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Surrounded

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP) The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor], and be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], and give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’

Yesterday started off pretty rough. I am not going to go into all of the details of it. Just know it was getting my stress level up. Then I had my emotions get in a mess with a statement my husband made. My biggest stressor was getting tickets to see our youngest son play in the game this week.

The tickets for our home games go on sale the week of the game. This week’s game is on Thursday, but the tickets were not going on sale until Tuesday because Monday was a holiday. The tickets were not going to be released until noon. We live in the south, in central Alabama. We do not have professional sports here. We have college sports and high school sports. Football being the biggest fan base. Our youngest has been playing full tackle since he was five and this is his senior year. This game is the biggest rivalry game in our city. It is the 100th game for Opelika verses Auburn. This is usually a sold-out game. Being a stay-at-home mom, you might say, then just get there early and get in line.

Tuesday’s we also have Corporate Prayer. The only time I miss is I am out of town, then I ask someone else to open up the building so it can still happen. I believe the church should not just gather for teaching, but for community and for prayer. Prayer starts at eleven in the morning, and we usually wrap up around noon, giving time for the Word to come forth and not rushing out. It is very important that when we pray, we also listen.

Ephesians 2:22 (AMP) In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Before going into prayer, I handled the business side of things, so my mind would be clear. Then I settled things that were going on with my husband. If you have an offense or in strife with someone, settle it. The Bible talks about before you bring an offering to the altar, and you have offense or know of someone with an offense to you, make it right before presenting your offering. We can nurture an offense and hold onto things that will result in interfering with our relationship with God. All of these are from the teaching of Jesus in the first five chapters of Matthew. I just read those chapters this week, and would you know it I would be tested in it.

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

We had a great time in prayer. We encouraged each other in the Word, then it was time to make my way to buy tickets. I checked the parent football messaging board, and they said the line was around the building. On the way there I am praying, “God, You know that seeing his son play is a big deal to his father. You said that if I put you first that You would take care of everything else. I did not cancel prayer to get in line for tickets, I put You first. I do not know how, but You will give me favor.” I get there at ten minutes after twelve and the sign on the door says, “SOLD OUT.” I am upset and just praying for the one ticket for my husband. I am thinking about putting my plea on the messaging board. I type it out and another message pops up deleting mine before I can send. I am just going to run in and ask for advice. They advised that they reserve some tickets to sell at field on game day at five thirty. I am disappointed, my face shows it. I tell them I have a senior playing. One employee calls me to the side, she has a booklet of tickets in hand, pulls out two. She says, “I see you mama, you can buy two of mine.” Right then it was if God said, “I see your faithfulness.” I gave her my gratitude, but He is getting the praise. He is getting the glory. He is good. He surrounds us with loving kindness. He even cares about the little things like football tickets.

Jehovah, our Father, You are so Wonderful. You are Holy. Thank You for Your Son, the One who brought us into adoptions to be Your sons and daughters. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Comforter. Thank You for Your Word, so that we may know You more. We repent for the times we have placed ourselves before You. The god of ‘self’ has to be dethroned. We choose to surrender our thoughts and our ways to You. Thank You for the grace to grow in letting go of offenses and not living in anger. The most precious relationship we have is with You. Thank You for caring about even the little things. You deserve all of the Honor and all of the Praise. In Your Presence is fullness of Joy. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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What shoes are you wearing?

Job 17:9 (AMP) Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his ways, and he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

I am in the book of Job right now. Job had gone through some rough days, days I do not know how I would have responded myself. It all stands on how you think. I have hopes that I will be strong. Weakness causes us to make permanent decision in temporary discomforts. God is my strength. God makes you stronger and stronger as you go through things with a godly attitude.

I am also going through a verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 6:13-18 we are told to put on the full armor of God. In verse 15 is states, “and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].” These shoes were a part of the weaponry of the Roman soldier. They started at the knees and were made of metal and leather. They were vicious weapons. They wrapped around the calves. Why, because the enemy does not fight fair and looks for weak points. The bottom of the shoe was affixed with sharp, dangerous, protruding spikes. They extended beyond the front of the shoe. The spikes were intended to hold the soldier in place during the battle, making him virtually immoveable.

That is what happens when you keep your mind and attitude right. You become less affected by the difficulties and challenges you face. The enemy cannot move you. The peace of God protects and defends you from the hassles and the assaults of the enemy. The peace of God is what holds you in place. If the enemy is foolish enough to get in your way, just keep walking.

We are to be prepared for this. How? Keep the Word of God bound to your mind. You cannot do that if you do not spend time in it. In other translations it says to “shod your feet.” It means to bind. It did not say to slide on the shoes. Most shoes today we wear for comfort, and we tend to pick the ones that are easy to slide on and off. These shoes were formed and bound so that they could not be slid off easily. That is how the Word is supposed to be planted in our minds.

Deuteronomy 11:18 (AMP) Therefore, you shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. 

What is the opposite of peace? Stife, fear, pride…. It all stems from being out of balance with the love of God.

Proverbs 15:18 (AMP) A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.

Proverbs 29:22 (AMP) An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.

Ephesians 4:31 (AMP) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].

Here are some definitions of what some of these words mean:

  • bitterness: a negative attitude that can cause problems with others
  • wrath: a hot, fierce and passionate emotion
  • anger: a worldly type of anger that can result form frustration
  • clamor: noise, commotion and uproar
  • malice: a negative feeling or state of mind.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

The Greek word for wrath here is orgidzo. Meaning someone who’s mood is so upset that they become so upset and bent out of shape over any issue. Someone will hold onto something quietly, slowly allowing it to build up inside of them. It becomes stronger and stronger inside of them until they explode and make permanent decisions in temporary circumstances. Instead of pushing it away and asking for their strength to come from God, they will hold onto it, embracing it, nourishing it. Wrath becomes their companion. They have given up peace and the enemy has their foothold into their mind.

I had a night recently of uneasiness and did not get much sleep. I was not at peace. I was not angry, but there was some strife that wanted to play with my mind. It went on into the next morning. My imaginations were just going, and I had never given the opportunity for the answer to be given, because I did not ask the question. As soon as I asked the question, the answer brought me peace. In Philippians 4:8 we are told, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” I did not use the excuse that I could not find anything virtuous and praiseworthy, so I went searching for it. I asked the question. My imaginations were squashed. No man knows the intentions of another mans because we do not know each other’s hearts. Do you want to? Then ask. Refuse to give the enemy a foothold into your mind. Prepare before hand with the weaponry of footwear, preparation of the gospel of peace.

Abba, Father, Adonai, You are so Marvelous and Wonderful. Your Name we lift up within our hearts and minds. Thank You for Your Son, Love incarnate. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Teacher. Thank You for the revelation and gift of Your Word. We repent for holding onto to wrath and strife as a comfort to us, believing it will give us strength. We understand that it is not a weapon of Your warfare, but of the devil’s. We choose today to bind our minds and our hearts with Your Words. Peace is a position that You gifted to us and anything that tries to rob us of that should be seen as an enemy. We repent for not putting on Your Love and standing out of our position by trying to win the battle on our own. We are not fighting against flesh and blood. We repent for allowing rejection and strife to take a foothold, when that is no longer something we should be receiving. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.