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battle has been won

Temptation Is A Liar! There’s Always A Way Out!

by Alexxa Lowery February 3, 2021

Temptation. Everybody deals with it one way or another. But, did you know that even God had to deal with the enemy’s games?

More Than A Conqueror

High School. I remember being in High school and knowing that I wanted to be different and stick out from the rest. Not in an arrogant way, but just had a feeling that my life would look different. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Bone Cancer and was weirdly satisfied with the fact that it would be part of my story. You know, conquering the spirit of cancer and whatnot.

Battlefield

After beating treatment, I went back to high school and underestimated the battle between living in God’s presence and the enemy’s ways around me. God became the most real thing to me during treatment. But, transitioning into a new season, with people who hadn’t just experienced what I did was challenging. I guess you can say I had a humbling experience. A year went by and I felt alive again. My hair was growing back, and I was finding my confidence again.

Temptation Lies

This is when I hit a bump in my relationship with God. Temptation set in and alcohol, boys, and gossip were all a part of it. I gave in and got into a worldly relationship that took a major toll not only on my heart but also on my relationship with God. I turned to High school parties and toxic friendships to get me by. But, I say all of this to encourage somebody today who feels stuck. Someone who’s desperate for a way out of their circumstance.

A Way Out Of Temptation

You don’t have to stay there! Shame is the enemy’s tactic to get you to stay in the toxic, repetitive circle of your life! He is a liar! God wants to help you and in fact, He has a way out for you! In 1 Corinthians 10:13, it says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” There is always a way out! Temptation doesn’t have to rule your life. You’re capable of living your life powerfully and full of wisdom.

Your way out might look different than mine did. But, the good part is that both ways will end up right back at His feet.

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February 3, 2021 0 comment

Articles

The Struggle IS Real

by Corine Channell August 10, 2019

written by Corine Channell

You’ve heard the saying: “The struggle IS real”. It is a true fact of this life! “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19) This is so ME at times. Trying so hard to do what’s right, while also doing pretty much everything wrong.

It is a constant war of my spirit and my flesh, of my inner Queen who wants to reign with honor, and my fallen nature that still hopes it can fit in somewhere.

I know I am not perfect (that in itself is an understatement).

I get that I am a human and that as long as I live on this planet my spirit and my flesh will wage war with each other. I find it exhausting. Anyone else, or is it just me? I try to do all the right things, say all the right things, think all the right things, feel all the right things, and BAM. There goes my good side right over the cliff.

The struggle is real and the fight is draining.

We ALL fight evil, and temptation, and the lust of the eyes, and all the rest. Simply put, we are confined to sinful bodies. It can come in small doses or large; it can be hasty, mean words or straight up verbal abuse. It can be envy, jealousy, lust, and even hatred. It is oh, so many things that steal our peace and threaten our soul. IT IS WAR! It requires our full attention, our firm resolve, and extreme desperate prayers to God for intervention!

I grew up and spent all my life involved in going to church and church events. I can safely say I probably didn’t have a lot of war between my flesh and my spirt simply because I was so sheltered. This is a nice warm and fuzzy scenario, but in the real world most people are wielding their swords against the plots and schemes of Satan, on a daily basis. I was fortunate, I guess, not to have experienced that. In some ways though, if you don’t experience being in a war you can’t lead an army, and you can’t lead in a battle you have never been prepared for.

Evil is real.

We like to think maybe it’s not. We have downplayed the devil and his cohorts. We have underestimated what they hope to do to mankind. Not that they have more power than God – they do NOT. But we should see evil for what it really is, in order to fight against it. Otherwise you could find yourself standing on a battlefield with no armor and no clue how to survive.

What is temptation?

Ouch. “It is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.” and therefore is a word that conjures up different images in everyone’s mind. Maybe the question is more like, what is temptation to YOU. We all know what is our downfall. We all know what we battle. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)

You DO know that being tempted is NOT a sin, right?

I didn’t understand that concept. As one who was sheltered, when temptations started hitting me from all angles I thought I was the worst person on the planet. How could I have thought that? How could I have considered that? Satan would like to believe that his traps set for us, will destroy us in the end. That’s the plan. He tempts us, then shames us for being tempted, then hopes our shame will result in an actual fall from grace, so he can shame us some more and finally, kill us. He kills us from the inside out. That is his plan; same plan as it’s always been. Tempt, shame, destroy.

In my frail humanness and my broken parts, I have come to see that the war between my spirit and my flesh is going to be a journey from the cradle to the grave.

Character is developed in the muddy trenches of life.

When we are called upon to choose which way to walk, or which words to say or not say, or what deed to do or NOT do, every single time we choose well our Spirit man gets stronger and maybe even bigger. I’d like to think my inner Queen is starting to stand up straight and tall, and is ready with her sword to slay the enemy when he sneaks into my courtyard. I like to think I am learning to be my own fierce protector. I like to think I recognize evil when it shows up now. Not always; it can come in disguise – but the stronger my spirit gets the stronger my flesh becomes also. And when they meet up in the heat of the battle, NO enemy is a match for team Jesus! “Greater is He that is in ME than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

The real secret or key to fighting temptation, and sin, and shame, and all the blah blah blah from satan, is Jesus in us. It really is that simple. Satan shows up at your door? Don’t answer it yourself – send Jesus. It’s kind of as simple as – if you have a problem with donuts, don’t work in a bakery (I love sugar too much. Just sayin’). And be firm in your decision- yes means yes and no means no with nothing in between. We are all at war with the age old battle between good and evil.

“Greater is He that is in ME than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

#GoodTriumphsOverEvil

August 10, 2019 0 comment

Articles

God Will Fight For Us

by Jennifer Workman March 28, 2019

written by Jennifer Workman

“Then I prayed, hear us, our God, for we are being mocked.” (Nehemiah 4:9)

Praise God for His indescribable love that He has bestowed upon us. It is always refreshing to know, undoubtedly, that we have a heavenly father that loves us and is concerned about our well-being. It doesn’t matter what we have to suffer or endure “on this side of life,” “God is our refuge and our strength.” (Psalms 46:1)

Although that is the case, we as people need to be aware that in life we are going to endure some struggles and hardships that we may not fully understand. Life may be overwhelming and perplexing at times. We may be battling unseen forces that we are not aware of, but irrespective God is there for He promised to “never leave us nor forsake us.” (Hebrew 13:5)

Nehemiah

For example, as we look at Nehemiah, chapter four specifically, we understand from our reading that Nehemiah and the people of Judah faced opposition regarding the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. They were mocked and threatened but despite all that they encountered, it didn’t deter their efforts. And more importantly, they prayed and sought the help of the Lord.

As I read the Bible further and looked at the actions of Sanballat and how he tried to block and hinder God’s people, I am reminded of how Satan tries to block us in every way and our desire to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for our lives. Satan will use people, circumstances, or whatever he can to “throw us into confusion” (Nehemiah 4:8), get our eyes off of God and keep us from multiplying and being effective for the Kingdom of God.

But regardless, we have to continue to move forward just as Nehemiah and the people of Judah did. It may appear that it gets harder and more difficult, and that we seem so far from our goal. Like “the workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved.” (Nehemiah 4:10)

But that isn’t the time to give up and throw in the towel. With the supernatural strength that is given by way of the Holy Spirit, gird yourselves and prepare for battle and go out to win. “So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears and bows…Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious…Our God will fight for us.” (Nehemiah 4:13, 20)

God has won the battle

God will fight for you for “the battle isn’t yours but the Lord’s.” (I Samuel 17:47) Oftentimes we as people wonder why we are not being victorious in our lives and things seem so out of alignment. The reason is because the battle isn’t against tangible things or people, but it is unseen forces in the spirit world (see Ephesians 6:12).

The devil has lost his position in Heaven because of pride and wanting what didn’t belong to him. As a result, he is roaming the Earth “seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8) The devil’s overall agenda and scheme is to hinder people from reaching their destination in life and ultimately their eternal destiny in Christ. He is furious and we as children of God are his primary target for destruction.

That is why we must always be “armored up” through prayer, time in God’s presence and through his word which is the “sword of the Spirit.” (Ephesian 6:17) Because then and only then are we in position to fight competently in the spirit realm.

Finally, don’t be surprised at the “fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering.” (1Peter 4:13, 14) In other words, the attack is coming but when it does, don’t be baffled by it but know that that is the assurance that you are connected to the “true vine” (John 15:1) and are a part of the family of Christ and just as He is victorious so are you for “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

March 28, 2019 0 comment