Striving To Be "Christ-Like"!

My family has been through a lot this year regarding health problems, myself included. We chose to keep some of it off social media for privacy reasons, and as we unexpectedly face something else yet again tonight, all I can think is this... God, You are not taken by surprise regarding any of this. And, I know there must be other families fighting ongoing battles this year, and I want to do my best to encourage others. Then came this word. The battle you (we) are facing is not yours (ours), but God’s. If you're a child of His, you can be certain that satan will “rage against you.” In 2nd Chronicles Chapter 20, a great multitude came against God’s people. King Jehoshaphat & his people set their hearts to seek the Lord and to fast. The king cried out to God a prayer that most of us have prayed at times which would be, Lord I am in a battle right now and don't know what to do but my eyes are on You. I look to You for answers. *“We have no might against these that come against ...

Life can be an ongoing battle more times than not, but I've learned to shift my focus to the goodness of God through the moments of despair. It's an ongoing battle with my health... as soon as I've got over one thing, something else comes from around the corner... but here is the important point to remember, God remains faithful to bring me through every illness and situation, and I've pushed through and chose victory over defeat. I may have been crawling at times, but I made it. This song has been my anthem this year, "Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickman: {"When all I see is the battle, You see my victory, When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved, And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me, There’s nothing to fear now, For I am safe with You... So when I fight, I’ll fight on my knees, With my hands lifted high, Oh God the battle belongs to You, And every fear I lay at Your feet, I’ll sing through the night, Oh God the battle bel...

I have talked and prayed with many believers in Christ over the years, who want to grow in their walk, be used of God, and see Him move in their life in a miraculous way... but yet they don't know and understand the process it takes to see these things come to pass. Also, myself included, because I don't post about anything God hasn't already dealt with me about, they want these things to happen without making a move or putting any effort into it... no prayer life, no church attendance, no reading and studying the Bible, no time of worship, no time with God... it's just a "sit back, do nothing, and receive" mentality. I believe you get out of your relationship with God, what you put into it. So when a spiritual attack does come their way, they are blindsided and don't know what to do or how to handle it. Let me be the first to tell you that those attacks are very real, but if you want out of it and you truly want to grow and be used (or keep being used of ...

"Peace of God cover me... cover me when I am hurting, cover me when I'm not strong, cover me when I am going through the storm... let the peace that passes all I understand, cover me."  As I was singing this and praying for His perfect peace over my mind tonight and over other situations, I was reminded of this... whether you have lived for Christ almost 25 years like me, or more or less time... we are still human and have those moments that shake us to the very core when all we can do is seem to be overwhelmed with emotion and gripped with fear. No matter how strong you may be in the Lord, moments of uncertainty will come your way. Then, I tend to allow the enemy to beat me up when I'm down instead of beating him up. As quickly as the enemy will place an attack over our mind, we have to be just as quick to rebuke him and stomp him back down under our feet where he belongs. We have to beat him at his own game and get our mind focused back where it needs to be. Sometim...

As I was leaving to get in my car, after church, the Holy Spirit spoke this to my heart. There is a spirit of doubt roaming this nation, in more churches (hearts and minds of believers) than we would probably think. All the Lord asks of His children is to "come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who healeth thee. He is Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace. He can heal you where you are at today and set you free; physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ever ask or think of. Those are not my words, that's scripture. See Ephesians 3:20. My spirit is heavy for those who doubt what God can do, as I've been there more than once in my walk with God, but He has the power and ability to break those chains of doubt off you this day. He can do it wherever you're at; right there in your home. I'm praying for your deliverance if you're bo...