CrimsonSnow

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When you’re disheartened or discouraged, you want these three weapons in your arsenal.

15 May 2011

 

Ever had one of those weeks, or maybe it’s been more than a week, when you feel low, dejected, discouraged or disheartened? Its been one of those this week. Its been a week filled with unnecessary relational frustrations, with key allies in my vocational work falling away, and key leaders in my team suggesting that they’re feeling that they’re not in the right place and its time to move on. At the moment, I feel lonely, and a little dejected. Its not that I don’t to ever expect to encounter difficulties of struggles, and I’m not wanting to give up the fight, but when it involves close friends, your ‘brothers’, you somehow feel it a little more.

On Saturday morning, my wife and I were driving along Cape Town’s coastal road past Camps Bay towards Llandudno. Its surely one of the most beautiful roads in the world, to drive along. Claire turned to me and said, “I feel like we just need someone to pray for us”. It raised the question in my mind, ‘what do you do when you feel like this?’ After chatting for a while, I turned to Claire and said, “In times like this, I’m grateful for two things”. These are the two weapons in my arsenal I turn to and I’ve added a third.

In times of war, you hope and expect that you’re always on the offensive, but sometimes the enemy gets a few good shots at you; and you need to know which weapons to use and how to use them in such circumstances.

These are my three weapons I’m pulling out at this stage in the fight.

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1)   My love for the Scriptures

There are few things in life I enjoy doing more than opening up my bible and soaking myself in the words of Scripture. The Scriptures really are life to my soul. They feed me, they energise me. They tell me of the glorious Creator of the universe. They remind me of the mercies that I’ve received and of the abundance of God’s steadfast and unrelenting love; they tell me that though I walk down dark alleys and though I find myself in situations I wouldn’t choose, that Christ is there with me, to comfort me and be my strength. The Word tells me innumerable truths about life and God and myself. It tells me that I’m in a battle but that this battle will be short-lived and then my God will lead me triumphantly and victoriously and we will dwell in perfect harmony for all eternity. It tells me that God loved me and choose me and named me and called me before the world began and he has a perfect plan for my life and is directing all my steps. It tells me how to love my wife like Christ loves me, how to reach out to the poor like Christ reached out to me, how to pour myself out for the sake of others, like Christ poured himself out for my sake. It tells me of the glory of God and the wonder of knowing him, the prize at the end of life and how worthwhile it is to reject worthless idols and pursue Christ.

When life is hard, I know where to turn; I know where to find food and nourishment for my soul – in the Words of Life.

2)   My love for the doctrine of the Sovereignty of God

Of all the rich treasures that the Bible teaches, one that I’ve grown to particularly love is the doctrine of the Sovereignty and the Lordship of God. To know that there is a God in heaven, and that every single minute detail of life is known to Him, and allowed to happen by Him, that truth is comforting beyond words. I believe that there is not a single detail of life, good or bad which is beyond his control. He is absolutely sovereign over everything. He knows everything, He controls everything, and He is not intimidated. What’s even more comforting, is that this sovereign majestic God of the universe is benevolent, loving, merciful and compassionate beyond measure. Its is one thing to know that God is in control; it is another to know that this God is loving and kind towards you, rather than an egotistical dictator. No matter how fierce the storm I’m facing seems, no matter how dark this road appears, no matter how lonely I feel right now; God knows about it and is in control. It is not beyond Him, he is not perplexed or confused or trying to work it out. He is not saying ‘I wish I could help but my hands are tied’. As one writer put it; there is not a square inch in the entire cosmos over which God does not say “It is mine!”.

3)   My belief in Romans 8

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

It is particularly verse 34 that I want to focus on. Jesus Christ, Creator God, Sovereign Lord of all is alive and well and He is in heaven, sitting at the right hand side of God the Father and is praying for me. Jesus died, but that is not the end of the story. He also rose again! But in addition to that, he is before the Father and he is praying or interceding for us, God’s children while we are still on the earth. He is petitioning the Father, and he is bringing our case before the Father. As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane the night he was betrayed so he prays for us now: “Father, while I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Holy Father, keep them in your name.” And again “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” And Jesus prays that the Father will “sanctify us in the truth”. Do you know that right now, Jesus is bringing you in prayer before the Father and He is asking the Father to protect you, to care for you, the guard you from being overcome by the evil one. I believe in Jesus, I believe He is alive and is seated next to the King of Glory and He's rooting for us, cheering us on, and bringing us before the Father in constant prayer.

 

So next time you feeling the battle heat, and you've taken a few bullets from the enemy, pull out your weapons and stand firm. However its good to know your weapons before you find yourself in that situation. Until that final day, onward and upward soldier!

 

Posted May 15, 2011