A New Year. It is like a blank page, full of promise, opportunities, and potential. This past year was like a roller coaster for me. I had a good year personally, but so many times and events were lows that I struggled a great deal spiritually.
I am starting 2016 with a strong resolve to awaken the warrior inside of me. I noticed that the main reason for my spiritual lows was a matter of perspective. I got lazy. I sat down on the job. I stopped looking up, and was too caught up in what I saw as I looked around.
The last several months it has been easy to think about the many what-ifs in life. What if wolves sneak into our churches, countries, and neighborhoods disguised as lambs? What if my child’s teacher leads her astray? What if they don’t like me? What if I never feel settled, loved, accepted, respected? What if I stumble, what if I fall, fail, or someone figures out I am not perfect? I drowned in fear this year. That is very uncharacteristic of me. So I had to stop and look around. How did I lose my way?
I let urgency take the place of importance. Have you ever done that? Let the urgent things in life overshadow what really matters to the point that you forget what is actually worth fighting for?
Where I have been feeling helpless in regard to challenges at my daughter’s school, I noticed I had been complaining instead of petitioning God to help me see the things and people involved through his eyes. While watching Satan attack the Church repeatedly this year I begged him to make it stop. I should have asked him to teach me to fight his way. During the times that stress prevailed and peace seemed far from home, I felt hopeless, when I should have felt empowered because the Lord of hosts is the Lord of my home as well.
I ended the year by standing up to take my place in the Lord’s Army. I am taking the life God gave me back. I have a better perspective now. I have remembered whose side I am on and that we are fighting battles. The war is won. He is victorious. This year I will remember that I fight from a place of victory. I don’t need to fight to win. I need to fight to engage in the battles that the enemy places in our path to cause us to stumble.
How about you? Is there anything you would like to do differently this year? I would love to know about it!
May you be blessed in 2016.
May you know that whatever arrows come your way, the Lord stands by to give you the strength you need to hold up your shield against them.
May you focus on the way the rocky paths build your character.
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It’s so easy for our perspective to get jaded, looking above seems to be our only defense! Great goal for the new year!
It really is! Thanks for reading!
Great Post! I am getting ready to lead a Bible study based on the Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer. One of things she talks about is the 7th piece of the armor. PRAYER is what activates our armor! Many Blessing to you and I will stand beside you and fight like a warrior standing firm, knowing God has our back!
Thank you. I have heard that her studies are awesome. I listen to her on Youtube sometimes. She is great! God bless you as you put on your armor and stand firm for him this year!
I love this: “I am starting 2016 with a strong resolve to awaken the warrior inside of me. I noticed that the main reason for my spiritual lows was a matter of perspective. I got lazy. I sat down on the job. I stopped looking up, and was too caught up in what I saw as I looked around.”
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