Sunday, March 6, 2011

Attacked at Church

Dear Friends,
Psalm 13:2 (NIV) says, "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" What if I told you I was attacked several times at church today? Would you believe me? What if I told you it was an invisible enemy? Would you think I was crazy? Please read on, and let me explain the particulars. Perhaps, you will understand and be able to recognize when this is happening to you; then you too can rise above, take every thought or worry into captivity, and be released. Well, it is not as easy as I make it sound, and since I have been writing about worry a lot, I thought it important to expose the pesky devil for his schemes and breathe more revelation into your life about the “Battle of Worry”. This can happen to anyone, anywhere, and or at any time; so we need to be on the look out!

This morning began on a positive note, which is not how my day usually begins. Typically, I start my day with a significant thought of worry. That’s was a good trick I used to fall for, but not anymore! I got up, plugged in the coffee pot, prayed, checked my Facebook, read on Biblegateway.com, showered, got ready (putting on my natural garments), and then I began to sing, praise, and warm-up (God forgive me; I have a multi-tasking addiction). I got into my car, drove to church, and began practice. No arguments before church or ANY thoughts of worry. I honestly thought to myself (I am making progress). I’m telling you; it was such a peaceful start! Then the devil took me by surprise today at church and some of it was trivial, but it got my attention real fast!

The first “what if” or “arrow of worry” came during practice. Lord, phlegm is running down the back of my throat (sorry to be so gross), what if I am not able to hit all of the notes, what if my voice cracks, what if we don’t have a sound man? I was reminded that I could take every thought into captivity and demand it to be obedient to Christ’s will for the service. I forgot about the worry that easily; I won.

Between services, a friend approached me and asked me how I was doing. I told her I had been writing and praying a lot about worry. She was honest and said, “I know what you mean; it’s just like your half-way through the battle before you realize that you are in it.” I know, I said. I give the worry to God, and before you know it, I am right back in the thick of it. He comes from so many angles and uses so many things; he keeps me distracted from what I am supposed to be doing. There is a solution. For every “worry” and “what If”, there is a rebuttal. God, you are in control God. This reminded me of something my friend confirmed to me today. She said that “no matter what is thrown at us, we have to remember that God is in control, and nothing else really matters!” That is when I asked her if she was ready to step out in faith and stop the worry. She replied, “Yes, but I am almost afraid to say it. Sometimes those new steps are hard and the last one almost killed me!” I was thinking of a song from Hill Songs: “I Walk by Faith” as I was running up to the platform and just hugged her goodbye. That’s what it is all about (I thought)! I was over the worry from earlier, so I thought.

Church begins, and it starts again. Will my son make it here today? Do I have enough water? Will I sing the right words? I am then reminded that I am wrestling with something that is not of this world. I rebuked it in my mind: I said so what if he does not come, I run out of water, and I mess up the words? SO WHAT! In Jesus name, I am going to trust you! I turned my thoughts towards the living God and began to press in and praise. This moment is and was crucial in learning to leave “the Battle of Worry” behind and stop the attack. When we become aware of what is going on, and again, like I said, take every thought into captivity; the enemy is exposed! If not, I would be giving the enemy a place to put a stronghold in my mind, and I would not be doing what God has called me to be doing, which I know is to be a praise and worship leader. I cannot do this effectively if my mind is elsewhere. I would lose my focus, peace, and trust. This is just what the enemy wants for us in whatever circumstance, vocation, and situation. I hope you see the application.

Some people are easier targets than others. You know the ones, who don’t even try to get out of bed (I’m not talking about people with depression), start that new business, or apply for a job they think they will never get. If you never even move to action or even think about the possibility of doing it, it’s a victory for the enemy with the use of no arrow- a cheap kill- if you will!

For the ones who are skeptical and are asking why would the enemy want to stop you from praising this morning? Why did he try to put me in or sneak me in a stronghold of worry? Good question! Let’s see, one, the devil knows that I am called to worship and to use my gifts for God. If I am worrying, I am not giving myself over to the Holy Spirit to be used during worship, and I am not totally surrendered. Two, worry keeps me tuned into myself and not to what God wants to do. Three, worry makes me frozen and retreat. In short, I am learning to take every thought into captivity and walk by faith each step of the way. Does this mean that I stay in my house and never move? No, it means that I will be stuck in a prison house in my mind and missing out on all God has for me if I do NOT move. I will be going through the motions and watching life pass me by, and this is not what God wants for you or me.

I would like to close with this important thought! Expose the pesky devil for his schemes and retreat from the “Battle of Worry”. I have another dear friend who has coined the phrase: “A new level, a new devil”. The Bride of Christ is pressing forward and taking ground every day. 2nd Corinthians tells us to walk by faith and not by sight. Each step is a step of faith. Each step means more resistance and attacks from the devil; I hate to tell you this, but it’s the truth. The real nugget is that if you know the secret to take every thought into captivity, you will rise above each and every attack every time! I did not say it would be easy; I did say you need to be aware of your thoughts and take them into captivity. No matter how big the step is that you need to take, He is with you every step of the way!

For your enjoyment, I included the song I mentioned above. By clicking on this song below.
"I Walk by Faith"- by the Praise Band.

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