2 Cor. 10:3-6 | considering the word

When we were on the Greenbrier River, in WV, a few days ago, my son spent a lot of time tubing down a certain part of the river. There were 2 paths. Both were fast, but no matter which path he chose, he had to walk up against the current. He would walk up the one that was slightly more shallow, and then he rode back down on the faster current.

I was reading 2 Cor. 10:3-5 this morning, in the CEV, which says, “We live in this world; but we don’t act like its people or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God.”

Is that what we’re doing right now? Those kind of words are what we do when we’re walking against the current, not comfortably riding down on the faster current.

I’m reminded of Eph. 6:18, which says, “Never stop praying especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people.” Our weapons are not of this world. We are to destroy arguments, not start or continue them, and we are never to stop praying for others.

We are also to destroy every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Isn’t that more important than being right? Oh, God, help us! Forgive us. Be merciful, one more time, and help us, so that we can lead others to you while it is still today.

“Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that few people find it.” Mt. 7:13-14

Lord, help us not give up, and go through the wide gate now. The current gets so strong sometimes, and we find ourselves struggling to fight to go Your way. This verse is such a strong reminder of that truth, and how relevant it is in our world right now. But Lord, we don’t want to take someone else through the wide gate with us. Better to tarry, and struggle through the current to get through the narrow gate to You, and bring others with us, than to give up and drag others along, too.

Help us to act like Your people, fighting in the Spirit, and praying always. Convict us when we are prideful, reminding us that Jesus died for all of the world, not just us, and that not even we are worthy outside of His blood and Your grace. Thank You for the gifts of grace and forgiveness. Help us to offer the same to those around us, and to tell them the good news of Your great love.

Follow Him,

jamie

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is filled.” 2 Cor. 10:3-6

My tattoo caught my attention the other morning and got me thinking about the reason why I got it. I recalled coming to the place where I had decided that I had no control over anything in my life and so, I resolved to take control of something…enter the tattoo.

Whether you’re for or against tattoos, I can tell you that, at this point, I’m generally pretty indifferent towards mine. But today it’s going to teach us all a lesson.

I’ve written before about when I got sick in 2012. I never had a moments doubt that the Lord would heal me. I remember reading my Bible in the hospital, completely trusting the promises within.

As the inconclusive medical tests continued to come in, and my pain persisted, I began to grow a bit weary. At a church service a few months later, I heard a lesson about prayer lives that I didn’t like, and it hurt my feelings. It made me feel inferior and inadequate. I thought about it over and over. I talked to myself about it. I fumed over it. I resented it.

Looking back, I know that when Satan realized that the physical issues weren’t going to cause me to turn against God, he knew would need a new tactic. I gave him exactly what he needed. He whispered, taunted, and argued against my knowledge of God with that comment I heard at church. I could have just brushed it off and moved on with my life, but I allowed him to get in that crack. I didn’t take control of my thoughts. I didn’t take them captive. I allowed him to control my thoughts for me.

As the months went by I let it impair my prayer life a little at a time. Anger set itself deeper and deeper within my soul. And then, someone I trusted even more spoke about the same thing, and I remember that being the day I just quit. I remember thinking, “I’m done.”

What happened? Satan won. And I ended up with a tattoo. I fought in the flesh instead of using the mighty weapons I have in God. I became weaker because I took ‘control’ with my weakest weapon…my flesh.

Instead of taking my thoughts captive and reminding myself of the faithfulness of God, I listened to the twisted “truths” of the enemy. Instead of ‘taking control’ by getting a tattoo, I should have taken control of my thoughts, reading the Word for myself and asking the Holy Spirit to teach me and bring to my remembrance all the Lord has said to me.

Let my tattoo be a permanent reminder for us all…take control of your thoughts! Take control of the “truths” you are listening to. Stay in God’s word and let the Holy Spirit minister to and teach you. Fight in the Spirit and not in the flesh! God is on your side and He is fighting for you.

Marked,

jamie

Follow-up blog: How to take your thoughts captive