Tag Archive | 2 Chronicles 7:14

Not all temptations are obvious!

Most anyone of us reading this post could define temptations, but how keen are we at recognizing them? For while some temptations are obvious, others are not.

Perhaps we have taken more seriously the larger weapons of temptation: “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:19, HCSB) What’s going on in our heads, the thoughts we have though not necessarily evil, aren’t taken as seriously as these larger temptations. For example, the confusion that keeps us from taking a step of faith would not be thought of as a serious temptation when compared to something like the temptation of sexual immorality. p. 25-26, FD

My prayer and purpose in writing Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice, was to alert anyone who would read it to the weapon of the enemy in undermining the plans God has for us through the subtly of negative thoughts (fiery darts). When we do not recognizing negative thinking as a weapon in its earliest form, we do so at our own peril.

“Above all, we must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation, for the enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold when he knocks. Someone has said very aptly: ‘Resist the beginnings; remedies come too late, when by long delay the evil has gained strength.’ First, a mere thought comes to mind, then strong imagination, followed by pleasure, evil delight, and consent. Thus, because he is not resisted in the beginning, Satan gains full entry. And the longer a man delays in resisting, so much the weaker does he become each day, while the strength of the enemy grows against him.” p. 46, FD

As we pull further and further away from God’s Word and communication with Him in prayer, then our capacity to recognize these early temptations for the weapons they are is weakened.

It is glaringly clear that our country’s corporate mind, having been tempted (and having succumbed) to forsake the principles on which she was founded, has lost her ability to recognize those temptations that contradict those principles. Therefore, she is being manipulated to think that government policies, economic policies, or changes in leadership is the key to the problems we face. This has been the pattern of our thinking for much of our past and look where it has gotten us; a country under the judgement of God!

If our land is to be healed, we must first recognize the fiery darts that have deceived us, then we must reject them, and, finally, replace the mindset of lies that seems to prevail in our leadership today with the following Truth thought (it’s our only hope):

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Why I can resist the temptation to despair?

Oct14

So much of what is going on in my beloved country today, quite frankly, disturbs me. And were it not for what I read in the Bible, I would despair. Did you notice that I said, “Were it not for what I read in the Bible. . .” There’s a verse in Lamentations which gives me the basis for why I can resist the temptation to despair.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. Lam. 3:22-23

What I would like to share with my readers today applies to those who acknowledge the Bible as the source of Truth and have accepted Christ as their Savior.

As I read God’s Word, The Bible, (and I make a daily practice of it. Not because I feel obligated to so that I can call myself an obedient Christian, but because the Word’s I read there, provide me with the strength I MUST have to face my daily struggles without giving up in despair and sinking into depression.)

The lessons that teach me how to recognize fiery darts and how to counter their attack have become even more relevant as I listen to current news and read post exposing the ugliness spreading all across our land from coast to coast.

Maybe there was a time when we could bury our heads in the sand with the hope that by the time we lifted our heads the trouble would have passed. But not today! We must be aggressive in prayer and become active in reclaiming the ground WE gave over. Remember as Christians we have been given a mandate from God:

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14:

And before I go any further, did you notice this verse was directed to people who are called by God’s name? That means Christians, you know!

Why is it Christians can face what is going on in our country and not despair? Lots of reasons, actually, but here’s a few:

God said in the Bible that the day would come when evil would be called good, and good would be called evil.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; Isaiah 5:20

2. And God warned us in His Word about the perils of the last days.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived 2Timothy 3:13

3. We are also warned:

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12

And the further we distance ourselves from God’s Word (and the less we speak to Him in prayer), the less familiar we become with the ‘right’ way. We become victimized by the lies of fiery darts and we can no longer recognize Truth. We begin to believe lies. I mean REALLY believe! Does that describe anybody in Washington that you know of?

So when we see the evil in the headlines being reported as good and vice versa, we can go to God’s Word for an explanation. Why is that important to know? Because knowing this keeps us from being blind sighted and puts us on our guard.

Because we are knowledgeable of the warnings God gives to us, we are also alerted to the fact that God has prepared a way for us to be overcomes. Here’s a few to lift your spirits and protect you from despair.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippines 4:6-7

no weapon forged against you will prevail, Isaiah 54:17

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

My personal favorite:

Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your way to the Lord trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6

Yes, the fiery darts will tempt us to be fearful and fill us with despair. But for those of us who take to heart the contrasting Truths in God’s Word we can resist this temptation with:

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.Psalm 42:5

If you desire to become more equipped to recognize fiery darts and how to successfully wield the power of God’s Word against them, then please become more informed by reading my book:

Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice

Truth = Genuine Freedom!

Jul5

Proud of my country’s flag!

Today my country is 237 years old.

Two hundred and thirty-seven years ago today, a bunch of ordinary men got together and did something extraordinary and here’s how they went about it:

Before they signed the Declaration of Independence, they went to church for four hours. Then they went to the hall and prayed an hour before they signed it. Several ministers were involved in the decree for independence.

These men knew that freedom wasn’t license to do whatever you wanted to do. They knew that TRUE freedom came through Faith, with Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty, based on Christian values and principals and steeped in the love of God. (Matrix of Liberty)

Our country’s forefathers were fresh from prayer and sacrifice as they signed that Declaration of Independence. Therefore, the fiery darts had little chance to interfere with or manipulate their attitudes and/or actions. Most of those men were Christians and I dare say ALL of them respected the Word of God. Men like this didn’t give the fiery darts much room to mess with their minds.

But through the years this has changed. No longer is America led by men and women who have a healthy respect for God and His Word. Many don’t even believe He exists. Personal agendas trump God’s agenda more often than not. How did we get from 1776 to 2013 and wind up so far from the principals we were founded on?

There are so many ideologies floating around in the halls of our leadership, and each one of them proclaim they want freedom. Yep, you heard me freedom! BUT it’s not freedom they really want. Their freedom is just the fiery dart of license dressed up to look like freedom. The enemy is so-o-o cleaver, I’m sad to say, and many of us have fallen prey to his deceptions.

But we do have hope! Our land can be healed. It will require something rather dramatic of us, though.

¹⁴If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

This is what is all boils down to:

We need to humble ourselves

Pray

Seek God

Turn from our wicked ways

And there’s something quite significant as to whom this verse is directed:

My People

(That’s Christians, people)

No fiery dart will tell you to start solving our country’s problems by humbling ourselves in prayer, seek God, and repent! Nope, it will tell you to demand your rights, deny God, assert yourselves and don’t you dare call it ‘wicked’ (even if God does). And if anyone comes against you for that, then the fiery darts will convince you that whatever you have to do to shut them up is acceptable. Do you know why they think like that?

I think the Bible nailed it in the following verse.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20

So, fellow Christians we have our mandate. Don’t expect those who have rejected God to start acting right. It’s not going to happen. It’s not their fault our country has strayed so far away from our beginnings, for they are just acting as people like them have always acted. We allowed it by not standing up for the principals our country was founded on. We got away from God’s Word, and the further we drifted the cloudier truth became.

We must get back into God’s Word and allow His Truth to dictate our attitude and actions. Our country was founded and built upon the Truths of God. Therefore, no other truths will produce what God’s Truth produces,

Fiery Darts: Satan's Weapon of Choice

A blog of practical applications, exposing the weapon of negative thinking to equip people to fight successfully against its destructive force!