“But deliver us from evil
Fear
Hate
Judgment
Anger
Resentment
Arrogance
To self-serve”
As our weekday comes to a close and the weekend is around the corner, let's reflect on how we showed up this week. Did we stay committed to our promises? Did we push to grow without catering to comfort?
We may look at these questions and grumble to ourselves about some broken commitments we have made or there may be some of you that have kept your word to yourself, and I celebrate with you! I desire to encourage the discouraged by reminding you that "living today in yesterday's negativity or baggage will only way you down".
I encourage you today to not be controlled by fear of the unknown or be paralyzed by the fear of taking risks.
Do not be medicated by hate. Don't allow people's actions or words get under your skin. Why give people or circumstances that much power?
Do not be blinded by judgment where possibilities dwindle and opportunities are lost?
Do not pacified by anger? When we act upon our anger towards others, it does not help the situation.
Do not hold on to resentment? It is only hurting you. It is like drinking a poison hoping that it would hurt the other person.
Do not be provoked by arrogance? We do not know it all, and it is okay. Surrender the need to be right, look good, feel good, and be in control.
Give up the need to be served. Choose to serve others by giving up your right to have it your way all the time.
TAKE AWAY:
1) There are evil tendencies that try to sway us into acting upon them, but we can live above them, because of God's grace and the reality that God has made us good.
2) The fight is not against people. It is against evil tendencies, spiritual forces.
MEDITATION:
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ”
DAILY CHALLENGE:
1) Meditate on "deliver us from evil" by reflecting on the areas that you can work in. Receive the grace for this area, and do not allow yesterday's negativity bleed into this brand new day.
2) Who or what do you have conflict with the most? How could we make our fight less against people and more about the spiritual tendencies that try to sway us every day?