I'm Under Attack...

I'm hopping mad right now and I'm praying for God to keep me from myself. Why am I so mad? It's because I was asked to take all of my daughter's photos off this blog. It's not an unreasonable request in this day and age given all the sick-minded people that are in the world. What I am mad about is that I was not just asked. I was the last to know that my daughter's father wanted this done. So, that's why I know I'm under [spiritual (1)] attack. And that's why I'm writing this post ... to show the enemy [see explanation post here (1)] that while I feel down about this situation, I am not out. I will rise up like the princess warrior that I am.

The enemy will use any means necessary to bring a woman down. He loathes women, and he especially  hates women whose lives are God-centred, who are able to show love, grace and forgiveness, and who feel comfortable in themselves ... as a woman. He despises us. But, he has already lost the battle.

Pastor Frei Haverkamp from Hillsong Germany spoke at church this morning about keeping it simple; the message of the gospel. The truth, life and hope that comes from believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and to give us eternal life.

Pastor Frei gave us three points -

1. God is good and the devil is bad. Such a simple statement but a very deep and true one. The enemy is 100% bad. He knows NO good. On the other hand, God is 100% good and knows NO bad. Problems, sickness, etc do not come from God. Like my current situation - it is not from God; it has the enemy's signature all over it. We must not make a gray situation out of something that is so obviously black and white. Good versus bad is white versus black. I'm certainly heeding this advice today and I'm pulling rank on my situation as a single mum. No-one who the enemy sends will be allowed to come into our fortress again.

"Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:16-17 NIV

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”" - Psalm 92:12-15 NIV

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."" - John 10:10-11 NIV

2. Always focus on the answer and not the problem. Jesus is our Saviour, Provider, Redeemer, Shepherd, Comforter, and more. We mustn't give our problems a name, ie betrayal and attack; we must just remember God's name. In my situation, God is greater than all of it and greater than every person involved.

3. I'm alive for more than just myself. God wants to bless you to be a blessing to others. God has blessed me with a wonderful and beautiful daughter, amazing friends and a loving family. I AM truly blessed. He chose ME to raise my daughter; He put me in this situation because He knew that I am the best person to raise my daughter. And if that means doing it alone, then I am more than happy to, and capable to.

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV

Pastor Frei reminded us today that we live in two overlapping realities - the Kingdom of God, which is started but not finished, and the fallen and broken world, full of our tainted human tendencies and inadequacies. Having to live in both creates tension; tension like I'm feeling today.

Today's situation has only served to make me more determined to run the race that has been set out before me. It's only made me feel more secure in my standing as a child of the Most High God. It's made me realise that I am to be cautious about who I trust. It's made me thankful for my life, "fruit growers" and all.



(1) Postscript - please see my subsequent post titled Understanding a Spiritual Attack. (Post edited 31/10/11, 10:20am)

Fruit Growers...

I have a fruit grower in my life. In fact, like with all of us, I have a few. But one in particular presents me with regular challenges that test me no end. I used to ask, and sometimes still do, especially when feeling low, why this happens to me. I used to think that it was my punishment for making bad choices in the past and straying from God. It was my lot in life, that kind of thinking. But I have come to realise that I have been forgiven of my past wrongs and God is glad that I am walking with Him again. God is love, so nothing bad comes from Him. So, my fruit grower is actually a blessing, despite the hardship and angst that I endure at times.

This then brings me to consider what fruits of the Spirit are being developed in me through my dealings with this person. The fruits are outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 –

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit that I know is being developed in me. Controlling my thoughts, my tongue and my actions is imperative to being a child of God. Psalm 141:3 is a verse that I need to memorise to remember to “set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

As self-control leads onto perseverance (2 Peter 1:6), I am then brought to the next virtue that I know I have needed help with (and still do!), and that is patience. It’s not always easy to just let God do His thing. It’s also not easy for others understand where you’re at in life, especially as Christians, and it’s not always easy to understand how others think, and why they think as they do. It is important, however, to pray that God gives us the gift of patience so we can live with others peacefully (Romans 15:5, Ephesians 4:2).

Developing patience helps me to grow such fruits as gentleness, humility and kindness. I am learning to take the needs and limitations of others (as well as my own!) into consideration more and strive to display the very qualities that Jesus showed. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32.

These qualities, although hard to show towards my fruit grower at times, are vital in my walk with God. Trusting in God and His wonderful power is the only way to live. After all, “…with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.

Exploring the fruits of the Spirit brings me to the final two that I know God has enhanced and nurtured in my life – peace and joy. I don’t always get peace, but I do strive to be at peace with others. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18.

Having peace in my heart, and the strength that comes from God because of it (Psalm 29:11), helps me to experience a level of joy in my life that I never felt when I tried to live life with God in the background. I have troubles, especially with my fruit grower, but in every instance I am able to learn from the angst and maintain my joy. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:2. And why am I able to maintain my joy? Because…“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.” Psalm 16:8-9.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Any hope we have comes from God through the Holy Spirit and cannot come from human effort alone. The fruits of the Spirit come from God. We could strive to just be good people, but as Christians we know the real reason for welcoming fruit growers into our lives; to become more like Christ. I used to wish for an easier existence, but now I pray for more knowledge, more experiences and more opportunities to develop my Christian virtues.

Ruth Bell Graham sums up fruit growers and developing the fruits of the Spirit quite nicely – “Satan uses an occasion or a person to tempt us to fall; God uses the same to make us stronger.”

So, I say thank you to my fruit grower, and urge you to say thank you to yours too. From every bad experience comes a good outcome and we owe it all to living our life with God in it.

(All verses quoted are from the NIV. Galatians 5:22-23 is explained well in The Message and well worth reading. Other verses to read regarding the fruits of the Spirit include 2 Corinthians 6:6, Ephesians 5:9, Colossians 3:12-15 and 2 Peter 1:3-11 (vv5-9).