9/5/2014

My heart is heavy today. My wife and I are 1 week into a 40 day spiritual battle to breakdown strongholds in our life. As can be expected whenever we determine to attack our enemy and take back ground that we have allowed him to occupy he will fight back. So it doesn't come as a surprise that things seem worse today than they did 1 week ago. We make every effort though to walk by faith not by sight. So we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Much like Peter when he stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the object of our faith and not on the wind and the waves that surround us and would pull us down, we too can walk upon the water with our Lord. A key passage of scripture this week for me comes from our reading in the 1 Year Bible for Monday 9/1. 2Corinthians 5:16 says " So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." To not regard anyone or anything from a worldly point of view we must die to self. This flesh, our carnal, finite  mind is incapable of comprehending things from God's point of view. Our feelings, our emotions and our own opinions cloud our view and perception. Fortunately we have been given the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God in us, and if we will yield to Him we can see from a heavenly point of view.

Dear Heavenly Father, precious Lord Jesus, Holy spirit, help me today to yield to You. Help me to fix my eyes on You, that I might walk securely in the protection and provision You provide and promise, that I might experience Your shalom this day. Thank you Lord that you do prepare a table before me even the presence of my enemies. Walk with me today as I walk with You and help me to regard no one, even those who come against me, from a worldly point of view. In stead, may I offer grace and forgiveness in the same measure as You have given me. Forgive them Father they know not what they do.