Satan's Pursuits

Please, let the record show that I am not endorsing Greek gods here. I am merely using this story as a parody to establish a biblical teaching.

The Lord Himself is God;

and there is none other

besides Him (Deut. 4:35).

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The Fictional Story of Sisyphus

   In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra. Sisyphus was punished for his callous and ruthless ways, by being forced to roll a huge boulder up a steep hill, only to watch it roll back and hit him, and having to repeat this futile endeavor over and over for eternity, having never reached the top of the hill.

   Sisyphus was the son of King Aeolus of Thessaly and Enarete. He was the founder and first king of Ephyra. Sisyphus promoted navigation and commerce, but he was greedy and deceitful. He also killed travelers and guests, and took pleasure in these killings because they allowed him to maintain his iron-fisted rule, and he could commandeer their belongings.

   Sisyphus was extremely ruthless and cunning; he had created many enemies among the Greek gods, among them was one, Zeus, for Sisyphus had betrayed him.

   Zeus sent Hades (personification of Death) to chain Sisyphus down in Tartarus. Sisyphus slyly asked Hades to demonstrate how the chains worked. As Hades was granting him his wish, Sisyphus seized the opportunity and trapped Hades in the chains instead. As long as the strong chains bound Hades, nobody could die. Because of this, sacrifices could not be made to the Greek gods, and those that were old and sick were made to continue suffering. The gods finally threatened to make life so miserable for Sisyphus that he himself would wish for death. He then had no choice but to release Hades.

   When Sisyphus died he tricked Persephone, goddess of the underworld, to allow him to return to the upperworld to deal with his wife who did not give him a proper funeral and burial. When his spirit returned to the upperworld, he refused to return to the underworld and was dragged back forcibly by Hermes, whose job it was to guide souls to the underworld.

   As punishment for his trickery, Sisyphus was made to endlessly shove a huge boulder up a steep hill again and again, every day, forever, condemning him to an eternity of useless efforts, unending frustration, and vain pursuits.  (end of Wikipedia reference)

The Useless Endeavors of Satan

I heard someone say one time that the enemies of God still hate God and they don't care much for you and me either. In the story of Job, Satan came before the Lord confessing that he had been patrolling the earth for people to devour. The Lord allowed Satan to take on Job and he made Job's life a nightmare for a while. But in the end, Job confessed to the Lord, "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You." He is Almighty God and Satan is a defeated foe. The Lord turned Job's captivity and restored his losses with twice as much as he had before. He gave Job more children, the most beautiful daughters in all the land. Job lived 140 years after this occurrence, to see his great, great grandchildren and the end of his life was better than the beginning.

The Lord always causes us to triumph. Anytime Satan tries to overtake us, he is like Sisyphus rolling a huge stone up the steep hill and he will never, ever triumph over God's people. Therefore, the Bible says, "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. They shall soon be mowed down like grass, and wither as the green herb" (Psalm 37:1).

True story is told about a young high school student named Casey Heynes, that had been bullied for years by his fellow classmates. He would never fight back or retaliate. He just endured their daily hostility without striking back. One day a boy came and pinned Casey to the wall and when he saw that Casey would not fight back, he started bouncing around like he was Smokin' Joe Frazier. Suddenly, Casey grabbed the boy and body slammed him against the pavement and nearly broke his knee and his ankle. The boy stumbled around unable to walk and not one of the classmates standing around tried to mess with Casey after that. In fact, they all walked away. Within a matter of a few hours, Casey became an international social media hero. Many kids were able to sympathize with his situation and they were blessed as a result of seeing the bully get his comeuppance.

Facing a Giant

David came up against a giant war champion named Goliath, a Philistine from Gath. This guy was about 4 feet taller than David and massive in strength. He was running around morning and evening for 40 days saying, "I defy the armies of Israel this day." But with God's help, David was able to kill that giant with a slingshot and a stone. David said to Goliath, "The Lord will give you into my hands." And He did just that. David took the giant's own sword and cut off his head.

When it comes to trying to figure out why God allows bad things to happen to good people, I must admit, I am the first one bursting on the scene to hear the answer to that. But my Jesus said, "The Heavenly Father, makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust alike." To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

I heard a preacher say, "Accept what God allows, you're better off anyways. Even when you don't understand accept every trial, putting it in His hands because He has a master plan." I was driving to work recently and I said, "Lord, do I always have to be going through something for You to transform me? Can't You just let some things fall off like ripened fruit from a tree? Like fear, can't You just wipe it out so that I no longer struggle with it? I want to get rid of it, but I hesitate to ask because I know there will be a trial to endure." A spirit of dread comes upon me when I know the Lord is dealing with me about something because I know that the fight is on. Perhaps, as He did with Job, the Lord is asking Satan, "Have you considered My servant, Dee?" Then here comes Satan lining up all my circumstances, trying to get me offended with God.

But I am reminded once again that we are more than conquerors. He knows my going out and my coming in. He knows my sitting down and my rising up. He knows how much I can endure. He knows how much I love Him. He knows that I don't want to be offended because He knows my thoughts afar off. He knows how much I can bear. In regard to Job, the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not lay a hand on his person." Satan could not do what God commanded him not to do because he came back a second time asking for permission to make Job sick.

Jesus said in Luke 10:19 that He has given us authority over the enemy. We can use His name to defeat Satanic attack. He is a defeated foe, y'all. We don't have to put up with everything he throws at us. God's rebuke dries up the sea and make a river a wilderness (Isa. 50:2). Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered up over night.

One night I was trying to sleep but the neighborhood dogs were keeping up a terrible racket barking at each other. I started to sigh heavily because I had about enough of it. The Lord said to me, "What did I teach you?" He had been teaching me about this authority over the enemy. I didn't want to disturb my husband's sleep, so I spoke in my spirit to the devil, "Satan, the Lord rebuke you." Then without speaking out verbally, I spoke to the barking dogs, "Puppy, peace!" Immediately all the dogs hushed before I could finish saying peace.

I said to the Lord in my spirit, "That helped my faith. I operated in the authority You gave us and saw it work immediately. That helped my faith for future attacks." I drifted off to sleep but later I awoke and was thinking about it some more. Those dogs hushed at my command. I was amazed. A few minutes later they began to bark again a second time. I said to them again, "Puppies, peace!" Immediately they hushed again the second time. The Lord said to me in my spirit, "I didn't want you to think it was a coincidence the first time so I took you through the exercise the second time so that you would know beyond the shadow of a doubt, it was My power at work in you both times, to quiet those dogs.

When David faced Goliath, he knew that God was his power, because he had already killed a lion and a bear in the strength of the Lord. God had built his faith to know that Goliath was nothing and David killed him too. David went on to become a mighty warrior and won many battles.

I don't know why the devil won't just give up these useless pursuits. He cannot do anything to God's people that will cause any permanent damage. He cannot even touch us if God does not permit, and if God permits it, we're better off anyways.

Satan is Sisyphus rolling the futile stone up the steep hill, only to have it roll back over him on the way back down. He cannot defeat the God that has your back and mine.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

Isa. 54:17

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain comes down,

and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

And bread to the eater,

So shall My word be

that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isa. 55:8-11

Go in peace.

Charlie's Hope

 

Perhaps Charlie should trust

someone else to hold the ball.

Life Is Waiting

I know there is something divinely significant

that God is going to do with my life.

We were all put on this earth with a purpose.

Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years

for the promise of Isaac to manifest.

I, too, will wait.

" I Wait! "

In the movie, The Terminal, Viktor Navorski, played by Tom Hanks, arrives at JFK International Airport, but finds that he is not allowed to enter the United States. While he was on the airplane on the way to America, a revolution broke out in his home country. Because of the civil war, America no longer recognizes his country as a sovereign nation and denies him entrance into the United States. The reason he was coming to America was to honor his dead father's last dying wish. He lived at the airport for almost a year, waiting for entrance into New York City to fulfill his father's dying wish. By this time, the civil war had ended and Viktor was able to complete the mission of collecting his father's Jazz artists autograph collection, having patiently waited for the opportunity to enter New York City.

Psalm 25:3 NKJV

Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;

Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Psalm 25:4-5 NKJV

Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 40:1 NKJV

I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.

Isaiah 25:9 NKJV

And it will be said in that day:
"Behold, this is our God; 

We have waited for Him, and He will save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for Him;

We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

Micah 7:7 NKJV

Therefore I will look to the LORD;

I will wait for the God of my salvation;

My God will hear me.

Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might
He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 49:23 NKJV

Kings shall be your foster fathers,

And their queens your nursing mothers;

They shall bow down to you
With their faces to the earth,

And lick up the dust of your feet.

Then you will know that I am the LORD,

For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me."

Romans 5:5 NKJV

Now hope does not disappoint,

Because the love of God has been poured out

In our hearts by the Holy Spirit
Who was given to us.

Psalm 69:6 NKJV

Let not those who wait for You,
O Lord GOD of hosts,

Be ashamed because of me;

Let not those who seek You

Be confounded because of me,

O God of Israel.

Psalm 119:116 NKJV

Uphold me according to Your word,

That I may live;

And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

Go in peace.

Why I Write

I write to find strength.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write to become the person that hides inside me.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write to light the way through the darkness for others.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write to be seen and heard.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write by accident, promptings, purposefully

and anywhere there is paper.

❤ ❤ ❤ 

I write because my heart speaks a different language

that someone needs to hear.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write past the embarrassment of exposure.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write because hypocrisy doesn’t need answers,

rather it needs questions to heal.

❤ ❤ ❤ 

I write myself out of nightmares.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write because I am nostalgic, romantic

and demand happy endings.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write to remember.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write knowing conversations don’t always take place.

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I write because speaking can’t be re-read.

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I write to sooth a mind that races.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write because you can play on the page

like a child left alone in the sand.

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I write because my emotions

belong to the moon; high tide, low tide.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write because I want to paint the world

the way I see love should be.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write to provide a legacy.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write to make sense out of senselessness.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write for the haters,

the lovers,

the lonely,

the brokenhearted

and the dreamers.

❤ ❤ ❤

I write because one day someone will tell me

that my emotions were not a waste of time.

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I write because God loves stories.

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I write because one day I will be gone,

but what I believed and felt will live on.

❤ ❤ ❤

By Shannon L. Alder

Senility, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease

 

I have cause for concern that the enemy is attacking members of my family with mental diseases and strong holds. I asked the Holy Spirit to give me a Rhema word that will reverse the curse placed on my family, to renew and restore our righteous minds. For the weapons of our warfare are not material, but they are mighty through God for the destruction of strong holds. (2 Cor. 10:4)

Here is what the Lord gave me this morning.

CONFESSION:  We, the children of Albert and Earline McCarther,  are of sound mind and in our right minds. There is not one feeble one among us. No senility. No dementia. No Alzheimer's Disease. No double-mindedness. No memory loss. No psychosis. No confused minds. No feeble minds. No anxious minds. No poisoned minds. No evil minds. No carnal minds. No corrupt minds. No depressed spirits. No one born out of the loins of Albert and Earline McCarther will be affected with mental disease. We renounce it today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We put a stop to it immediately. We decree health and wholeness in Jesus' name for by His stripes we are healed.

For it is written, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matt. 22:37)

That means there is no part of our minds that does not love the Lord. There is no part of our minds that is not completely aware that it loves the Lord. We are fully in our right minds.

We serve the Lord with our minds, so of course, this is where the enemy attacks us most. But the devil is a defeated foe. We do not have to accept his attacks. We have been given authority over the devil.

It is written:

With our right minds, we serve the law of God (Rom. 7:25). Those who live according to the Spirit, do set their minds on things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5). For to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Rom. 8:6). We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). Willing minds. Sound minds. Our right minds. Ready minds. Mature minds. Sober minds. Pure minds. The mind of Christ.

Heavenly Father,
Let us be renewed in the spirit of our minds, with youth renewed like the eagle's. Let this mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus. Let us press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let us walk in newness of life - carrying out Your blessed will, being confident of this very thing, that You have begun a good work in us and You will complete it until the day we see Christ Jesus face to face. Let us set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth. Give us power, love and sound minds. Remind us of Your awesome power that is able to set things right, and that nothing is too hard for You. We know You search the minds and hearts of Your people. If there is any wickedness in us, take it away and lead us down paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Cleanse us from all filth and unrighteousness. Lead us back to our first love. Forgive all our iniquities. Heal all our diseases. Close doors to the enemy that we left open. Bind his attacks on every hand. Satisfy our mouths with good things and renew our youth like the eagle's. Renew our former strength that we shall mount up and soar high on wings like eagles. Let us run and not get tired. Let us walk and not faint. Our prayer is not that You would be with us as we decline, but that You will preserve us in our going out and our coming in from this time forth and even for ever more. Amen.

CONFESSION: We are McCarther children, a product of Mother Earline, the fruit of her womb. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (Prov. 31:28). We are blessed and not cursed. We are strong and not feeble. We are the head and not the tail. We are above only and not beneath. We are children of the Most High God. Our mental functions are perfectly sound and we are made perfectly well.

Jesus said in Matt. 28:18, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." He has transferred that authority to His followers. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19). "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 17:17-18).

Satan's tactics are withered away like the fig tree that Jesus cursed (Mark 11:4). The ax is laid to the root of the tree, and it is thrown into the fire, and the ashes are blown away.We are not subject to anything the devil will attempt to put on us, but we have been given the authority and power to put him down instead.

Therefore, I say to the mountain, "Be removed from here." Therefore, I say to strong holds of the mind, "Be removed from here and do not return anymore. In Jesus' name, I command a sound mind, my right mind, and a love and devotion to the Lord that shall not fade away."

Now thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ. To Him be dominion, power, and glory both now and for ever. Amen.  

Watch this video for an effectual prayer

over mental diseases.

Be at peace.

The 45th President

Sixteen days ago, the United States inaugurated the 45^th president to take the oath of office as President of these United States.

Oath of Office for the President of the United States

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute

the office of President of the United States,

and will to the best of my ability,

preserve, protect and defend

the Constitution of the United States."

Every day since then, when I turn on the news, there are increasing protests throughout the country and abroad, like I have never seen before, against this president's policies. Angry politicians, judges in opposition to his outlandish decisions, and citizens offended by his inauspicious ways of governing has been the headlines every day. America voted this man into the White House and now America is having buyers’ remorse.

In sixteen short days, he has successfully offended women, Muslims, Mexicans, heads of state in other countries, put our soldiers on foreign soil in jeopardy… and on and on. He was more concerned about the number of people attending his inauguration, than he was on the important issues America is facing.

The 44^th president was in the White House eight years and we never saw no where near this level of protesting in all the years put together.

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said we are the salt of the earth. He went on to say that when salt loses its flavor, it is worthless except to be poured on the ground to keep one from slipping down.

Sixteen days and counting, and the record number of protesting continue to sky rocket.

Proverbs 29:2 states, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” That is what we are experiencing right now, America’s groanings.

Congress refused to work with the previous president and they kicked and clawed at him every step of the way. Now the roles has reversed and this president is kicking and clawing at them. Sixteen days in, and he is already going against the promises he campaigned on.

America is only beginning to groan. The salt in the White House has lost its flavor and the Oval Office has become a dumping ground for hatred, greed and unprecedented self-centeredness. Frankly, it is quite unsettling. Evil men do not understand justice (Prov. 28:5). How did America allow herself to be hoodwinked by this man? We are better than this.

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The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. Prov. 3:35

The apostle Paul said in Romans 13:1, “The authorities that exist are appointed by God.” So I say, “It’s not too late for God to turn this ship around.” Lazarus was raised back to life after he had been dead four days. Nothing is too hard for God.

Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Tim. 2:1-2

Let us pray…

Heavenly Father, we thank You that Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Everything is under Your complete authority. Lord, America is in trouble and we need Your help. We pray for those in authority in this country, that Your will be done through them. You can raise up and you can take down. All authority is in Your hands, not man’s. We pray for the civil unrest that is occurring right now on America’s streets and pray for peace instead. We pray for those in authority… the president and his cabinet, Congress, politicians in every state legislature, state governments, mayors, police officers, leaders at the Pentagon and anyone else I neglected to name. We pray that You will dismantle evil plans and prohibit injustices that are wreaking havoc in our country. We pray over the policies that will come out of Washington DC, that You will cause them to be for the good of our citizens and bring peace to our land. Put a stop to the policies that are no good. We pray that Americans will begin to turn to You in droves, and that revivals will break out in churches all across America. We are in trouble and need Your help. Cause the church to pray continually for peace and for competent authorities to rise up and take office. Our hope is in You, and in faith we call it done. These and all blessings we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in peace.

Modern Day Praise and Worship

After the children of Israel came back from Babylonian captivity, they began to re-build the temple. When the builders had finished laying the foundation, everybody came together for a ceremony to praise the Lord. The young people that were born in captivity, who did not remember Solomon's exquisite temple shouted loudly with joy. At the same time, the old men that did remember what Solomon's temple looked like, wept with a loud voice, so that it couldn't be determined which was which, but the sound could be heard far away.

This story is a good depiction of how I feel about the modern day Praise and Worship in the church. I am the old men remembering the good old days when we used to have anointed Testimony Services. The whole entire congregation would participate in the praise and worship, not just a few standing in the front entertaining the congregation in song and dance.

I weep for our church services today that are so full of actors and entertainers that we have edged out the real presence of the Lord.

When I was a little girl, I remember how the congregation lifted up our collective voices in praises and sang and danced before the Lord. That's when I learned how to play my tambourine. You could feel the presence of the Lord so strongly that everyone in the room was touched by His presence not just the entertainers up front.

Recently, I have been watching videos of some the good old days and it has caused me to miss it even more.  I am not putting down churches that use praise teams and praise dancers, especially if the anointing is evident. I am simply lamenting of how much I miss true praise and worship... and the foot-stomping, toe-tapping, Hallelujah-good-times we used to have before we got dignified in our worship.

The psalmist David said, "Zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You has fallen on me."

Back in the day, on Saturday nights, several churches would come together for what was called Joint Meetings. Any musicians that played instruments would all bring them and we would go to work. Anyone that could remain in a seated position was dead, because the Spirit was so high that no one could be still. And no one coming to church tired, left feeling the same way, because the anointing destroys the yoke. The Shekinah Glory of God (His visible manifestation) was there. We wept in His presence. We worshiped Him and danced before the Lord like David did.

There is a glimpse in Revelation chapter 4 of our heavenly worship of the King. The 24 elders tossed their crowns at the feet of Jesus and said, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." He is worthy of my praise. My prayer is that we will always keep the Main Thing the main thing, for we have an audience of One. What ever your mode of worship is, be real about it, giving glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:23

Go in peace... and let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

We Are More Than Conquerors

IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about success in life and how I personally match up to the word of God which describes the believer as overcomers, victors and more than conquerors.  Second Corinthians 2:14 states that God always leads the believer to triumph in Christ. I quote that Scripture a lot, but honestly I am not seeing an overwhelming flux of triumphant victories trailing behind me.  It is true that I have seen God perform awesome miracles and there are some awesome testimonies of God's deliverance in my life.  But Romans 8:37 says that in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.

There is a song by Hezekiah Walker that says, "I am not just a conqueror. Don't call me a conqueror because I'm more than a conqueror."  That means, I'm not barely winning, I should be winning by a landslide.  That means, I'm not winning by a field goal, I should be winning by three touchdowns.

The apostle Paul said, in all "these things" we are more than conquerors.  What things? He lists them a couple verses above... tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword.

There is no reason to not be more than conquerors, if we are solidly rooted and grounded in the love of God and walking in the authority of Christ Jesus.  Only those that are not born again believers are without hope.

I heard another song on the radio by Kirk Franklin that said, "You're waiting on God?  He's waiting on you! So what ya gonna do?"  At first, I wanted to be offended by those lyrics, because I am holding tight to a bunch of prayers and prophecies that God needs to manifest at some point.  And He's waiting on me?  Really?

Hebrews 6:1 in the New Living Translation says, "So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again.  LET US go on instead and become mature in our understanding."  Zion, we not waiting on God, He is waiting on us.  He is waiting on us to realize that He has given us authority and power in Christ's name to overcome all of "these things" that I named above.

Who can snatch the plunder of war

from the hands of a warrior?

    Who can demand that a tyrant

let his captives go? Isa. 49:24 (NLT)

For who is powerful enough

to enter the house of a strong man

and plunder his goods?

Only someone even stronger—

someone who could tie him up

and then plunder his house. Matt. 12:29 (NLT)

About seven years ago, the Lord showed me a vision of Christ Jesus and me in a tug of war against six billion people.  They had their heels dug in the ground and was pulling with all their might.  On our side, Jesus was standing right behind me and we were just pulling the rope一we were winning and not even breaking a sweat.  We didn't even have a frown on our faces.  I heard Maya Angelou say that when she got a revelation that God really did love her she began to cry at the gravity and grandeur of it all.  She said, "I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things, I could try great things, learn anything and achieve anything.  For what could stand against me, since one person, with God, constitutes the majority."  That's why the six billion could not win against me and Jesus. Together, we constitute the majority.

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Rom. 8:31 (NKJV)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

A few years ago, my sister and I made a pact that we would never settle.  We would push through for what is best and not settle for that's good enough.  Unfortunately, I have not stuck to the pact, and I allowed mediocrity to set in, knowing that I could do better than I've been doing... set my sights higher... achieve more.  I allowed the enemy to deceive me into believing that I wasn't smart enough, or bold enough, or outgoing enough, or aggressive enough to handle the big stuff.  So I set up camp half way up the mountain and stayed there. I was so discontent there that it threw me into depression, and I did not think that I would  recover.  That is a dangerous place to remain for too long.


When a tornado warning is given, we take cover in a safe place or a storm shelter, but we are not supposed to live all our lives in the storm shelter.  We need to stop cowering under our circumstances and put on the warrior mentality.  I was applying for jobs way beneath my skill level... begging and pleading with the Lord to let me get that job.  Zion, the Lord has equipped us to defeat the enemy, not to survive under attack but to remain on the attack.

Behold, I give you the authority

to trample on serpents and scorpions,

and over all the power of the enemy,

and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:19 (NKJV)

And these signs will follow those who believe:

in My name they will cast out demons;

they will speak with new tongues;

they will take up serpents;

and if they drink anything deadly,

it will by no means hurt them;

they will lay hands on the sick,

and they will recover. Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV)

A story is told about a group of eaglets hatched in captivity and spent their whole lives like ordinary birds, on the low lands, eating what they were fed and not being bothered about it, because they didn't know any different.  They didn't know they could soar at heights no other birds could reach.  They didn't know about the strength of their claws that could clutch other animals rendering them defenseless.  Living in captivity, they didn't know that their eyesight was so keen they could spot a rabbit moving almost a mile away.

Zion, God has put soaring in our hearts, but we continue to fly at low altitudes.  I think this is why the Lord had me dwelling so much on success.  I have been living far beneath my privilege, and the Lord is saying "why won't My people raise the standard"?

LET US rise up as people of Almighty God.  Put on your strength. Stand up and fight.  Let the kingdom prevail.  With His power and might, we will not fail. (Tye Tribbett)

LET US take up our swords and fight. Defeat the enemy with the word of God.

LET US become rooted and grounded in the love of Christ and know that absolutely nothing can separate us from it.

LET US not settle in mediocrity because God wants to take us higher and higher.

LET US stop being weaklings and declare that we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

LET US walk in the authority Christ gave us through His name.

LET US believe in the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work in us and is able to carry out the will of God for our lives.

LET US suit up and go.

Behold, I send you out as sheep

in the midst of wolves.

Therefore be wise as serpents

and harmless as doves. Matt. 10:16 (NKJV)

We are more than conquerors.

Go in peace... fellow warriors.