have the whole armor of God protecting us at all times so we can stand successfully against the enemy’s attacks and plans.

To “take your stand” literally means to stand in front of and in opposition to the forces and plans of evil. It means to be the one standing after the battle. It also means to stand ready for the next battle which will come.
You need this armor to stop any attack in your life and the lives of those you care about.
​
In this blog series we are going to look at this armor and how it protects us in our battle against Satan and his army.
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​The only way to escape legislating morality is to not legislate at all.

That’s because laws are inherently moral. They are a statement of what a society considers to be correct or ethical behavior. You simply cannot escape legislating morality.

And yet, Christians are the only people criticized for “legislating morality.” This inconsistency begs a very important question:

Why is it more correct to legislate a secular morality than a God-centered morality? 

It isn’t. It may be more politically correct, but it’s not more correct.

For the Christian when assessing moral issues that we should legislate, our focus should be on God’s design for government and our submission to authority.Government is one of at least three authorities God has instituted in society. 

Parents

Parents are to raise their children according to moral principles.Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.Children are to obey their parentsEphesians 6:1‭-‬4 ESV Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Employers 

Employers are to act fairly and godly toward employees.James 5:4 ESV Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. Employees are to serve their employers respectfully and heartily

1 Peter 2:18 NLT You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.

Colossians 3:23 ESV Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Government 

God instituted principles of government.Genesis 1:26 ESV Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."Government’s role is to promote good.

Romans 13:1‭-‬7 ESV Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.We obey God when we obey governmental authorities, because “the authorities that exist are appointed by God”.  However, that does not mean we should comply with governmental actions that violate His commandments.Acts 4:19‭-‬20 ESVBut Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."In these instances we must work within the law for change or accept government’s punishment of our faith.

1 Peter 3:17 ESV For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

To say that a nation’s laws must avoid any moral basis ignores centuries of laws spanning diverse religious and nonreligious cultures. More importantly, it is an impossible and anti-biblical standard. Even if a society rejects God’s authority, believers have an obligation to advocate God’s standards for civil government as revealed in the Bible.

​“Should we legislate morality?” That’s the wrong question. We should ask, “What is the best way to promote God’s role for government and other authority?”

Psalms 62:1‭-‬12 NLT I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Interlude Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.

Let The Peace Of God Set You Free

The most important word in this Psalm is the word "alone" I verse 2.

Psalms 62:2 NLT He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

This verse is short but it has big power. It says that He alone is our rock and salvation — not our family, not our job, not our power or ranking, but God alone. When we really take hold of this fact we can let go of our hold on the cares of this life.  Even death and life don’t hold the weight they once did when we let this verse soak into our hearts and minds. When we speak these words over and over, we find peace and there is rest. We can let go and just trust Him.

God is good, and His promises are true.

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​In the Ancient Near East, agreements and business transactions between two parties were handwritten into formal contracts—not unlike today, but with a few more brush strokes rather than keystrokes. When one party was indebted to another, his name would be written below the agreement. When the debt was satisfied, the name would be scratched out, a line drawn through it, or one would hammer a nail, piercing the name, signifying the debt had been cancelled.

Remind you of anything?

Colossians 2:13‭-‬14 NLT You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (Emphasis mine)

The law of God was the written contract that held us in debt to Him. Sins stacked up, and our charges against Him were incalculable. We were unable to meet the terms of our agreement with Him. But through Jesus Christ, God has canceled those charges!

The nails in Jesus’ hands and feet canceled the debt we owed God. Every charge against us was nailed to the cross. Our account with Him had been settled. He can forgive us because though we failed to uphold our end of the contract by keeping the law, Jesus paid the price for our crimes against God.

All the mistakes we’ve made all the stupid things we’ve done, embarrassing or otherwise, no longer matter to God. We may still have to accept the consequences of our actions, but we can take comfort in knowing that it God’s sight we are new creations. So do not allow Satan to guilt you with past mistakes, you are a child of God and he will never see you as anything less.
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Because our debt has been paid we don't have to argue with the devil when he attacks us with accusations from our past. When he starts reminding us of our past and comparing us to others shut him up by reminding him of the Cross. The only way to shut up the devil is at the Cross.

Colossians 2:15 NLT In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

We hear a lot about Spiritual Warfare these days. It is a real war and we need to take it seriously but we need to see it for what it really is.  If you are a believer in Jesus and have received Him as your Savior, you are in the body of Christ, and this means you are in the spiritual war between God and His enemy.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV) 8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world (emphasis mine). 

A lot of believers either don’t realize that they are in a war or don't take it seriously. So they are not actively engaged in the war,even though they are on the receiving end of the consequences of that war. They are attacked and become wounded and incapacitated because they are totally unprepared to face the enemy.

In order to survive the first thing we have to realize is that there really is a war and we do have an enemy. What we must realize is that our enemy is God’s enemy. In fact he is our enemy because he is God’s enemy. The mere fact that you are a child of God means that you are subject to attack at any time. You may believe you don’t have to engage in the battle, but you do.

Satan does exist and he has a military force. The war is never over because the enemy never never gives up.  Jesus has defeated him but he continues to engage in gorilla warfare. Much like Isis or any other defeated enemy does until they are totally destroyed.

This is a spiritual war, but it’s every bit as real as the conflicts that we see being waged the world today.  The Bible is clear that this is not a battle which is fought on a physical plane at all, but rather a spiritual one.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

We must never go to battle without the things we need in order to protect ourselves and to  win. Remember our battle is spiritual, so our protection and weapons are spiritual. God has provided some armor for our protection.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬17 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (emphasis mine)

We must have the whole armor of God protecting us at all times so we can stand successfully against the enemy’s attacks and plans.

To “take your stand” literally means to stand in front of and in opposition to the forces and plans of evil. It means to be the one standing after the battle. It also means to stand ready for the next battle which will come.

You need this armor to stop any attack in your life and the lives of those you care about.

In this blog series we are going to look at this armor and how it protects us in our battle against Satan and his army.
​

Take the Shield of Faith

Every soldier needs something to shield and protect him from the weapons of the enemy. 

The Roman soldier's shield at the time, that Paul wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus,  was called a scutum, the Greek word for door.  This type of shield was as large as a door and would cover the warrior entirely. This kind of shield was not just defensive but could also be used to push opponents. When fighting as a group, a group of soldiers standing or moving in close formation,  could position their shields to form an enclosure around themselves, much like a tortoise of turtle moves into their shell. This was especially helpful to protect against arrows launched from the walls of cities they were attacking. Shields, were often made of wood and then covered in hide, which when wet, could extinguish flaming arrows.

The enemy shoots spiritual arrows and darts at us designed to pierce our heart with discouragement and make us fearful, anxious, uncertain, or incapacitated. The shield we have against these arrows of the enemy is our faith, and it is a powerful protection from all that the enemy can throw at us.

How do we know our faith is strong enough to be a protective shield from the enemy?  We know because God’s Word says that it is our faith in God and His faithfulness to us that becomes a shield for us.
 
Genesis 15:1 (NKJV)1  After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
 
Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)  He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

The buckler is a small shield, used mainly to deflect, trap and strike (While it is useful for duels and small fights, it is not good for large-scale battle.  Bucklers are not good for handling arrows or other large projectiles. These little shields were mostly carried by individuals who might have to defend themselves in day to day situations.  They were a civilian rather than a military weapon).

When we put our faith in God and His Word, He is our shield and defense.

When the enemy comes to test your allegiance to the Lord, focus on God, His Word, and His faithfulness. 

Our faith must grow strong enough to believe for the impossible because we believe in the God of the impossible, and with Him all things are possible. 

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Satan’s attacks can sometimes cause us to doubt God. Faith prompts us to believe God. We give in to temptation when we believe what it has to offer is better than what God has promised. Faith reminds us that, although the fulfillment of God’s promise may not be readily visible to us, God is true to His Word. When Satan attempts to plague us with doubt or entice us with instant gratification, faith recognizes the deceptiveness of his tactics and quickly extinguishes the arrows. When Satan accuses us, faith chooses to believe that Jesus has redeemed us and that there is no more condemnation.

Romans 8:1 (NKJV)1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 

We have been justified by faith;

Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;4  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.5  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Because we have faith in God, our suffering need not faze us; in fact, we can persevere under it. The things Satan attempts to use to discourage us can actually become tools in the hands of God.

Faith is a protective barrier between us and the attacks of Satan. When we believe God and take Him at His word, we remain grounded in truth (see Armor Of God - Shoes Of The Gospel Of Peace), the lies of the enemy lose their power, and we become overcomers. In that way, faith is our shield.

1 John 5:4 (NKJV)4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 




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Psalms 34:1‭-‬22 ESV I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord ; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord , and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord , you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord . What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
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The Prayer Of Someone Who Has Tasted The Goodness Of The Lord

A Prayer Based From Pslam 34
By: Stephen Altrogge

Father,
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I have tasted and seen that you are good. I have tasted the finest delicacies this world can offer, and they cannot compare to you. Your presence satisfies me like nothing else. You give more joy and deeper joy than anything else in this world. One day in your courts is better than a thousand days elsewhere. One moment with you is better than a thousand lifetimes anywhere else. Please give me more tastes of your presence, more glimpses of your glory. Expand my heart to love you more, and then take me deeper into the vast ocean of your love. Your love is better than life itself.

I do not take refuge in money, people, job security, or friends. Those things are fleeting vapors that quickly dissipate. They don’t provide any true security. I take my refuge in you, the King of Kings, owner of all things, Sovereign One, and protector of the helpless. I know that you’ll care for me, provide for me, and satisfy me. I know that you’ll protect me, just as a father protects his children. Teach me what it means to fully entrust myself. Deliver me from my sinful self-sufficiency. Teach me what it means to truly, humbly fear you. Fill my heart with appropriate reverence, awe, and fear of you.
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I want to seek you above all else, knowing that if I seek you, I won’t lack any good thing. You are not a stingy God who is hesitant to bless his creatures. You are an abundantly generous God. Like a constantly flowing spring, you bubble over with goodness and generosity. If you clothe the lilies in splendor and feed the ravens, you will certainly provide me with everything that I need. If something is good for me, you will give it to me. If it is not good, you will withhold it. I know that I can trust you to give me exactly what I need for every situation. Ultimately, I don’t know what I most need, but you do. I don’t trust in my own ability to meet my needs, I trust you to meet all of my needs.

Amen

Isaiah 44:2 CEV I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Israel, don't be terrified! You are my chosen servant, my very favorite. (Emphasis mine)

God does not play dice. – Albert Einstein

Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, He expected it. - Rick Warren


You Are Who You Are For A Reason
by Russell Kelfer

You are who you are for a reason.

You’re part of an intricate plan.

You’re a precious and perfect unique design,

Called God’s special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.

Our God made no mistake.

He knit you together within the womb,

You’re just what He wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones He chose,

And no matter how you may feel,

They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,

And they bear the Master’s seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.

And God wept that it hurt you so;

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into His likeness you’d grow.

You are who you are for a reason,

You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.

You are who you are, Beloved,

Because there is a God!

We hear a lot about Spiritual Warfare these days. It is a real war and we need to take it seriously but we need to see it for what it really is.  If you are a believer in Jesus and have received Him as your Savior, you are in the body of Christ, and this means you are in the spiritual war between God and His enemy.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)  8 Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 

A lot of believers either don’t realize that they are in a war or don't take it seriously. So they are not actively engaged in the war,even though they are on the receiving end of the consequences of that war. They are attacked and become wounded and incapacitated because they are totally unprepared to face the enemy.

In order to survive the first thing we have to realize is that there really is a war and we do have an enemy. What we must realize is that our enemy is God’s enemy. In fact he is our enemy because he is God’s enemy. The mere fact that you are a child of God means that you are subject to attack at any time. You may believe you don’t have to engage in the battle, but you do.

Satan does exist and he has a military force. The war is never over because the enemy never never gives up.  Jesus has defeated him but he continues to engage in gorilla warfare. Much like Isis or any other defeated enemy does until they are totally destroyed.

This is a spiritual war, but it’s every bit as real as the conflicts that we see being waged the world today.  The Bible is clear that this is not a battle which is fought on a physical plane at all, but rather a spiritual one.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

We must never go to battle without the things we need in order to protect ourselves and to  win. Remember our battle is spiritual, so our protection and weapons are spiritual. God has provided some armor for our protection.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬17 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

We must have the whole armor of God protecting us at all times so we can stand successfully against the enemy’s attacks and plans.

To “take your stand” literally means to stand in front of and in opposition to the forces and plans of evil. It means to be the one standing after the battle. It also means to stand ready for the next battle which will come.

You need this armor to stop any attack in your life and the lives of those you care about.

In this blog series we are going to look at this armor and how it protects us in our battle against Satan and his army.
​

Shoe Your Feet With The Preparation Of The Gospel of Peace

The Roman soldier’s shoes were short leather boots. These would grip the ground and they would keep his feet firm on the ground. They would prevent him from falling. Roman soldiers had strong military shoes studded on the bottom of the soles in a way similar to cleats. 

Imagine a fully armed soldier. He has his sword, his shield, his helmet, his breastplate and his belt...but his feet are completely bare. The picture probably seems strange, and it should! Just by thinking about it, we can tell something is missing.  He knew that if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter how great the rest of his armor was; the enemy had him. 

Without good footing a soldier could run into real trouble in the heat of battle. Unless he is fighting on Astroturf, he is going to encounter some debris. It may be nothing more than twigs and pebbles, one of the last things you want to deal with in the middle of a fight is worrying about where you step.

In short, shoes allow us to step freely and without fear while we turn our full attention to the battle at hand. Properly shod feet can stand strong against the enemy and keep from slipping. 

The shoes that God supplies His soldiers have two purposes: defensive and offensive. In order to defend ourselves against the “flaming arrows of the evil one”, we must have confidence in our position in Christ. We must stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, regardless of how terrifying the circumstances may be.

1 John 5:14 ESV And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

We must remember that our position in Christ is not based on our own abilities or worthiness.

Titus 3:4‭-‬7 ESV But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We need our belt of truth (See Armor Of God - The Belt Of Truth), and breastplate of righteousness ( See Armor Of God - Breastplate Of Righteousness) securely fastened. 

When Satan attacks with a flaming missile of doubt, such as “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t have let this happen,” we dig our peace shoes into the turf of God’s Word and reply;

Romans 8:28 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

When Satan stabs from behind with “Remember what you did?” we dig in more deeply and reply;

1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In addition to standing our ground, shoes are also for moving. God expects us to go on the offensive and take the gospel of peace to others. 

1 Peter 3:13‭-‬17 ESV Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Sharing our faith is one of the best ways to maintain our own sure footing. God knows that, when we are active in speaking of Him to others, we not only charge into Satan’s territory, but we dig our shoes more deeply into truth and will be much harder to dislodge. When we have “studied to show ourselves approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15), we are ready to stand firm in the gospel of peace no matter what the enemy brings against us.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

But this is not all. We should also tell the good news to other people. Our gospel boots should be a proper fit. We fight the war. But we send out the good news about peace at the same time.  This is the good news about the peace of God. We should always be ready to tell this to other people. The word “preparation” means that the gospel of peace has already been accomplished. 

The good news is that Jesus already prepared that for us.  Having peace with God and peace in God is an unshakeable foundation from which we can defend ourselves and stay standing strong.

Romans 5:1 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You just have to walk in it. God has peace for us that is beyond our comprehension. It is not that we can’t imagine having peace;  it’s just that we can’t imagine having that kind of peace in the midst of the things we experience here on earth. Jesus made it possible for us to have the peace that passes all understanding—the kind that carries us, stabilizes us, grounds us, and keeps us from slipping.

John 14:27 ESV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
​
Philippians 4:4‭-‬7 ESV Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We hear a lot about Spiritual Warfare these days. It is a real war and we need to take it seriously but we need to see it for what it really is.  If you are a believer in Jesus and have received Him as your Savior, you are in the body of Christ, and this means you are in the spiritual war between God and His enemy.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV) 8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 

A lot of believers either don’t realize that they are in a war or don't take it seriously. So they are not actively engaged in the war,even though they are on the receiving end of the consequences of that war. They are attacked and become wounded and incapacitated because they are totally unprepared to face the enemy.

In order to survive the first thing we have to realize is that there really is a war and we do have an enemy. What we must realize is that our enemy is God’s enemy. In fact he is our enemy because he is God’s enemy. The mere fact that you are a child of God means that you are subject to attack at any time. You may believe you don’t have to engage in the battle, but you do.
 
Satan does exist and he has a military force. The war is never over because the enemy never never gives up.  Jesus has defeated him but he continues to engage in gorilla warfare. Much like Isis or any other defeated enemy does until they are totally destroyed.

This is a spiritual war, but it’s every bit as real as the conflicts that we see being waged the world today.  The Bible is clear that this is not a battle which is fought on a physical plane at all, but rather a spiritual one.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

We must never go to battle without the things we need in order to protect ourselves and to  win. Remember our battle is spiritual, so our protection and weapons are spiritual. God has provided some armor for our protection. 

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬17 ESV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

We must have the whole armor of God protecting us at all times so we can stand successfully against the enemy’s attacks and plans.

To “take your stand” literally means to stand in front of and in opposition to the forces and plans of evil. It means to be the one standing after the battle. It also means to stand ready for the next battle which will come.

You need this armor to stop any attack in your life and the lives of those you care about.

In this blog series we are going to look at this armor and how it protects us in our battle against Satan and his army.

​

The Breastplate of Righteousness (Body Armor)

The breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier's armor—it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart, lungs and so on. Without a breastplate, a soldier would be asking for death, as any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate, the very same attacks become ineffective and useless, as blows glance off the armor.

The breastplate covered the body from the neck to the thighs, and consisted of two parts, one covering the front and the other the back. It was made of rings, or in the form of scales, or of plates, so fastened together that they, would be flexible, and yet guard the body from a sword, spear, or arrow. It was often formed of plates of brass, laid one upon another, like the scales of a fish.  The breast-plate defended the vital parts of the body; and the idea here may be that the integrity of life, and righteousness of character, is as necessary to defend us from the assaults of Satan, as the coat of mail was to preserve the heart from the arrows of an enemy. 
​
Jesus’ perfect righteousness is what covers our heart, and that is what God sees when He looks at us. But we still have to put on righteousness like a soldier puts on a bulletproof vest. That means we must choose to live God’s way. We cannot be protected if we deliberately walk outside the ways and the will of God.  Our breastplate of righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus in us. It protects our heart from any mortal wounds and assures us that the enemy can never destroy us because of sin.

Now we know that we are justified or made righteous by God but we still have the choice of living righteous 

God himself puts it on us.

Romans 3:21-22 (NLT)21  But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.22  We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

This makes us right with God. It is as if we had never sinned. It is goodness on the inside of us.

The breastplate of righteousness refers to the righteousness purchased for us by Jesus at the cross

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 
 
At salvation, a “breastplate” is issued to each repentant sinner. It is specially designed by God to protect our heart and soul from evil and deception. Our own righteous acts are no match for Satan’s attacks.

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV)6  We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 

The breastplate of righteousness has Christ’s name stamped on it, as though He said, “Your righteousness isn’t sufficient to protect you. Wear mine.”

We are instructed to “put on” this armor, which implies that we do not automatically wear it all the time. Putting on the armor of God requires a decision on our part. To put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must first have the belt of truth firmly in place (See Armor Of God- Belt Of Truth). Without truth, our righteousness will be based upon our own attempts to impress God. This leads to legalism or self-condemnation.

Romans 8:1 (ESV)1  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

We choose instead to acknowledge that, apart from Him, we can do nothing.

John 15:15 (ESV)15  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 

We see ourselves as “in Christ” and that, regardless of our failures, His righteousness has been credited to our account.

We “put it on” by seeking God and His righteousness above everything else.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

We make Him and His ways our dwelling place.

Psalm 91:1 (ESV)1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

We delight in His commands and desire for His ways to become our ways.

 Psalm 119:24 (ESV)24  Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.  

When God reveals an area of change to us, we obey and allow Him to work in us. At the point where we say “no” to God, we open a little crack in the armor where Satan’s arrows can get through.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 

As we wear Christ’s breastplate of righteousness, we begin to develop a purity of heart that translates into actions. Wearing this breastplate creates a lifestyle of putting into practice what we believe in our hearts. As our lives become conformed to the image of Christ our choices become more righteous.

Romans 8:29 (ESV)29  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

These godly choices also protect us from further temptation and deception.

Psalm 23:3 (ESV)3  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

When armor is abused or worn incorrectly, it can malfunction. Tthere are several factors that can interfere with the effectiveness of our spiritual breastplate. 

• Carelessness

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

• Unbelief

Hebrews 3:12 (ESV)12  Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 

• Abusing grace

Romans 6:1-2 (ESV)1  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?2  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  

•  Disobedience

1 John 3:4 (ESV)4  Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  

All of these things can hinder our ability to stand firm and defeat the enemy in our lives. When we tolerate sin, refuse to forgive, rely on personal righteousness, or allow worldly concerns to crowd out time for an intimate relationship with God, we, in effect, take off the breastplate of righteousness, minimizing its power to protect us.

We need our breastplate of righteousness in place in order to gain the victory.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (ESV)1  I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!--
2  I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.3  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.4  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.5  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,6  being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 

Once we have put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must be sure not to remove it. 
​
Ezekiel 33:13 (ESV)13  Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 
Wearing the breastplate of righteousness is not a one-time event it requires a lifetime of action.​