My heart greeted the wee hours of last Tuesday with JOY as I woke up the girls for school, tickling and giggling their way out of bed. But, it quickly got stolen away from me as my heart welcomed WORRY as I read an unsettling message. My heart shook hands with IMPATIENCE as disobedience entered the scene. My heart embraced LACK OF PEACE as I had to deal with Child Services. My heart jolted in FEAR as I got a phone call from school letting me know that Mina’s blood sugar was 320. My heart was filled with an odd SADNESS as I witnessed someone being handcuffed and taken to jail while I was at the police station.
And it was not even noon. More emotions were yet to come.
Satan will do his best to attack us today. He knows our vulnerable spot, and he’ll go for it full blast. He also knows our strong spot, Christ in us the hope of glory, and he’ll distract us from it in subtle ways.
Yes, I am an emotional being and that may be my weakness. But each one of us will be attacked today in crafty ways, call it emotional or physical, you know your own struggle better. One thing is sure, it will definitely be a spiritual one.
Paul gives hope to our situation through the message to the Ephesians (ch 6) “Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world …”
We are not asked to go look for a fight. We are told to daily get ready and stand strong, just like a soldier in the army. We should not treat it as a good suggestion from God! It’s a command, where our only answer should be ‘Yes, sir!’
Buckled up with TRUTH.
His Word is our Truth. God gave us a measuring stick for what is truth, the Bible. We don’t need to wobble in the dark trying to find the light switch.
I was telling the girls the other day, that God is pleased when children obey their parents in the Lord. Then, my little ‘Curious George’ asked ‘Mommy, does God tell you in the Bible how much piano we should do today and if we need to brush our teeth?”
The Bible will not tell us how often we need to brush our teeth, how much workout we need to put in, what job to interview for, not even what church we need to attend. But, we are guaranteed that ‘fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom’. Also, the Scripture abounds in principles to get us equipped for a healthy lifestyle.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Romans 3:16-17
Never loosen your belt at the waist. The world around us may redefine what marriage should look like. It will endorse our sinful lifestyle. It will applaud when we show a little selfishness to get promoted at work. The belt of truth is holding things together for our own good. Never compromise truth for a short-lived pleasure. Never twist and adjust Biblical principles to fit in today’s culture. We need to stop feeling like we need to modernize God and his principles. You know, He came up first with the idea of the Universe and all its trinkets.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
Tell the truth. Get in the habit of speaking truth. I’m not going here for a deep and subtle theological challenge. I purely mean, learn and love to always tell the truth. In other words- don’t lie!
For the last few months we have been working so hard with the girls on this specific issue. I am determined that, with God’s help, we need to get rid of this sinful habit. They are children, but if it’s not corrected in its time, it doesn’t stop naturally just because we’re grown-ups. It only gets worse.
As adults not telling the truth takes various shapes and forms: doing something wrong and hiding it, being sneaky about certain things at home or work, cheating at an exam (or even helping others cheat) etc.
As Christians we sometimes choose the most convenient one that makes us feel less guilty. “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” Proverbs 12:19
Live the truth. We’ve been teaching our girls as well the word ‘discerning’. In life you’ll hear sermons, you’ll read books, you’ll sing songs, you’ll watch videos, you’ll be taught lessons that need to be filtered through the Scriptures. If in any slight way these things distort, destroy or discourage God’s truth, RUN away from messages as such.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
Find freedom in the truth. There is freedom in living a life guided by truth. This might be the most difficult thing for any of us to do. If we did something wrong, we try to work under cover patching our traces where we might have walked, and shouldn’t have. We only need to come clean. There is so much freedom in opening up our heart. There might be pain in the process. Where there’s sin, there’s always a mess. But, you won’t have to carry that heavy burden of lies any longer. And with God’s help, and the support of other believers there will be healing and forgiveness.
“Whoever conceals their sins doesn’t prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
My prayer:
Lord help me to never loosen the belt of truth at the waist, by compromising with today’s culture. Enable me to live Your truth, to love Your truth, and to promote Your truth. Also, give me strength to find freedom in areas of my life where I haven’t been transparent. Amen!