Seeking Him

As I mowed my yard yesterday, I went before the Lord on several different topics. One of which is that I so desperately wanted to write another posting to my blog inspired by Him. I feel so close to God and fill so fulfilled when I am composing something He's said to me. That's why I say I desperately wanted to write. We are to be His Hands and Feet. I don't know if I'm making that much progress through this blog and the blogging world but I'm overjoyed that I can be His toes and fingers for now and grow into His Hands and Feet. I find it a privilege to be God's big toe (whoops a little sweatpea humor.)

So I've been pondering on the words to write since Tuesday and nothing has knocked me over the head. I have several topics in my draft folder but upon viewing those...again, I wasn't knocked over the head. So, when the Lord and I were mowing, I pondered on my last post (read it to better understand) and I caught myself asking and asking regarding many people and many things. Though, again, they were all good things for which I was asking. I just cried to the Lord "I don't want to ask You. I mean I know I am to go to You for everything but I feel so bad just asking and asking. I'm tired of asking." I think He understands the asking though, especially when we are so heartbroken and searching for Him and trying to please Him through obedience. I then focused on praising Him.

I then pondered on how if I ever wanted to be a please others (be a people pleaser, which can have very negative results), never as much as I do now. However, that "person" is Jesus, God Almighty, Lord and Savior. I cried to Him, between huffs and puffs, and said "I want to please You so bad. Just show me the way. Show me what to think and desire. I am at Your mercy, just show me." In the midst of that I praised Him: "thank You for this healthy body that can mow." I continued to praise Him but was distracted again. I thought about all my new friends in cyber space through blogging. I thanked the Lord for the encouragement they have brought and the blessings they are to me and a blessing to see so many women grow deeper with God. I reflected on all the prayer requests that have been shared through our Bible Study with Rachel Olsen. So many hurting women...good Christian women, loving and serving the Lord, seeking Him in all things but yet still having hurdles and heart ache.

I have seen through this online study the power of the Almighty working. I can tell that He is really reaching and touching His children. So many women are closer to God through this study. Hearts are being transformed. We are all desiring a deeper walk with the Lord and we are seeing it come to fruit by being in His Word daily and seeking Him and learning from other women's experience and knowlege! (That's very important.) Remember, we talk to the Lord in prayer but He talks to us through His Word. If we are not in His Word, we won't be able to hear Him. He desires fellowship with us and He wants us to really know Him better and that is through His Word. This study has been a very unique experience and I hope Rachel has the stamina to continue past the current study.

Okay. So you say that's great, women are coming together, studying the Word, growing deeper in their walk with Christ. Well, that's not the end. We all know who hates for us to become better children and servants of the Lord and his name is Satan. You may wonder why Christians serving and loving the Lord would feel such an attack from Satan. It is because he doesn't need to attack his children; he already has them doing his work. He knows we are servants of God but if he can distract us enough to at least stop us from doing God's work, he'll be pleased. You know Satan doesn't seek out to convert all people to him because he knows it’s a lost cause and many will never falter from God. He would be satisfied with just inactivating active Christians or deceiving them into a wrong way of thinking and living. Satan very well may not bother lukewarm Christians either as he knows they are not fully serving the Lord nor doing much work for Him. However, those who are seeking the Lord in His Word are naturally going to grow closer to God. (You can't NOT grow close to God while earnestly studying His Word consistently.) And what will happen then? We will begin to speak more confidently of the Lord, we will be convicted to share the Gospel, we will begin to be God's Hands and Feet serving others in need. We will do all the things that Satan stands against. Therefore, if you are feeling attacked, you may have that feeling like "What is wrong? Why won't these feelings go away? Where is my joy and peace?" You may feel you're seeking the Lord with all your heart, growing so strong in Christ, yet, you have this gnawing feeling or depression or bad turn or bad luck or fall after fall. It is Satan trying to defeat you. But do not let him!!! Rebuke him in Jesus' name. Seriously, say it out loud. I remember months ago, near the beginning of my trial that I did just that. I was walking down the stairs of my home, and I could feel all these worried and negative thoughts coming into my head. I knew it was him trying to discourage me and to detour my faith in what God would do. I said out loud "Depart from me Satan, I rebuke you in Jesus' name." It was liberating and it felt good. There IS power in that precious name of Jesus.

I believe this posting was prompted because I too have felt Satan on my doorstep the last couple days. He's trying to deceive me and make me waver in my thought life and I refuse to listen. I felt it so strong that I saught a dear friend in a very similar situation and she encouraged and reiterated all the positive and godly things that need to be running through my thoughts. Seek a Christian friend that can encourage you in the same way and bring you back to that right thinking that God wants you to have.

Jesus came to heal, encourage, and empower. Satan is the one who came to steal, kill, and destroy! You are never out of Satan’s sight and temptation but you are always under Jesus' protection! Don't you forget that! God is our refuge and strength. The next time Satan comes to attack you and try to destroy your joy and peace from God, you tell him to depart from you. You are a child of God and NOTHING can separate you from His love and protection. Feel His love and His protection...embrace it!

Just be aware of Satan's presence. Acknowlege it so that you can rebuke him!
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Eph. 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Then find your strength and protection in God.
Eph. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Remember, you are not exempt from Satan's attacks and temptations. If our King was tempted, so will we be.
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

Be Blessed in Him,