Back at it Again

Well hello there! 

Welcome back to my sporadic posting...

because that is what has happened.

I can make all kinds of excuses.

The truth is I have been too mentally and physically exhausted

 to sit down long enough to write a blog post. And that is ok.

But, I have something to share.

We have been going through a season of spiritual warfare. 

All kinds of things happening in the life of our family. 

Things that were heartbreaking and discouraging.

Broken relationships and broken people.

Too much to do and not enough time to get it done.

Also amazing triumphs that can only be attributed to 

God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

When conflict arises in our lives, how do we react? 

Do we immediately go to anger, or do we go to our knees? 

Do we take it all personally, or do we recognize that 

there may be something deeper happening that has nothing to do with us?

Honestly, I usually react with anger first. 

I want to defend myself. 

I want to say how whatever is happening is not fair, and that I am innocent! 

I want to grab people to be "on my side."

As Christians though, we are called to recognize that conflict in our lives is not something to take personal. If we truly are following God, then we need to welcome these times. 

These times are the ones when God is able to pour over us, 

and show us how He is in control. 

Growing up as a preacher's kid, I learned to experience Spiritual Warfare 

in a way that most people don't. 

Thankfully, I learned early on that, 

 "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, 

against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, 

against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens." Ephesians 6:12

In Ephesians 6: 13-18, we read:

 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, 

so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, 

and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 

Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, 

righteousness like armor on your chest, 

and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 

In every situation take the shield of faith, 

and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request,

and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 

Reading this, I see that my job is not to lash out against others. 

It is to pray, and seek. 

It is to recognize that the battle we fight is not against the people looking at us.

They are still made in the Imago Dei, the Image of God. 

Our battle is against the one who is not in 

ultimate control of this world or these situations, but desperately wants to be. 

We are to join hands, and pray together. 

I have seen God move in ways that I could never explain. 

He is able to change hearts and minds.

What is even more amazing, is even when I feel I am in the right, 

God shows me where I am very wrong. 

He lovingly points to my shortcomings. 

When we are praying for His will and for His glory to be shown in us, 

we are able to see that we are not innocent in all things. 

I am thankful for my own heart shift, and for the way I am allowed to fail, 

but always allowed to grow. I am thankful that God is not done with me yet.

I sit here over filled with joy and peace, 

because I know He has spoken to me and is leading in everything.

If you are facing conflict, remember to pray first.

Ask God to show you, no matter how much it hurts, where you have failed.

Allow Him to teach you in those moments, 

and then do everything in your power to make things right.

Sometimes that means walking away and never speaking of a situation again. 

Sometimes it means walking across a room and 

humbly saying you are sorry and asking for forgiveness. 

Romans 12:18

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Think on this today, and forgive me for not posting more.

Thank you for reading and sharing!