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.

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In Christ Alone,

~Judith~