Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Battle Together



I often sit and wonder if anyone else feels as alone as I do? I know you must be thinking "How can anyone who stays at home with her 3 kids feel so alone?" I do. I often feel alone when in a room filled with people. I wonder if anyone else struggles with the same insecurities as I do? I wonder if they will would like me if they knew? I wonder if they would still like me if they knew I do not have it together? I wonder if they even liked me before they knew? Why do I do this? It's the enemy pouring lies into my ears. It's the way the enemy gets me down and distracted. I have learned how to battle this by picking up my sword (Bible) and fighting back with Scripture. I have learned to call on Jesus' name if I can't think of anything else to say. I daily fight the feelings of being alone. God reminds me daily that He is always with me and he has given me everything I need to fight this struggle in my life. He also reminds me often I do not need to battle the enemy alone.

 I know if I would choose to lay myself out there and fight this fight with others it is highly probable that I could win. Think about it. How many times have wars been won by one person? It takes a group of people fighting together following the lead of a commander. Our commander, God, has given us all the tools we need. He has given us the Holy Spirit in which we have all power in, and he has given us his Word to guide us. God has given us himself and ultimate Victory through him. So I ask you this question today, who do you do battle with? Do you have anyone you take your deepest sorrow, struggles, and temptations to?

I am remind in scripture how important this relationship with other believers is. I think fondly on the relationship of David and Jonathon. David the future King of Israel and Jonathon the son of the current king. Such and unlikely pair. They fought side by side in battle, Jonathon hid him from the king, his father, who wanted to kill David. They has a friendship that bonded them closer than brothers. In a cry of David in 2 Samuel 1:26 David says; “I grieve for you Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of a woman.” What a friendship indeed. When David’s wife came to be disgusted with him I am sure he ran and told Jonathon. When David was tired of hiding and running for his life I am sure he and Jonathan had many long talk by the fire. I am sure they shared their lives with each other. Had they not shared their lives David would not have grieved Jonathon in such a manner.

God longs for us to have these types of relationships. Often, so often we feel we do not need to share our lives with anyone other than our family or significant other. I am not sure if somewhere along the way we like keeping secrets. We pretend everything is fine on the outside because we are scared we will be judged or condemned. We never share our struggles or sins because we think no one can understand why we do them.

Lies, more lies the enemy whispers hatefully in our ears to keep us in our pit of defeat. The Bible teaches us to “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2. Yes carry each other’s burdens. Talk to each other share your life with someone and have them share theirs with you. The Bible also tells us to “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16  Did you see the promise in that verse? Confess yours sins to each other, not don’t tell it’s a secret! Confess it for what reason? So that others can pray with you and for you and you may be healed! Praise the Lord you will be healed. Now don’t you see why Satan wants you to be stuck in that sin and it be kept a secret? He does not want you to be healed. God wants you to be healed and have victory! Tell each other your struggles and your sins get on your knees and pray for each other and with each other that we all may be healed!

I have heard my sweet husband say so many times when speaking to young people “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12.  There is so much truth in that verse. In our battle for victory in this life we must pick up our sword and do battle but WOW at what an impact we would have for the Kingdom of God if we did it together. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Do you have this kind of friendship? How might you be that friend today? Do you have friends that may need just a sweet note of encouragement or a sweet I am thinking about you phone call? Do you know someone who needs a friend? Someone needs to take the first step in reaching out why not let it be you?

Do you know someone who continually reaches out and no matter what is always there for you? Do you have someone in your life that is fighting and wielding their sword for you? Reach out to them today and say thank you. I would like to challenge you today to look for ways that God is prompting you to be that friend. Be brave and take a step of faith and lay your heart out there for someone else. I know it’s hard we guard our hearts fiercely. Be brave enough to put it out there and you might just receive more than you ever dreamed.

Let us be a people that does battle together. We are under a commander who has already won the war let us live in that victory.