Interesting, isn't it, that after yesterday's blog an old fear should raise its head in my life. I sit. tonight, in God's presence and ask Him for help. Lots of thoughts immediately come flooding into my mind.... I'm going to try and verbalise them for you.
There are giants ready to intimidate us if we let them. Here are a few:
Fear - paralyses us and robs us of joy.
Lust - a strong desire for someone or something that completely overwhelms us.
Envy - Similar to lust, we find we MUST HAVE what belongs to others....at any cost.
Despair - engulfs us in a bubble so anything anyone does to try and help us is completely useless.
Anger - overtakes us like a strong man and any attempt to fight it is feeble when it rears its head.
Hate - all consuming, it becomes our life's purpose.
There are many more, but I felt that these are the big ones. Well, I looked at the Bible story of David facing the giant Goliath and a few thoughts came. Firstly the old YWAM (Youth With A Mission) phrase seems important here: 'come in the opposite spirit'. This is what David did. The giant came towards him completely covered in armour and carrying the best weapons a fighter could have..... and he was really strong.... and BIG! So David runs towards him and all he has is a slingshot and a handful of small stones. Opposite spirit.... David had no armour. But he did have faith and if his faith was wavering he didn't show it - he spoke out words of faith to Goliath, "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you." Strong words from a lad facing a super-large trained fighter! What we say out loud is more important than we think. But the giant had a weak spot! ....and David hit it, with his first stone.
OK - back to our giants. Here are a few ideas of how to throw a little stone at them:
Fear - first we have to run towards it, like David did. (All our being will want to run away or cower at its feet) Actually, fear likes to hide in the shadows and thrives on the unknown... so expose it! Name it and speak words of faith. Then throw your stone, not forgetting to use your slingshot (faith), with which it will travel at greater speed and accuracy. So what is the stone? Laughter... just laugh at it, and sing your heart out in praise to God! That's a good way of throwing stones at most giants! Here are some other ideas you could try with the other ones:
Lust, greed and envy - try giving away what seems to have such a hold on us. By giving we will dislodge the stronghold of grasping greed.
Despair - seriously, try dancing. It is the opposite of what you feel like right now, but it works, I've tried it.
Anger - there's a desire to control here, so in submitting to others is our saving help.
Hate - what else but loving against the odds can break the stronghold of hate in our lives. It's a decision to be kind when all your being wants revenge.
So ..... sorry it's so long tonight, but I thought it needed a little more than usual. And as I said last night, sometimes we need help from others, be they friends, pastors or trained counsellors. I finish my time tonight with rather a loud song of praise.... with the cat on my knee!
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