Tactical Warfare – Defensively and Offensively

Yesterday I posted that our “First Line of Defense”, when a negative surprise comes to take us out, should be Jesus’ words to Jairus when he was told his daughter was dead: “Do not be afraid. Only believe!” Counterattack the negative by refusing to be afraid and to believe that the story is not ending. It is just beginning and God has a plan of how the story will end.

Life can often feel like a raging battle is going on as soon as we wake up. We robotically take whatever on, doing our best to be brave, determined to trust God, read His Word, and pray, but sometimes it’s hard to create a battle plan. That's when we turn the defensive stance, to a daily faith on the offense that is:

~ Waking and proclaiming God’s truths over our lives (“God is with me, for me, above me, before me…”)
~ Moving God’s Word from our head to our heart by dwelling on it throughout the day.
~ Praying habitually -- in the car, in our home, in our free time.
~ Having a team of people to support our faith walk.
~ Praising God as we see His handiwork throughout our day.
~ Thanking God continually for all we have.

A Christian on offense moves into the battlefield not only able to withstand war but ready to win. They see not only what is coming against them, but they are prepared with a tactical plan to love when usually they’d be prone to fear. Rather than being a Chess piece, they know they are sons and daughters of the King, loved, provided for and helped along the way. They are an active force of good on the spiritual game board of good and evil. God sees their faith and willingness to prepare. He rewards them for seeking Him diligently.

This person understands it is not their own willpower that wins, it is not their mindset that overcomes, but it is the blood of Jesus that won for them. In humility, they stand under God so that He can move over their lives and into the lives of others.

My posture today is that of offense. I’m suited up and ready to go. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells me how: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

God's Church Triumphant is Alive and Well

God's Church Triumphant is Alive and Well
I'll be heading home from Tulsa after attending church with so many of my dearest friends this morning. Of course, my sweet godson will be sitting by me. That's been his seat since my Sweetheart went to heaven. Each Sunday, he'd wait for me, or I would wait for him to snuggle close to me, often holding hands, and while in that place, I would remember the precious man whose place he took there. That man and I treated going to church like “date night”, except God was the center of our attention, while we held hands together. I never loved him more than when we were worshiping God together. My godson has helped me carry on that love.

The recent “church” tragedies could cause one to question that attending church isn't that safe place that it once was, but, without fear or doubt, I know it is still a place of hope, peace, comfort, faith, community, and fellowship with God and His people. Of course the enemy of our souls celebrates if he can create fear in our churches, in outdoor music concerts, in our schools, and even just a walk down the street, but fear only paralyzes us and keeps us from the abundant life Christ came to give us. Isaiah 41:10 says 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Rather than being on the defense, St. Paul gave us a warfare strategy against our greatest enemy in Ephesians 6:10-17 Ephesians 6:10-17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, and with your FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God.” Now that's what I call "suited up for day AND night patrol!

We continue to ready up each day by putting on our whole armor and that includes carefully choosing those friends that brighten our day with good news instead of bad news. That's why I love attending my church. It's the Body of Christ -- fellow believers. We're the family of God and when we gather together, we realize that these are the people who love to talk about the things that we love to talk about; they love to dwell on the topics that are dearest to our hearts. If our hearts have been given to the LORD, we gravitate to hanging out with His people who are like-minded in our desires to know Him and his children more. We even sincerely desire to reach out more to others to help them know Him more, too. We are motivated and inspired to live out our faith in word and deed. We find solace and peace within the Body of Christ. And in a world that presents so much chaos and confusion -- it's a safe place of refuge. I would propose to you that the Church is such a place. I am who I am today -- faith-filled, joy-filled, purpose-driven, and passionate about my Lord because of Church. The fact is: I've got friends in high places, where the Spirit of God dwells, not in just a building or place, He lives inside us. We are not just going to Church. We ARE the Church triumphant -- and we are ALIVE and WELL!

The 5 Awesome A's -- Assignment, Anointed, Abilities, Authorities, Armor

As I woke this morning, I had one of the precious ladies in my Life Group on my heart and started to pray for her. I was going to send her a private message, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to send it to all the ladies in my Life Group, as well as to my FB friends and family, because each of us face “stuff” on a daily basis, and this message is one we can ALL use.

I believe God is equipping us ALL, as He did with Queen Esther “for such a time as this”. Often we go through “stuff” in order for God to get our attention. He is raising up an army of FULLY DEVOTED followers of Christ, who are committed to being in a “preparation season” because He needs us to be His hands extended to a very hurting world.
We ALL must realize, as we get ready for our day, that we are here for specifically designed purposes by Father God, at THIS TIME. He has given us ABILITIES and the AUTHORITY, and like the little shepherd boy, David, He wants to ANOINT us to complete the ASSIGNMENTS He has given us. But before we head out into this day....into the battlefield, we need to be sure we put on the whole ARMOR of God. And, here’s how to put on the ARMOR:

Ephesians 6:10-17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, and with your FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God.”

Beautiful people, I love you so much and I pray this day we are fully equipped and armed and fully ready to take on whatever comes our way with the tenacity and determination to conquer……because “we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus”, and “greater is He who lives in us, than he who is in the world”!