Category: a holy shelter

Satan Wants Christians to Be Unholy

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Hebrews 13:14

There is a simple holiness about a believer that Satan hates with a passion.

There should be a joy and peace in any holiness, and if there isn’t then you’ve got the legalistic version. And Satan delights in that. His ministry is to destroy that which the Holy Spirit has instilled within you.

Satan is disgusted with the real thing. It intensely bothers him when he detects the real thing that is within you. Holiness is the flag which he wants to shoot down. Satan is incredibly experienced at this, he has been at this for several millenia.

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

In this toxic environment Jesus gives us His grace. We have been given the power to overcome the strategies of the devil. He are commissioned to resist him. All of heaven is watching us. Angels stand by to assist us. God’s Word helps us.

It is the simple believer who overcomes hell’s fearsome blasts, for he rests exclusively on the Blood of Jesus. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11). Jesus has given us His very blood to save our souls.

My illness was never meant to be an excuse tor ungodliness. I may be disabled but He leads me down “the paths of righteousness for His name sake.” I honestly want to follow Jesus (even if I don’t it so well).

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Titus 2:12, NKJV

“There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.”

    —C.S. Lewis

 

 

Just Five Minutes

A few years ago my Dad was a passenger on a small commuter plane to visit us here in Alaska. Flying over the Kenai Peninsula he was looking at the beautiful mountains. when he noticed the wing flap violently shaking and then suddenly fall off!

After notifying the pilot he started to pray. The plane was able to make it to an alternate airport where the passengers were able to disembark safely. God worked a miracle that day.

Prayer works. And yet often it’s the last thing we want to do. Many Christians seem to be allergic to prayer. Only when they are in a impossible corner to they begin to seek God. Sometimes quite fervently.

Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:17. “Pray continually.” Yet at times we haven’t the foggiest what to pray for, we somehow believe prayer is boring. It has little to offer our daily routine. We think we do well without it.

I would like to suggest praying for just five minutes a day. It is a reasonable starting point. These five minutes will set your day and put things in order, Just five minutes can be an incredible and decisive contribution to your day.

We need to begin somewhere. Perhaps this is the “missing link” that establishes your day as a Christian. I suppose doing so can seem like a formidable challenge, but five minutes is a good place to start.

Prayer is an intimate conversation with our God.

Father, teach us to pray. Forgive us for living prayerless lives. We often fall short but our spirits are willing. Please help us to seek your face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

On Being Tied to the Mast

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“The heart is but a small vessel; and yet dragons and lions are there, and there poisonous creatures and all the treasures of wickedness; rough, uneven paths are there, and gaping chasms. There likewise is God, there are the angels, the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace; all things are there.”

~St. Macarius

 OK, I admit it.  I am fully capable and fully able to do just about any sin or deceit.   It’s my dubious claim to fame.  I can easily think of a 1000 things that I could do rather than serving God.  It seems my name is ‘Legion.’ To add to this, I have a chorus of support that wants me to give up my faith.  Demons are really plotting to destroy me, while all along my flesh insists on being fed with ‘fresh sin’.  (And I wonder why I’m getting gray hair.)

Within each of us is the potential and capability of doing great evil.  Each of us is contested ground, with eternal decisions hanging in the balance.

My mental illness does not give me “a get-out-of-jail-free card.”  I am just as responsible as anyone else when it comes to choosing good vs. evil.  Somehow I’d like to think that since I am deeply flawed because of my depression, it can actually make it somewhat easier to admit the truth. Maybe? (Perhaps that’s about the only edge I get.)

In Greek mythology there were three beautiful, but dangerous bird-women called “Sirens.”  With their music and voice they seduced sailors to shipwreck on the rocks.  It was said that there was few or any could resist them. Since they had to be neutralized somehow; some would plug their ears with beeswax, while others tied themselves to the mast.

The Bible has promised us the Holy Spirit.  The very presence of God has reached out His hand to hold me against the onslaught of evil forces. He truly does hold me in place, and His Word gives me the things I need to defend myself. Yes, the darkness can be very strong–but is no match to what God can do for me. We live in a very difficult age.

The intensity of seduction has increased. Tying yourself to something is probably a good idea.

“Keep yourself pure.”

1 Timothy 5:22

When the voices begin to lure you, you had best be ready with a plan.  The spiritual mast we have before us is the person of Jesus Christ.  Call on Him and then tether yourself to His mast (the cross.)  He has all power and all love for you.  You can resist the darkness, you can!

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From Spiritual Self-Destruction

handwater

A Very Simple and Honest Prayer

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Change me.

God, please change me.

Though I cringe

Kick

Resist and resent

Pay no attention to me whatever.

When I run to hide

Drag me out of my safe little shelter.

Change me totally

Whatever it takes

However long You must work at the job.

Change me– and save me

From spiritual self-destruction. Amen.

Ruth Harms Calkin

6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:6, NLT

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