Sometimes as I slog through my daily tasks and challenges, I don’t always notice my emotional state until I am on the verge of an explosion or meltdown.
And then I wonder. How did I get to this point? And why am I getting so worked up?
There’s no easy answer to these questions. But as I wrestle with resentment, frustration and anger with my current situation caring for a handicapped niece, I realize that sometimes my feelings are intensified by spiritual attack. Trying to do everything in my own strength, I open myself up to the snares of the devil.
This thought isn’t something that fits with our materialistic culture with its pride in scientific knowledge and achievements. But that doesn’t make it any less true.
The Bible tells us plainly to be on guard, alert for the attacks of Satan. To put on all of God’s armor. And to pray continually.
Much easier said than done.
When I get drawn into a battle of wills with my niece, I am not keeping an eye out for the approach of the enemy. When I am planning my day, I don’t think about putting on God’s armor. And when I am exhausted emotionally and physically, prayer is not the first thing I want to do.
So keeping my own limitations in mind, I need to be smarter about waging the spiritual war.
Before I get caught up in the cares of the day, I need to spend time in prayer and in His Work, so that I put on my armor. As I go through the day, I need to practice the habit of praying continuously.
I also need to follow the example of Daniel. He didn’t spend his time in prayer talking about the devil. He spent his time praying for God to be at work in His people.
That is the key to successful spiritual warfare: God fights the battle. We just need to walk closely with Him, whether times are good or bad, smooth or rocky, near to Him to let Him protect us and defend us.
And no matter what, to keep standing. For we know that in the end, we have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
A Spiritual Growth Plan
Sometimes I think I drive my husband crazy. That’s because I’m always thinking down the road, making plans for the next meal, the next weekend, the next vacation. He thinks I worry too much about the future.
Maybe he’s right. But there is a need for planning in our lives, including our spiritual lives. After all, as the famous quotation goes, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
For many, the idea of a spiritual growth plan might seem a bit over the top, too fanatical. Is it?
If we are called into relationship with Christ, to grow closer to God in ever-deepening fellowship with Him, then if follows that we need to be making serious, disciplined, and regular efforts to do so.
We know that any close relationship takes time and work, so why would our relationship with God be any different?
I’ve heard many people say they just don’t want to get that involved with their faith, that they are satisfied with the faith they have. But that is kind of like going over to someone’s house and staying in the foyer. Or worse, refusing to go farther than the front porch. What would your neighbors think if they invited you to dinner and you did that? What does God think of us when we don’t bother to seek to know Him more?
God didn’t intend for us to remain spiritual babies; it’s clear we need to keep growing and maturing. The spiritual growth plan outlined in this week’s reading is a good place to start.
The problem with kind of exercise is that it’s easy to get excited and all motivated and come up with a long list of goals. Then a few weeks, days or hours later reality sets in. I’ve written many a plan only to realize while it would be great to achieve all those goals, it’s not going to happen.
The first time I did the Spiritual Growth Plan in DbD, I was overwhelmed by it. So what I do now is to write my plans is list all my goals. Then I pick 3 to start with. Then I try to consider the rest “nice to do” and focus on the others. If I have success with those I started with, then I can add another.
The plan is just a plan, to keep me moving forward, not a taskmaster to rule my life. God may have other plans for me, and I need to leave some room for those.
Maybe he’s right. But there is a need for planning in our lives, including our spiritual lives. After all, as the famous quotation goes, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
For many, the idea of a spiritual growth plan might seem a bit over the top, too fanatical. Is it?
If we are called into relationship with Christ, to grow closer to God in ever-deepening fellowship with Him, then if follows that we need to be making serious, disciplined, and regular efforts to do so.
We know that any close relationship takes time and work, so why would our relationship with God be any different?
I’ve heard many people say they just don’t want to get that involved with their faith, that they are satisfied with the faith they have. But that is kind of like going over to someone’s house and staying in the foyer. Or worse, refusing to go farther than the front porch. What would your neighbors think if they invited you to dinner and you did that? What does God think of us when we don’t bother to seek to know Him more?
God didn’t intend for us to remain spiritual babies; it’s clear we need to keep growing and maturing. The spiritual growth plan outlined in this week’s reading is a good place to start.
The problem with kind of exercise is that it’s easy to get excited and all motivated and come up with a long list of goals. Then a few weeks, days or hours later reality sets in. I’ve written many a plan only to realize while it would be great to achieve all those goals, it’s not going to happen.
The first time I did the Spiritual Growth Plan in DbD, I was overwhelmed by it. So what I do now is to write my plans is list all my goals. Then I pick 3 to start with. Then I try to consider the rest “nice to do” and focus on the others. If I have success with those I started with, then I can add another.
The plan is just a plan, to keep me moving forward, not a taskmaster to rule my life. God may have other plans for me, and I need to leave some room for those.
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