How do I know when I'm under attack, spiritually? Some times it is just obvious. Everything goes haywire before the big day. Your car breaks down, your kid gets in trouble at school, your friend says something really hurtful, etc. But some times it is not so obvious. Here is one thing to watch out for: Distractions.
Some times things go really well. No real problems. You've got time to invite your friends to join you Easter; you've got time to pray and fast for God's power to be unleashed. But you don't. You get distracted. Just as you kneel to pray your phone rings or a text chirps its arrival. You start out the door to see your friend and suddenly you remember you forgot to drop off the cleaning, or you remember an email you should have sent. Distractions are an attack of the enemy as surely as troubles are.
Don't give in to the attacks. R & R. You could be the difference between heaven and hell for someone. Make that visit. Take time to pray. You can make the difference.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Fasting - Overview
What is fasting? Abstaining from something, usually food, for spiritual purposes.
What does the Bible say?
Biblical examples: Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deut. 9:9,18), David (2 Samuel 12:16), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4); Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 1:12), Anna (Luke 2:37), Paul (Acts 14:23), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), the early church (13:2).
Jesus placed fasting on the same level as financial giving and prayer (Matthew 6:1-18).
Jesus said that there is a time for fasting (Matthew 9:15).
Paul says we should give ourselves at times to prayer and fasting (1 Corinthians 7:5).
What is the purpose of fasting?
The primary purpose of fasting is to focus on God and to center our attention on Him. In doing so, we glorify God (Zechariah 7:5).
Outer fasting is to lead to inner prayer, worship, and devotion. We “fast on food so we can feast on God.”
Fasting is not for personal glory or any other selfish motives (Matthew 6:16-18).
Secondary purposes of fasting: fasting can reveal non-essential things that control us and take precedence in our lives (1 Corinthians 6:12); fasting can increase the effectiveness of prayer (2 Samuel 12:16); fasting can bring guidance from God in decisions (Acts 14:23); fasting can bring revelations (Acts 13:2); fasting can help our physical well-being (Daniel 1:12); fasting can aid in concentration; fasting can help bring deliverance for those who are in bondage.
What are the different types of fast?
absolute fast: no food or water for a period of time (Exodus 34:28; Esther 4:16)
normal fast: only water, but no food or other drink (Nehemiah 1:4)
partial fast: usually only water, juices, and sometimes fruit (Daniel 1:12)
other things to fast from: people, media, telephone, certain activities/habits, etc.
Why should I fast on Good Friday?
As Christians, we fast on Good Friday because of sorrow at the loss of our Lord and the expectation of the resurrection on Easter, the intention of giving our individual relationship with God more depth and more seriousness of purpose, and the need to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Easter.
Personally, fasting during Good Friday would improve your focus on God and increase your time in prayer as Easter approaches. You will be dedicating yourself to Christ as you remember what He has done for you and as you prepare for Easter.
What does the Bible say?
Biblical examples: Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deut. 9:9,18), David (2 Samuel 12:16), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4); Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 1:12), Anna (Luke 2:37), Paul (Acts 14:23), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), the early church (13:2).
Jesus placed fasting on the same level as financial giving and prayer (Matthew 6:1-18).
Jesus said that there is a time for fasting (Matthew 9:15).
Paul says we should give ourselves at times to prayer and fasting (1 Corinthians 7:5).
What is the purpose of fasting?
The primary purpose of fasting is to focus on God and to center our attention on Him. In doing so, we glorify God (Zechariah 7:5).
Outer fasting is to lead to inner prayer, worship, and devotion. We “fast on food so we can feast on God.”
Fasting is not for personal glory or any other selfish motives (Matthew 6:16-18).
Secondary purposes of fasting: fasting can reveal non-essential things that control us and take precedence in our lives (1 Corinthians 6:12); fasting can increase the effectiveness of prayer (2 Samuel 12:16); fasting can bring guidance from God in decisions (Acts 14:23); fasting can bring revelations (Acts 13:2); fasting can help our physical well-being (Daniel 1:12); fasting can aid in concentration; fasting can help bring deliverance for those who are in bondage.
What are the different types of fast?
absolute fast: no food or water for a period of time (Exodus 34:28; Esther 4:16)
normal fast: only water, but no food or other drink (Nehemiah 1:4)
partial fast: usually only water, juices, and sometimes fruit (Daniel 1:12)
other things to fast from: people, media, telephone, certain activities/habits, etc.
Why should I fast on Good Friday?
As Christians, we fast on Good Friday because of sorrow at the loss of our Lord and the expectation of the resurrection on Easter, the intention of giving our individual relationship with God more depth and more seriousness of purpose, and the need to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Easter.
Personally, fasting during Good Friday would improve your focus on God and increase your time in prayer as Easter approaches. You will be dedicating yourself to Christ as you remember what He has done for you and as you prepare for Easter.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
What Does it Mean to be Saved?
What does it mean to be saved? It means I'm no longer lost. To be lost doesn't necessarily mean you don't know where you are or where you want to go. Even before I trusted Christ I knew where I was and what I wanted out of life. I wanted a better marriage. I wanted peace of mind, significance, purpose and I wanted to be happy. Sure at times I thought I was on the right road. Everything looked right and felt right, but given enough time it always ended at a dead end - I was lost.
Since trusting Christ I'm saved - not lost. I can't say I have arrived yet at all I want in life, but I can say that I know where I am going and I know how to get there. I'm on the right road.
I've come to see that I don't just need Christ because I might die tomorrow. I need Christ because I might wake up tomorrow. Jesus doesn't just give me hope for heaven, he gives me direction for today. Jesus has saved me. I'm no longer lost.
Since trusting Christ I'm saved - not lost. I can't say I have arrived yet at all I want in life, but I can say that I know where I am going and I know how to get there. I'm on the right road.
I've come to see that I don't just need Christ because I might die tomorrow. I need Christ because I might wake up tomorrow. Jesus doesn't just give me hope for heaven, he gives me direction for today. Jesus has saved me. I'm no longer lost.
Monday, March 29, 2010
How Do You Help a Spouse that Has Been Sexually Abused? PART 4
4. Help them forgive the one(s) who abused them.
This will be the hardest step for most to take. Forgiveness isn't done once then it's done with. It has to be done repeatedly. Until a person chooses to forgive they are stuck. They may want to move on and even try to move on, but until they have forgiven their offender it is impossible to move on. Whenever the memory of the hurt is triggered, and often this happens on the subconscious level, the one wronged will be unable to resist certain emotions - emotions like, fear, anger, shame, sadness, depression, guilt, disgust, and even hopeless despair. They will be incapable of relating to you the way they want to until they have forgiven the wrong and rebuilt their thinking around the truth.
Forgiveness means, I release the offender from owing me anything. They key word is release. Does the person deserve forgiveness? Absolutely not! They don't deserve forgiveness any more than you or I deserved God's forgiveness. That's why God said, "Forgive one another as I have forgiven you in Christ Jesus." Do you have to trust the offender again? Absolutely not! Forgiveness is given freely, trust is earned. If a person forgives an offender does this mean the one who committed the wrong won't have to answer for the wrong? Absolutely not! Unless they repent and ask God's forgiveness God will give them the full punishment they deserve in the day of judgment. Forgiveness means this person doesn't have answer to you. Forgiveness is not for the other person. Forgiveness is for you. When you release the offender you are at the same time releasing yourself from the anger, sadness, depression, guilt and any other emotions associated with the unforgiveness.
Unfortunately forgiveness often isn't a one time deal. Your spouse will have to forgive repeatedly - every time the memory is triggered. The good news is that if they will live in this process of forgiving every time it comes to mind one day forgiveness will be complete. You want to know how you'll know when forgiveness is complete? Your spouse will be able to respond to you as though they were never abused.
Start the healing process today. Choose to forgive: Father, I forgive ______________ for the wrong(s) done to me. I release _____________ from owing me anything. I forgive in the same way you have forgiven me in Christ Jesus - undeserved. Thank you for helping me forgive. Father, by your grace I will forgive every time this memory is triggered. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
This will be the hardest step for most to take. Forgiveness isn't done once then it's done with. It has to be done repeatedly. Until a person chooses to forgive they are stuck. They may want to move on and even try to move on, but until they have forgiven their offender it is impossible to move on. Whenever the memory of the hurt is triggered, and often this happens on the subconscious level, the one wronged will be unable to resist certain emotions - emotions like, fear, anger, shame, sadness, depression, guilt, disgust, and even hopeless despair. They will be incapable of relating to you the way they want to until they have forgiven the wrong and rebuilt their thinking around the truth.
Forgiveness means, I release the offender from owing me anything. They key word is release. Does the person deserve forgiveness? Absolutely not! They don't deserve forgiveness any more than you or I deserved God's forgiveness. That's why God said, "Forgive one another as I have forgiven you in Christ Jesus." Do you have to trust the offender again? Absolutely not! Forgiveness is given freely, trust is earned. If a person forgives an offender does this mean the one who committed the wrong won't have to answer for the wrong? Absolutely not! Unless they repent and ask God's forgiveness God will give them the full punishment they deserve in the day of judgment. Forgiveness means this person doesn't have answer to you. Forgiveness is not for the other person. Forgiveness is for you. When you release the offender you are at the same time releasing yourself from the anger, sadness, depression, guilt and any other emotions associated with the unforgiveness.
Unfortunately forgiveness often isn't a one time deal. Your spouse will have to forgive repeatedly - every time the memory is triggered. The good news is that if they will live in this process of forgiving every time it comes to mind one day forgiveness will be complete. You want to know how you'll know when forgiveness is complete? Your spouse will be able to respond to you as though they were never abused.
Start the healing process today. Choose to forgive: Father, I forgive ______________ for the wrong(s) done to me. I release _____________ from owing me anything. I forgive in the same way you have forgiven me in Christ Jesus - undeserved. Thank you for helping me forgive. Father, by your grace I will forgive every time this memory is triggered. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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