Category: Breaking Down Strongholds

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Find True Joy

Psalms 16:11 NIV

[11] You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

I started selling on a new site and I’ve been pretty successful on it, so far. My first weekend I had 17 or so packages to go out. Now, this is the most packages I’ve ever had to send out at once. It was pretty cool. The mail lady was like “Wait. What?” Made me feel pretty proud of myself. But I never had that many again. The next pick up was only 5. The mail lady noticed and said something along the lines of “Huh… thought it’d be more…” Now I’ve noticed a bit of a look when I bring out my packages and it started to get to me.

See, that first weekend had a lot of packages but there wasn’t as many sales as the smaller packages. Those items were too large to pack together so they each needed individual boxes. I didn’t even make money on those several large boxes of items I lost money on them. But because it looked good on the outside it seemed like I was going backwards. But it was quite the opposite.

I ended up selling out of all of my inventory in just 5 days. The items were small so several items could fit in one box. My box count went down but my sales and profits both skyrocketed. The crazy part is that the subtle looks that I was getting actually started to discourage me. Then it hit me. My pride was hurt.

I was getting a good amount of sales both online and local pickups, but because the box count went down I was feeling defeated.

When we focus on what boosts our pride instead of how much we’ve been blessed by God, we begin to lose our joy. The LORD is our source of joy not random encounters with strangers, not how much we make, not how well we’re doing financially. God is our one and only source of joy. The moment we allow anything but God to be our source of joy is the moment we lose joy all together and trade it in for happiness.

Happiness is based on our emotions, feelings, surroundings, environment, other people, but joy that is based on the LORD. That isn’t shaken when it’s rooted in Him. That isn’t shaken when we build on the Rock.

When little things that are truly insignificant in the grand scheme of things bring you down, ask yourself “in whom or in what do I find my joy?”

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Find True Joy.

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Fight To Be Humble

Luke 18:9-14 NIV

[9] To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ [13]  “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ [14]  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

A proud heart won’t pray sincerely. But the poor in spirit pray like the tax collector in Luke 18:13: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” That man, Jesus said, went home justified. Why? Because humility always gets heaven’s attention.

God always elevates the humble, but he humbles the proud. When God elevates us, it isn’t always physically in front of others so that they can see. Sometimes it’s spiritually. Sometimes it’s not in this life. God however, is always faithful. God doesn’t forget us.

Therefore, don’t think more of yourself than you ought. Never think yourself better than others. In this world pride will try to keep us from what God has in store for us, but if we remain humble, completely and entirely submitting ourselves to Him, then He is faithful to reward us with greater things than we could ever hope or imagine.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fight To Be Humble. 

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Live Poor In Spirit

Matthew 5:3 NIV

[3]  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus promised the Kingdom of Heaven to the poor in Spirit. How does one become poor in spirit? By praying, fasting, and seeking God’s kingdom with a heart that’s fully surrendered—referred to as “crucifying” selfish desires, as Paul says in Galatians 5:24—those who are “poor in spirit” are promised a life connected to God now and forever.

This means living daily with the humility to admit our need for Jesus, who died and rose again to forgive our sins, and trusting Him as our LORD and Savior.

Those who live this way, seeking God’s kingdom with a sincere and repentant heart, receive the promise of the “kingdom of heaven,” a life filled with God’s presence now, along with all the privileges that it comes with, as well as the hope of eternity with Him in a perfect, future world.

Peace.  Love. Go Forth and Live Poor In Spirit. 

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Check Your Temperament

Colossians 1:15-20 ESV

[15]  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Bees are a hive mentality system. The queen runs everything and the workers follow the queen. She is the head of the colony. She is so influential in the colony that her personality dictates the personality of the entire hive. If a hive is hostile and aggressive, the only way to fix that is to remove the queen. Whether the queen is hostile or aggressive will determine whether the hive is hostile or aggressive.

Once the queen is removed, the beekeepers will introduce a better-tempered queen. They will then wait and watch the temperament of the bees to see if they change. Sometimes the queen’s influence is too strong and the colony is passed the point of saving and must be killed.

We, the Church, are meant to be much like a bee hive. The LORD Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. We are to bear fruit in line with Jesus. Fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Yet, many in the Church don’t have the qualities of our KING. Why? Because their head is not Jesus. They’ve allowed grief, fear, anger, unforgiveness, lust, perversion, etc. to be their head instead of Christ Jesus.

If you truly evaluate yourself honestly, would you find that your temperament matches the temperament of The KING or of a king of this world?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Check Your Temperament.

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Seek True Friendship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

[9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! [11] Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? [12] And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Trusting other people is one of the hardest things for me. Why? Because people will always let you down. It’s in our human nature. We’re not perfect so we often fail ourselves and others. This causes me to not want to let others in. I’ve tried to have close friends I can depend on but things always end negatively. It’s exhausting. The Devil knows this, so he whispers “You’re better off alone.”

If the enemy can isolate you from the rest of the Church, then he can better keep you from reaching your full potential. So, he uses people around you in order to hurt you. To convince you that you are meant to be alone, but don’t believe it. Don’t give in.

Even though people will let you down and they will hurt you, you can’t separate yourself from the Church or the world. We are the light of the world and the salt of the world. We are called to be in the world but not of it and one with the Church, as we are one body in Christ. Therefore, guard your heart, strengthen your discernment, and pray for relationships.

Pray the LORD will send good, loving, loyal people into your lives that can grow with you. People that will build you up and that you build up. People who will rejoice in your victories and you can rejoice in theirs. People who don’t want to cause you stress or anxiety but want to be a shoulder you can lean on and a hand you can hold in, and vice versa.

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy but God sends people into your life that can help you and you can help.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek True Friendship.

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Don’t Miss Lessons

2 Timothy 3:16-17

[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

I’ve noticed a recurring argument from the world. If Jesus didn’t address a sin, then it doesn’t actually count as a sin. This is an argument of desperation in order to ease the conscience of those living in sin. When our conscience screams the Truth at us, it’s difficult to continue until you silence the Truth in you with lies. Here’s the problem with that, not every teaching of Jesus was recorded (John 21:25), and not every teaching was necessary for the Jews of Jesus’ day, as it wasn’t a part of their culture.

This is why Paul had to detail each letter to the specific city he was writing to. This is why the Bible is really just several different writers writing to several different people facing several different sins and circumstances. So, when we isolate the Bible down to simply what Jesus verbally said during His 3 ½ year earthly ministry, we miss a lot.

Jesus never spoke about, or at the very least it’s never recorded addressing rape, incest, pedophilia, etc. Shall we overlook all of these sins as well? Of course not. When we try to limit the Bible down to one writer, speaker, or book, we miss out on so much. We miss out on the entire heart of God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Miss Lessons.

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Turning A Cheek

38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. ~ Matthew 5:38-42

Turning the other cheek is one of the hardest teachings in the commands of Jesus. It forces you to completely deny and crucify your flesh. Your flesh wants to defend itself. It wants to get revenge. We can see this from the very beginning. Repaying evil for evil, with no restraint. This was the purpose of the Law of Moses.

God began reigning in the flesh by confining revenge to “an eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth,” so that no one would take a life for an eye without facing punishment again. God was preparing us for His final Law “turn the other cheek.”

See, we are called to be the Light of the World. The World hates us, because it hates Christ whom we represent. Therefore, in order to reach the world, we must not act like the world. The world doesn’t fight fair. It’s manipulative, deceptive, and wicked. If we give into our natural urges to slap back and get revenge the world will respond. It will call us out. It will hold us to a standard it dare not hold itself to.

So, what are we to do? Turn the other cheek. Fight your natural instinct. How? Remind yourself that no revenge can compare to the vengeance of the LORD God Almighty. So, be different. Be Christ to the world.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Turn A Cheek.

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A Forgiving Heart

27 But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ~ Luke 6:27-36

For the past year I have been selling items on eBay. For the most part it’s been good and I do enjoy doing it, but every now and then I have to deal with a scammer. People, who instead of getting a job and actually working hard try to scam hard working people out of their hard earned money.

It’s so easy to angry and want to wish bad things upon these kinds of people because they deserve it. Then I’m reminded of two things.

  1. I deserve Hell just as much as them because I sin constantly. My nature is evil. The only difference between me and them is Jesus Christ has delivered me, sanctified me, and changed my heart so that my conscience will not allow me to continue in my sin blatantly. Instead, when I do slip up, I repent, and strive to not do it again.
  2. No matter what evil I could with upon them, nothing can bring forth justice and vengeance like the LORD God, who says that vengeance is His. And He will repay. That says that He will defend us. That says that He is the final Judge whom all the world will have to stand before on that last day and give an account to.

It’s easy to become angry and want an immediate judgment against blatantly wicked people. Why? Because your flesh wants to get even. It wants to see those who have harmed you or tried to harm you put in their place. It’s filled with pride convincing you that the you are better than others, when in reality it’s not that you’re better than others, but that the God dwelling in you and through you is.

Dear LORD, please forgive me for speaking evil against those who are still in their wickedness being used by the devil. Please forgive me for wanting (or speaking) a curse of any kind against someone who has done evil to me. Please forgive me and change my heart. Give me a new heart that is soft and loving. One quick to forgive and understand. One that loves the way You love and is humble before You. I pray that You would renew a right spirit within me so that I might have a conscience guiding me into Your righteousness. I pray that You would have mercy on all whole have wronged me and soften their heart so that they might repent and turn from their evil ways and run to You. Keep me in Your arms and safe in the shadow of Your wings. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Forgive To Uproot

[5] Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. [6] For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, [7] so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. [8] So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. [9] For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. [10] Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, [11] so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

I never really realized that this well-known verse I’ve quoted so many times was originally in the context of forgiveness. Unforgiveness sows seeds of bitterness within us. Seeds that are easily watered and grow into large strongholds giving birth to anger, pain, envy, and much more.

We forgive because the LORD God has forgiven us. He has given us another chance, taking our sin upon Himself so that we might not perish but have everlasting life.

Pride is one of the easiest strongholds to give into. It’s one that speaks to the flesh, and builds up the desires thereof. It promises to protect you and give you everything you’ve ever wanted. It consumes you and puts you into a spiritual sleep that keeps you from seeing the enemy’s attacks. He’ll use anyone and everyone he can in order to get bitterness planted within you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Forgive To Uproot.

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Build On The Rock

Matthew 7:24-27

[24]  Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Over the years I’ve debated many different belief with many different people. Each and every debate started with the other person telling me I was wrong. And each time ended with me showing them Scripture after Scripture of why I wasn’t wrong to which they, 90% of the time, get upset, deflect, or straight up insult me then refuse to believe what the Bible says. Now, I don’t say all of this to make myself sound more than I am but show that it’s more important to base your beliefs on the Word of God than on our own personal opinions and feelings.

When we argue and debate on options and feelings instead of the word of God, it’s now no longer seeking Truth but seeking to prove yourself right out of pride. No matter how wise, smart, knowledgeable, or a genius we think we are, we cannot even compare to God’s foolishness, let alone his wisdom.

Therefore, build your life on the Word of God in Jesus, not on yourself. You, just like all of humanity, is only dust. We one day use all stand before the Creator and Judge wiser beyond comprehension or understanding. How can we try to compare ourselves to the Creator of knowledge and wisdom, when we are like the flower, here today and gone tomorrow?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Build On The Rock.

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