WINNING STRATEGIES

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

This is a blog pep rally for those who are fervently about "perfecting holiness" - 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Are we in it to win it?!  Yes we are!!!

What can we do, people?  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us - Philippians 4:13.

WHO do we serve?!  JESUS

In the beginning was - GOD

NOW is GOD

Eternity is GOD

Robust and plentiful cheers to - GOD be the glory! 

The other day, as I sat outside on a street level ledge eating my lunch on historic Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the devil attacked my mind.  What did I do, people?   I proceeded to belt out in song, repeatedly, in lyrical holy boldness, these words, "To God be the glory."  Minutes after I finished my "glowing" rendition, a stranger woman approached me and said something like, "I heard you doing your praise."  Well, she is a member of the body of Christ.  For about an hour, she and I had a fruitful engagement sharing about our Lord.

The Word of our Lord tells us to count it all joy - James 1:1,2 - when our faith is tried.  Thanks be unto GOD that I have learned, for the most part, to maintain joy in the midst of evil and foolishness.  Regularly, I belt out gospel song lyrics when I am engaged in spiritual warfare.  Another thing that I do regularly, out loud, is to speak in tongues and to quote scriptures.  Also, when out in public, I skip as I proceed on my journeys.  Typically, when the devil opposes, it is his aim to frustrate and anger us.  When, instead, we choose to respond with praise and glory to GOD through songs, speaking in tongues, and quoting scriptures -Satan hates those choices that we make to lift up GOD rather than focus on wicked demonic actions.  I make it my business, on the regular, to do what the devil hates.  Glory to GOD!  We shouldn't give more attention to what Satan is doing against us than we give attention to what we can do through Christ in us. 

Jeremiah 1:19 tells us "And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee."  Too many times, our focus has been on the fight rather than the prevail that is our win from GOD.  That verse mentions fight but has more to say relative to prevail.  It goes on to state that GOD is with us to deliver us.  Why then, do we too often get stuck on the "fight" aspect?  Let's be stuck on the prevail.

And may we remember what JESUS did when the devil aimed to tempt him - Matthew 4.  JESUS quoted scripture to Satan.  Yes, indeed, the Word works if we work it. 

When people are rude to us, as the Spirit leads, we should correct them.  Rude people are not happy people.  You can't be rude and happy.  I love and pray for such folks but feel a measure of pity for them, as well.  There are "seasons" to address rudeness, as there are seasons to ignore it.  I have even belted out gospel song lyrics when I have been addressed rudely.  That is sure notice to Satan that GOD shall be lifted up, regardless. 

Recently, I was in the checkout line in the grocery store.  I wasn't moving fast enough for a man behind me.  He started rudely addressing me.  I didn't even look his way.  Rather, I began to sing the lyrics to a gospel song.  I sang, "I sing because I'm happy.  I sing because I'm free.  His eye is on the sparrow and He watches over me."  I sang those words several times.  The man kept fussing.  After I finished singing, I spoke that I would pray for him because he was not happy.  You know how when one person begins rude conduct and others chime in with their rude agreement?  That is what happened.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with my pace of movement in that line.  The rude few decided to "gang" up on me.  They didn't rattle me one iota.  I didn't move faster for them either.  I did suggest that they could exercise their option to go to another line.   I firmly believe that we are to love people but we must be focused as to how our Lord instructs to handle each situation.  Certainly, there is a place for tough love.  We experience that sometimes from GOD when He is displeased with our behavior.       

Satan won't stop fighting us, people.  It is our choice to rise above the nonsense, foolishness, and wickedness.  We are not appointed to "cave" or to bow to the devil.  We should not allow ourselves to be bullied.  That is not in our job description.  2 Kings 6:16, 17 says, "...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.  And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 

We are appointed and anointed to bow only to GOD Almighty who is the Most High.  We need to habitually conduct ourselves accordingly.  Will we falter?   Yes - but may GOD help us all to be less inclined to do so.      

The Bible tells us that we are not to give place to the devil - Ephesians 4:27.  He should have no place in us. 

Exodus 19:3,4
And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

We are eagles, people.  Turkeys are grounded.  They cannot fly.  Eagles soar.  Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;..."

Whatever weapons Satan uses against us, he has to be provided clearance by GOD.  Our Lord won't allow anything to oppose us that we don't have the holy weaponry to conquer.  Our Lord will give us the ammunition.  It is up to us to use it.  The devil needs GOD's permission to do anything.  That is GOD's holy arrangement.

Also, please remember that whenever we are opposed by the forces of wickedness that is clearly affirmation that we are in league with GOD.  So, I take this moment to say "Thank you, Satan, for the affirmation that GOD's people are certainly not on your side."

One last point.  We have heard it said, "Everybody talking about heaven ain't going there."  We need to seek our Lord for how to deal with those who superficially utter GOD'S holy scriptures, and who speak of GOD in mocking tones.  As the Word of GOD states in Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."  2 Thessalonians 1:6 says, "Seeing it is a righteous thing with GOD to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;"  And Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."     

Lord, please help us to love, and to steadfastly flow in the other fruits of Your Spirit.  And teach us please, how to better spread Your Word so that more people will forsake Satan and join with You.  Thank You, Lord - Amen  

For those who are so inclined, please click here for more on public praise
http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2010/11/public-praise.html

Sandra

Written Wednesday June 8, 2011

Copyright 2011

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