Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Forgiveness is a Weapon of Warfare


When life gets 'real', I need to really concentrate on bringing to mind what I have read (hopefully this morning?) in my Bible. 




Bringing to mind the encouraging promises in God's Word can be difficult at best. What should I do?! I don't feel like opening my Bible at that point. Isn't it sweet fellowship with mySELF to wallow in my problems?! 

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 
~2 Corinthians 10:4,5~

I must overcome my 'feelings' and 'thoughts' and go to war with the weapons that God has provided for me. When it says that our weapons are not carnal, it means that they aren't spears and guns; they aren't tangible weapons that we can see. These weapons are MIGHTY. They are so powerful that they can pull down the strongholds (like a fortified castle) that we have allowed to be established in our life. 

Bitterness. Irritability. Anger. Wrath. Impatience. Sullenness. Depression. Melancholy. Moodiness. Name Yours.

Thoughts running through your mind feeding your feelings (too many feelings) of bitterness, or anger towards your husband, or impatience with your children and thoughts about that, conversations about your issue running and running through your mind. If you listen long enough to your thoughts you will realize not all of those thoughts are well founded. 

As you think (and think) over your situation, you begin to wander from the issue and elaborate until it grows into a mole hill. Those are imaginations and what this verse is talking about when it says 'casting down imaginations.' 

An issue which you (me too) are having with another person (probably one close to you) becomes 'high places' as they are 'blown-out-of-proportion.' I would venture to say that we ladies have the biggest problem with this. The solution to our growing problem, God says, is to bring it into captivity. Shut down that thought!!

What are you going to do with what you are reading today? 

Skim down through this post and zip over to the next blog without interacting with what the Lord says here? 

Isn't that what we do waay too often?? We are busy moms and the tyranny of the urgent is always calling our name!! 

Take time to meditate on these words and thoughts today!! 

Think over carefully how you speak to your husband or child. Are you throwing the javelin of pride as you hurtle words in retaliation over an accusation or something you are asked to do? 

Are you hurtling words in retaliation when your child refuses to obey and you use sharp words to 'lecture' them into obedience? What I wish I knew then!!

It is very important to meditate in the Bible word for word. Stop and think of what it is saying to you. 

It is much better to memorize or meditate than trying to wiz through a three month program for reading through the Bible. It is better to absorb God's Words into your heart and allow Him to transform you from the inside out.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves."
~James 1:22~

When we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit on our hearts we are giving place to the devil.

"Neither give place to the devil."
~Ephesians 4:27~

When we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit and do not take biblical action to deal with offenses and hurt in our life: can God send an evil spirit to you? 

I don't want to be a Saul!! Saul was a very disturbed man. He was jealous of David and kept being antagonistic toward him. He threw a javelin (short spear) at David. 

Saul was at the point where he was not allowing God to work in his life any longer. Asking myself if God is allowing an evil spirit to harass me gives me such feelings of sadness and distress. I would NEVER want an evil spirit bothering me. BUT...by ignoring the warnings of the Lord to properly deal with offenses am I leaving a door open for evil spirits to inflict me with bitterness, depression, anger, you fill in the blank __________ with your tendency. 

"For if any be a hearer of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and staightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therin, 
he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, 
this man shall be blessed in his deed."
~James 1:23-25~

I am going to intentionally be a doer of the word and forgive others and ask forgiveness when I do wrong.


I'd LOVE you to leave a comment!!

Since I live out 'in-the-sticks'... friends, like you are a long ways away!!
Sooo, I'd love you to follow me on: 

Don't forget to linkup your favorite posts:



~Judith~

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28 comments:

  1. Judith, this was good! I would like it if you would link it up with my Tuesday link up party. :) http://courtshipconnection.com/?p=3739
    Kathie

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    1. I will try to link it up in the morning :-) Thanks Kathie

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  2. As always, I appreciate your spiritual wisdom and insight.

    What I found SO powerful today was the bold action-item at the end. It summarizes everything and gives us "homework" for the day.

    Thank you.

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  3. The 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 verses have long been a favorite of mine and a "go to" verse. I love the part about taking our thoughts prisoner. And Phil 4:8 also tells us WHAT we should be thinking on, you know? On truth, and purity, and what is right.

    I can guarantee if I am thinking angry, bitter, mean thoughts toward someone I am not dwelling on what is right. And if I am worrying about "what ifs" I am not thinking about what is true!

    You are right, we need to be women of action and ACT on what God's words says, rather than just reading it! We need to apply it. Thanks for the encouragement today.

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    1. Thanks Nan. I really can't take the credit although I sure appreciate your encouragement. The glory goes to the Lord as I fail so often in so many areas. That is a good thing or I might not need to write these kind of things to pound them into my head and heart.

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  4. The word that stuck out to me the other day (Yeah, not today, but I went back to it today) is Colossians 1:11: Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. I don't remember ever seeing that verse in the Bible before, though the verse before is very familiar. :-)

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    1. Nita, I just love how verses look totally unfamiliar, like seeing them for the first time though I've read the Bible before. I need that verse, it is so powerful.

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  5. Thank you, thank you! Struck my heart and brought a lump to my throat. (gulp!) Sometimes I feel too young to have 4 little girls... I have no wisdom. Thank you for encouraging me to be in God's word and to be a "doer" of it. To bring it to mind often, rather than my own thoughts that are often not at all helpful to the situation.
    I am so thankful for a few sisters who have been down this same path and now have wisdom to share and encourage with.

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    1. I meant to add that I was very touched by your comment on my blog today too. Thank you! :)

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    2. Tandis, just do better than me and you will be doing great!! I don't know how old you are but you are making me feel old (hee, hee)!! I felt young until my twin granddaughters were born!! You have such an advantage over when my children were little. I remember being 33 with little ones (not seven yet) and thinking that there was NO Titus2 older woman out there. I didn't know how to do what I needed to do. I needed encouragement when I failed (often) but I decided that I needed to become that Titus Two woman myself. I haven't. What I have realized more and more is how much I need the Holy Spirit to dwell in me. I hope that all I write on my blog blesses and glorifies the Lord, BUT, remember that there is a real person, NOT a perfect person behind this blog.

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  6. So true! This is what I felt the Lord calling me to challenges others to do in my post today... be DOERS. Your post and this particular topic of forgiveness, I think, is one of the greatest needs in society/relationships/LIFE today! You did such a great job sharing on this topic, may God be glorified through you!

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    Replies
    1. So often bloggers in our niche compliment each other by writing on similar subjects. Thank you so much!!

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  7. Thanks, Judith, for this exhortation to do what we believe. Just this morning, the Lord convicted me of being too picky with certain things in my relationship with my husband. Now I need to be proactive to change that sin, not just apologize and keep doing it. Your post was a good reminder to do that.

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  8. This was convicting, Judith. Just yesterday I was holding on to bitter, angry thoughts, acting like I deserved to cling to them. But it's for our benefit that we forgive and keep our thoughts pure! Thanks so much for allowing God to prod you to share this. :)

    ahumblebumble.blogspot.com

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  9. So good! Yes, I think we underestimate the power of forgiveness! The redemption, healing, life, and power that comes as we lay all our offenses at the cross of Jesus. Sometimes when I get offended God reminds me of Jesus and how, if anyone had a right to be offended...it was Him. His friends deserted Him, His people crucified Him. And oh, how it makes my silly little offenses look ever so small. So thankful that He gives us grace to release it all to Him! Blessings! UNITED for His glory, Jen

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  10. amazing! so often we forget that forgiveness is more for us than the other person and that it can affect us physically as well!!

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If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back --
Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

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