The Mirror on My Desk
I have a mirror on my desk directly in front of me. Not for vanity’s sake, but to remind me that the one who can keep me from spending time with God, the one who can keep me from praying daily, the one who can keep me from loving others, the one who can keep me from living rightly, the one who can keep me from honoring my husband, the one who can keep me from influencing my children, the one who can keep me from taking care of myself, the one who can keep me from accomplishing my goals—is me.
Daily Battles
Daily battles do come our way. Discouragement comes our way. Temptation comes our way. The evil that others do will come our way. Satan does lay a path before us – but, we ourselves have to choose. We choose to LET those things that buffet us to affect us.
Who We Join To
We either let the actions of others, events around us, society influence us or we let God direct us. If we daily realize our battles, where they come from and most especially where we can find our refuge and direction…then and only then can we conquer.
Paul Knew Himself
One of my favorite passages is what I call Paul’s Shakespearean Soliloquy – found in Romans 7:7-25. God didn’t use people because they themselves were uniquely capable of living righteously – he used people who knew themselves, who maybe had been broken but chose God’s forgiveness. Paul demonstrated he knew he was not a perfect man. He was like you and I – he struggled – with himself.
But God
Those two words together are so amazing when you dwell on the thought. But for God we all would be hopeless. But for God we could not live this life as we should. But for God we could not forgive others and we could not forgive ourselves. But for God we would all be lost.
Know Who You Battle Daily and Know Who You Can Live Victoriously Through
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring fore ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover to them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumtuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.” Psalm 19: 7-14
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 7:25 – 8:1
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20
“And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among the; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and foresookest them not”. Nehemiah 9:17
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Psalm 73:26
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26