Tag Archive | Light of God’s Word

Light and light substitutes

Jul26

Our Past

Christians are struggling here in the United States. We knowingly choose lifestyles that run contrary to the Light of God’s word. We knowingly make choices the innocent are forced to pay for. As Christians, we possess the antidote for what ails our world. Yet, we suffer the same problems and grasp at the same solutions. So what happened?

We started out on a grand journey. Following the Light and listening to the Voice. These two forces were all we needed to live life successfully. However, after we had traveled on our grand journey for awhile, distractions invaded our peace. Without our noticing, the Light grew dim and the Voice faded.

Our Present Consequences

As the Light fades, our hearing is negatively affected. So much so, that we begin having trouble understanding who and where we are and how to move around. We know we need more light, but instead of seeking the original light, we chase after substitutes.

These are false lights. They seem like they will work. So we give them a try. But eventually they fade. These false lights lead us into all sorts of confusion. We aren’t able to see things as they really are. Things like love, hope, joy, wisdom slip out of our reach. Things like apathy, confusion, hopelessness, blindness, and doubt slowly replace them.

Eventually, we grow accustomed to the false light. Consequently, we loose sight of the true Light.

But deep within we can still hear the faint Voice calling to us from the original Light. We remember how strong that Voice use to be. In our despair, we yearn to hear that voice once more.

We desire to call out to the Voice within that Light. But the misguided quest for false light interferes with our reception. Nevertheless, the Light is still there. Now and then we are confident we hear that familiar Voice calling us back to the Light.

Finally, we grasp the key. If we desire more Light, then we must focus on the Voice. Consistent and deliberate focusing produces more Light and the Voice increases in volume.

What Could be Our Future!

Finally, our bondage designed by the false light and all that is ugly in our lives is exposed! As the Light sweeps away the darkness, we see stretching out before us, rich colors of hope, joy, love, and wisdom. In the real Light, we reconnect to the Voice.

Have we lost our way? Are the problems of life draining us? Perhaps we are following the wrong light and listening to the wrong voice.

Who is our enemy?

Feb25

fiery-darts-coverrevised1

When we fail to identify our enemy!

     His manipulation and deception go forth unhindered. He is able to move incognito throughout the world and mess with people’s lives.  His efforts to turn humankind away from God meets with little resistance.

     Even Christians are susceptible to his deception and manipulation.  By ignoring those tactics, our attitude toward those who reject God and are living in rebellion towards Him can take on a condemning nature.  Thereby painting Christians as enemies. The enemy’s temptations can influence us to treat those who live contrary to God’s word in a less than loving way.  Our misconception is by showing love towards those who have rejected God and His ways then we are condoning their sin. However, when we fail to exhibit love and forgiveness, we take on the characteristics of the true enemy. 

     The world doesn’t understand how a person can be accepted, while their sin can be rejected. Christians understand by acknowledging and forsaking our sin and receiving Christ’s forgiveness, we are accepted. 

     The true enemy of our souls shoots lies towards us with the intention of destroying us. Why? He hates God. Therefore he will steal, kill, and destroy every aspect of God in our lives. 

     The enemy is exposed by the light of God’s word. But if we haven’t given our lives to Christ, we will remain blind to this fact. Apart from God’s truth, we won’t recognize thoughts, feelings, or actions that are being influenced by our enemy. We won’t recognize when our faith is being compromised to believe things contrary to God’s Truth. 

 

 

 

 

     

Where does your strength come from?

Nov24

god-strenght

   What keeps a person, who finds themselves in the darkness of a trial, from finding the light needed to escape the trial? Why is it that often they find themselves spiraling downward as one trial after another bears down upon them–draining them of any hope of rescue?

   As Christians we know that trials are a part of life. No one can escape them! Yet, when they happen to us we are tempted to think God is against us, that He doesn’t care that we are struggling or hurting, that God has forgotten us, that we don’t deserve what has happened to us and we wander around in our negativity confused and unable to come to terms with the trial.

   Sometimes we become so focused on the trial that like Peter we begin to sink in it (Matthew 14:22-33). Hope gives way to despair and we ask ourselves, “Where are you God?” And if we don’t get the answer we desire, we begin to pull away from God. Slowly our faith is drained away, leaving us in an anemic spiritual state, unable to believe we matter to God.

   My heart breaks for individuals who find themselves in such a state. For I know that in this weakened state, we are particularly vulnerable to negative thinking (fiery darts). Satan takes advantage of our loss of focus and attitudes are formed which lead to actions of destruction.

Chapter Three of Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice explains:

What we think determines how we feel and what we feel influences our actions. A negative action is often the result of negative thinking. Understandably, if Satan can negatively influence our thinking then temptations to act negatively will be harder for us to resist. p. 15, FD
The psychologist will say that if behavior is to be changed, then the flow must be interrupted either at the thought or feeling point.p.16, FD

Look to the Light of God’s Word for therein lies your Hope!

   First we must recognize the temptation to think negatively for the fiery dart that it is. Keeping in mind that Satan’s plan is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a) the abundant life God has planned for you (John 10:10b).

   For you see, those very trials that are an inevitable part of life, if responded to as God planned, have the potential to provide a greater strength and a deeper joy than we had prior to the trial.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:1-4

  We will find our hope and our direction as we search the Scriptures for Truth thoughts that address our trial. Perhaps, discovering that the source of our weakness was in neglecting time with God in prayer and absorbing the counsel of His Word. (the Source of our strength)