"Keep me Far From Vanity and Bragging Rights"

All good things that are attributed to the way we live our lives is to the glory of God and not that of ourselves.  To be self less and to not be high minded of look at me, and look what I can do or the attitude of being superior over another.  Like those that pray repetitive unsalted prayers to be recited in the site of men, prayers only to be seen of men without sincerity.

  Many are looking for gratifications of the self and often use bragging rights.  There is no good, no not one, we have all fallen short, only through God and the presence of the Holy Spirit through the unequipped can we become equipped and it should never be handled through bragging rights or superior attitudes causing us to pry into the lives of others without that invitation.

  To be an example and encourage and to let your light so shine before men they will see your good works and your insecurities of what men think will not be present.  It is God we honor and not that of man to be built up by man.  God is a jealous God and what I do good I cannot with out the strength that comes from something higher than myself which is to love the Lord my God with all my heart and soul and to love my neighbor with a pure heart
and no need to seek the approval of others or to find my self above the other person.

  To consider my self as a servant and a helpful attitude to extend compassion.  I need help with these things and that is what I am walking through.  My only want is to demonstrate love in a way that I so undeserving received it back and was accepted with all my weaknesses and quirks.

We are all growing faith on different levels.  Those that are new in there walk are as fragile as glass.  We can wound unknowing without intention.  Keep me lowly and without high pride in every person, not just those that profess to believe as I do but to love those that are broken and hurting and to not ridicule in my own wisdom that can grow high minded.

  Your life speaks for it's self and we don't have to sound a megaphone to display it.  To enjoy the gifts that are freely given and to use them to the best of our ablilities to help one another and to grow into a greater understanding
of love and to be thankful in all things and giving our thanks to the bearer of gifts which is Christ Jesus that sent the Holy Spirit to reveal his every present glory of his grace and mercy allowing our grace to be sufficient and enough even when we fall short.

  To take our eyes off ourselves and to grow and learn to love others and to be an example of love in all that we do even when we may not understand someone Else's path.   Let me be an example set apart from my fleshly thoughts so that I can love and be loved in return, that I can be
 


 kind and tolerant and to be humble with others and not judge them according to my thoughts.  Let the window of the Holy Spirit reach out to them as I desire to grow in your presence and correct me and probe and prune the selfish ambitions of not holding up to what I expect of others.

Let no pride or self righteousness come upon us as we continue to love those around us.  Help us to speak kindly and not impulsively about other people's situations and be kind to them through this.  Letting the
Holy Spirit master over thoughts of my own and to be hopeful to all others, those of the believing and unbelieving alike.

  The sun rises on the just and unjust and being kind and extending hands when needed and to never exalt myself above another person.  Praying for the goodness of all and to uphold those that are hurting and to express mercy and grace as it was extended to us through Christ while we were so undeserving.

Access of The Enemy

Knowing how to recognize the fiery darts of the enemy that fills the mind. 

 Up until the past couple of years this was something I had great struggles understanding and had very little knowledge of.  Growing in my faith I have become aware of attacks that come against each one of us, most assuredly when we are trying to stay on the right path.  Jesus even battled these same attacks and I listed a few to share and they help us to become from being totally overwhelmed by the power of it.  The power is only there if you allow it to creep into your thinking but man alone can not battle these things alone.

"When the Enemy Strikes"

Fiery Darts are spoken of in 1st John 2:16- Any thought of impulse that entices a person to fall victim to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is a fiery dart.

Words and para phrases to help you identify with them.

Fear-  You have good reason to be afraid right now and always.

Doudt- You can't trust God or trust that God will work in this situation for your good.

Lust-You need to have your needs met, and this is a fine way to get your needs met.

Loneliness-You are alone, you will always be alone, and you,therefore, will always be miserable.

Jealousy-You aren't being shown the devotion you deserve, and at the same time, somebody else is getting the devotion that should be yours.

Rejection- You are worthy to be rejected and cast aside.

Guilt-You should feel guilty about that sin, shame, shame on you.

Greed or covetousness- You should have that.  You deserve it.  You need it.

Unforgiveness-You can never forgive that sin, and even if you could, why would you?

Anger-  You've been hurt and you have a right to be angry.

Discouragement- You'll never have what you desire or be who you desire to be in this life.  Don't get your hopes up.

Pride-Your above all that, you shouldn't have to stoop to accommodate the weakness or poverty of another person.

The Access of the Enemy.

Temptations, doudts, accusations, justifications and speculations begin in the mind.  Our feet, hands, and bodies follow where the mind leads us.  It is in our minds that we remember, we understand, we make decisions, we fantasize, and we evaluate truth from fiction.  It is with our minds that we believe, we acknowledge God, and we make choices.  The battle ground with the Enemy is in the mind.

Many people wonder does the enemy have access to my mind?  Yes
Can the enemy send thoughts into my mind? Yes
Can the enemy speak to the heart? Yes
Now trying to be clear on several points.

First a thought is not a sin, it is when we entertain these thoughts and acting out on these thoughts that we fall short and sin.  Thoughts come-and it is what we do with those thoughts that matters.

The apostle Paul wrote, 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.  (2 Cor. 10:3-6)


My reason for posting this and why I feel so strongly there needs to be awareness of these things was because I was totally unprepared for these type of attacks.  I naturally wanted to be good and make the right decisions in life and my life didn't crumble in a day.  Not being prepared or understanding the other side.  The darker end.  We dream of growing up and getting married and having one partner and living happily ever after and in reality this is a fantasy unless there is like minded spiritual presence in relationships.


Being gullible and having to face these types of evils and these seeds coming into my thought process, never learning to discern the dangers of evil.  Unaware I trusted those around me, and when disappointment would come I inwardly blamed myself for every evil thing that was ever committed. me, believing all wrongs were in fact my fault and totally believing all these things listed above, and self hatred is very dangerous because when these things occur our minds are bombarded.  I never had a way of combating these attacks and many people are so unaware.  When we blame ourselves for the wrongs of everything, we become defensive and it also shows up in relationships and other ways we treat others.


These things are powerful strongholds and they lie to use like a slick crooked lawyer.  Being aware of what we fight spiritually can bring us into greater understanding of reliance upon God's word and the Holy Spirit that helps us through these things.


Traveling alone and unaware of these things can totally destroy our lives and breed hatred and also deep hatred of self.  I hope if you are struggling with some of these things you come to the realizations of the battles that cross our paths and how we can defeat the enemies lies.  It can truly be a matter of life and death and I pray for all to seek understanding and pray for the Holy Spirit to help you fight this good fight.  For the pulling down of strongholds and the spiritual strength Christ will prepare for you to Stand in the face of Adversity and total reliance upon the truth of God's Word.  It is truly a sword of your very life and also a protection and shield for all that you love.


Be blessed