Where are we?

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Imagine with me for a moment that someone walks in your front door, through your living room and picks up your television and walks out. Then they return and grab your computer and leave again. Meanwhile you sit on your couch watching them. You don't protest. You don't try to stop them. You just sit there and watch. Once they are gone you say to yourself, "This sucks. My stuff is gone."

I doubt if someone came in your house univited and tried to take your stuff, you would sit by idly and accept it. So why then, do we pretend as Christians, that the enemy is not trying to take from us? Why do we wonder where our joy and peace went? Why do we wonder where the fruit of spirit went? Or worst, why do we accept it as gone?

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

If we're not having life to the full then something has been stolen from us. If you don't have peace and joy, there has been a theif in your midst. Maybe you didn't recognize him. Maybe you thought it was just circumstances or emotions. Maybe you were duped into handing it over freely, believing it was natural consequences to a mistake. Maybe you forgot who you are.

If Christ came to give us abundant life then it has been given. Sometimes we assume he just meant heaven. We sit by idly accepting assualt because we think it is part of this world. Don't get me wrong. Jesus said we will have trouble in this world. Things will happen that threaten to steal our joy and peace, but he has overcome the world. He said he has given us life abundantly. He said we have his spirit. We are his. We have a restored relationship. So if he is what satisfies and we have him already, how can it be that abundant life waits for us in heaven and not now?

Why are we warned of the enemy and given the armor of God if we are not intended to use it? We are in a battle. How many fights have you seen where one side takes all the hits and the other side just limps on and does not defend or strike back? We're meant to fight back. We've been armed. We've been instructed. Don't just stand there. Don't delay. Don't say to yourself "This might be an attack, but I'm in the middle of something, so I'll pray later." That is not how battles are won.

We are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) We need to recognize our role here. We are meant to intervene. We've been equipped to stop the enemy, not just for ourselves, but for others. We aren't here to live our lives until we get our entry ticket into heaven stamped.

If you are bored, confused, complacent, worried, or fearful, then you have forgotten who you are and what is already yours. It is time to take it back.

Becoming Fully Satisfied Now

If you could have anything right now, the one thing you've been waiting for, what would it be?

For the Israelites it was the promised land. They wanted their promise without the journey. They were so focused on the promise, they lost focus of their purpose. Promises are great. Promises provide hope for a future and guidance towards your destiny. But promises are never meant to replace our satisfaction with God. The same God was with them in the wilderness that would be with them in the promised land.

I can pretty much tell when the promise is taking the place of God. I find myself discontent, impatient and confused. Instead of giving thanks and praying boldly, I succumb to complaining and praying as if I have no hope and no direction.

The journey is an important part of the promise. The journey allows time for growth in character and faith. It prepares you for what God's plan is. It creates a humble attitude and allows you to see exactly how incapable you are and how capable he is.

Our purpose is to delight in God, on the journey and in the promise. It is our choice how we walk the journey. We can complain, doubt and even turn back and let the promise die. Or we can let peace reign in our hearts, realize we already have all that satisfies with us where we are and allow God to prepare us for what he has in store. Its admitting God knows us better than we know ourselves.

Let the journey push you closer to God and share the joy with him when you reach what you have been hoping for.

"The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” Deuteronomy 1:30-31

Lift Up Your Eyes

"The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west."

We often base our decisions and measure our success by what we see. Whether it be our job, family, church or finances. We make an assessment of our life and live within it.

I love how God tells Abram, "Lift up your eyes from where you are..." He invites Abram to see beyond his current situation. There is more that God is doing. Abram's sight has a limit. Our sight has limits. Sometimes, all I see are my current cirsumstances, what is working and what isn't working. I see where I am falling short. My prayers become boxed into what I know, what I can see.

But God sees more. God is saying, don't get wrapped up in what is going on now and what you are doing. Look and see what I am doing. I'm not limited to where you are now. Lift your eyes up. There is so much more!

Seeing with God allows us to release our faith and pray based on his promises instead of our limitations. It reminds us he is leading the way and his view restores hope.