Wednesday Devotions

Sunday in the Backwoods
Thomas Faed

Wednesday Devotions 5/2

Today's Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Fallen angels headed by Satan...they are everywhere a Believer is. We battle against Satan and his army constantly. Their deception is powerful, making us fall away from God and live for ourselves, even as mothers. Living for ourselves can be so subtle we don't recognize it as sin or as backsliding. But it is sin, as surely as adultery, lying, and cheating are sin.

Dear Lord, I must admit frustration. I awoke at 4:30 AM to read your Word, pray, and write...all before the children awoke between 7:00 and 7:30. In the first hour three children woke up, needing comforting or coaxing back to sleep. Help me, Lord, because carving out time is huge. I know this is hard for all mothers. Please intervene and keep my children asleep. 

Help me to live for you...to dedicate every day to you, giving up my right to myself. For I was bought and paid for and I love you, Lord. Help me stand firm in battle, and order my days for your glory.

¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Here is how a Christian defeats Satan and his army:

~ Truth:  Satan is all about deceit. God is all about Truth. We must cling to truth, wear truth like a belt, in our hearts and in our interactions.

~ Righteousness:  This refers not to our behavior, but to the righteousness imputed to us by God through faith in the blood of Christ. As a breastplate, it protects our hearts from deceit.

~ Our Feet to spread the Gospel:  We are to advance into enemy territory and spread the message of grace. Don't be quiet about your faith. Talk about it, write about it, sing about it. Stay close to God so you have a testimony to share.

~ Faith:  Our faith shields us from doubting God's faithfulness in the midst of enemy attacks.

~ Salvation:  This is like a helmet to protect our minds, our thoughts. Without salvation, a person cannot discern truth from lies. 

~ Spirit:  This is the Word of God, like a sword, speaking of its power to defeat. A sword is offensive, while a belt, breastplate, shield, and helmet are defensive. When Christ was tempted in the desert, he responded to Satan using the Word of God. Nothing is more powerful than the Word of God, which is why we carve out time for it and try to memorize it.

Dear Lord, thank you for these glorious tools. Help me to stay armed. Help me to remember that Satan and his army are real and they are everywhere. Their attacks may be subtle, but if I am armed, I will see through their schemes. Help me to submit my will to yours, so that I may be victorious and ever useful to you. Satan wants me to claim my right to myself, while you want me to give it up. Help me to choose you, every hour, every day.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mysteryof the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

I like to think of power and strength as two separate entities. To me power is ability, and strength is will. The Word of God is my power, and prayer is my strength. I need both power and will to defeat Satan, and to bring glory to God. Believers have two important duties...defeat Satan, bring glory to God.

To pray in the spirit means to pray with the mind of God, with His priorities, His will. 

It's confusing to hear that we must "pray without ceasing", or "pray on all occasions". This is not impossible, actually, and it begins with a disciplined devotional life: with you, your Bible, and your personal prayer system. Try not to use devotionals as the backbone of your time with the Lord. They should never replace your Bible, only accompany it at times as extra reading. It's tempting to want all the work done for us, but sitting with just a Study Bible is priceless. 

When you carve out this time for God, endeavoring to search and know his mind and heart, he works wonders and gives you a mind for prayer, a heart for prayer, so that you're not only praying at your devotional time, but throughout your day as well. 

I like to think of "praying without ceasing" as a gift from God. I seek Him first, diligently and with a pure heart, and then he infiltrates my heart and mind. 

He chased my heart down and saved my soul. Now, I need to chase him down. Daily. To defeat Satan, live the abundant life, and bring Him glory.

Dear Lord, thank you. You have given me everything, through your Son. Help me to chase you down. To give up my time, and my will, so that yours reigns supreme in my life. Help me to take your power, by reading my Bible, and your strength, by having a pray life. Help me to bring you glory with my heart, my mind, and my actions. 

In Your Son's name I pray,

Amen

To Pray or To Judge

Santa Claus checking the naughty and nice list
William Rogers Snow

Are you open? Or closed? Do you share burdens, or lock them up? 


As an official prayer warrior, let me tell you something. God wants you to receive help. I've come to dearly love praying for people and I'm convinced many others have the same passion. Maybe God chooses prayer warriors. Maybe hardship gives birth to a passion for prayer. Or maybe what starts as discipline, becomes passion.


Whatever.


The important thing?  Know we're out there. Prayer warriors. Wanting to pray. Needing to pray. Loving to pray.


If everyone walks around with their burdens locked up, what's a prayer warrior to do? There's no shame in having a hard time. With anything. Is there shame in hiding your burdens? Maybe.


Would you rather figure it out yourself? Do you wonder if someone will betray you if they knew? Do you see value in a certain persona and work hard to keep up that image? 


Maybe pride keeps you from soaring. Stifle it. 


In your path somewhere, you'll find a prayer warrior. Please...take her hand, pull her aside, and share your burdens. Without shame or fear.


You have much to gain. And your prayer warrior friend? You'll bless her. This is work God has given her to do.


And trusting her? Just do it. See Santa Claus up there in that painting? He's busy judging. Those who pray? They have no time to judge. Those who judge? They have no time to pray.


If you don't personally know a prayer warrior, leave me a comment with your request. Comments are on delay and your comment won't be published. I'm the prayer warrior in your midst. Put me to work.


Leave me your name or use the anonymous feature. I can make it work either way. You can also e-mail me at christine4431(at)ymail(dot)com.


Through prayer you have divine intervention to gain, and nothing to lose. Except pride.


James 5:13-16
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

painting source

Scripture source

Thankful Reflections

Victorian Lady II
John O'brien

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. Henry Ward Beecher

Lord, I thank you for...


...a friend sending a prayer cloth for Beth in the mail from CA. Prayer cloths are mentioned in the book of Acts. They have no healing power of their own. Rather, they're a point of contact--a way of combining the prayers of people who aren't in the same location. Our church does not anoint with oil, but my friend put oil on the cloth while she and others prayed for Beth. We put the cloth on Beth and add our prayers to our friends' prayers. I don't understand why the sick aren't anointed with oil as a rule anymore. Husband said there's no biblical reason for this practice to have fallen away. (I'm sure some American churches still do it regularly.)

...a basketball hoop for the boys to get in shape, and for mom and dad and the girls to join in when we can.

...delighting over Pooh Bear tales.

...Beth's flare subsiding more.

...freshly mown grass.

...pineapple upside-down cake.

...a nurturing Beth covering her bunny every night before bed, and re-covering him during the night when she wakes up. The covers have to be just so for bunny to be happy.

...Mary helping with baking and asking, "Aren't I going to be a good mommy some day?" 

...Mary asking, "Mommy, how do I get started being a mommy? Like...how do I get the house?"


...a nice uncle and aunt visiting from Washington D.C.


...another visitor wrapping up her two-week visit in a few days. Visitors are a blessing, but getting back to a schedule is attractive too.


...children who behave nicely away from home and with visitors. Kind of frustrating when they let their hair down at home, but being able to count on their good behavior elsewhere? What a grace. It hasn't always been that way, but with the youngest turning 3.5 yrs. this June, things are easier in many respects.


...my girls still wanting to cuddle often...and my Paul too, who will never stop cuddling, I'm sure. He'd do well to marry another cuddle bug.


...library books to enjoy together.


...the promise of warmer weather this Wednesday.


....my husband, the most wonderful man on earth (to me). The only truly selfless man I know.


...five pairs of very nice jeans for Peter from our latest thrift store run. He was down to just two pairs without holes and I couldn't keep up with his laundry. I don't get to go shopping very often, so finding five pairs for $3 to $5 each, at the same store? A God thing, surely. They'll fit into the fall, too.


...after reading about Tiddly Winks in a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book, Paul found a used Tiddly Winks game at the Goodwill. What a blast they've had playing it these past few days! They bring their own money when we go to Goodwill, and they always find nice board games for $2 or less. On the last run they found Backgammon, which they're still enjoying. My boys don't play with toys anymore, so games are a godsend.


Quote Source

Painting Source

A Piece of Heaven in the Mail

A letter came today from India, from our precious Divya, age 8, a Compassion International correspondent child.



There is quite a delay in receiving letters--more than two months for India. Here Divya responds to two letters we sent on the same day in early November, 2011, just after Paul's birthday. The first letter was a collaboration between the children and me, in which we each told Divya what we liked to do for fun, what our favorite colors and foods were, and what our favorite Bible verses were.

Her words today, they touched us so! They are praying for my Beth. Praise the Lord, oh my soul! I couldn't be more blessed right now. God speaks to me too, through these letters. The translation is rough at times, but the heart of the child always comes through. Divya would not mind me sharing her words. Her heart is to bless as many as she can!

Dear Auntie Christine,


Greetings to you in Jesus' name. I received your two letters. All the message explained by my teacher. I came to know about my friends Paul, Peter, Mary, and also about you. I was very happy to read your Bible verses. My Auntie explained the verses. The time of the verses explanation was God's blessings and he made that time to hear. I never forget your relationship.


All my family members conveyed their gratitude. They were very happy about you. Paul brother's painting was very nice. Convey my birthday wishes.


God has give you for me. We are all praying for Beth. Definitely God will heal Beth. We all give the testimony of her one day. For Beth's healing this letter will be a testimony one day.


Convey my love to her. Thank you very much for your lovely letter. Whatever sorrow God is there to heal you. Our Miss told this to you. Only God's love is enough. Our Miss also liked your letter and prayed for Beth in prayer cell.


Once again I am conveying my love.


Your Loving,
Divya



I encourage you to sponsor a child for $38/month, my friend. It will become one of the most beautiful experiences of your lifetime. Younger Compassion children dictate their letters, which can be quite short, and at first the relationship may not seem reciprocal. But as your child matures the relationship deepens and you have a piece of heaven right there in the palm of your hands at mail time, and every day at prayer time. When your child becomes too old for the sponsorship program (between 18 and 20 years old), they have the choice of continuing the relationship with you on their own. So, your kindness today could last a lifetime.

Grab a piece of heaven today, through relationship. Your prayers and letters will change a life, possibly many lives. And friend, you'll be changed.

But don't just listen to me. Here's what the Lord desires, as illustrated by his words to the Israelites, concerning the manna which fell in the desert:

Exodus 16:16-19
"This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 'Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.'" Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need. And Moses said, "Let no one leave any of it till morning."

God's plan is not that some will have too much, and others not enough. That's our own evil plan. He desires that we trust Him for our daily bread. We mustn't succumb to greed and store up, for that shows no faith. The poor exist because we store up, rather than taking a reasonable share and passing the rest to our brother. This is not government welfare I speak of...God never meant for the government to have to get involved. Taking what we need and passing the rest on is God's heart. 

But how can we do it? Where does the faith come from, to obey such a command?

The easiest way is to be in need and see how God provides. That builds faith. You have a testimony of God's provision. That's happened to us many times over. If you're not in need and have no such testimony to cling to, it's harder to obey God's heart here. So pray. Pray for faith. Think of the ways God has been there for you emotionally, spiritually. In the same way, he'll be there for you at meal time. 

No, he doesn't promise a house with certain dimensions, clothes from a certain store, or a car that never breaks down. If you're looking for those guarantees, you have more journeying to do with your Lord.

The numbers will not always add up. When the little boy offered his loaves and fishes, the numbers didn't work. And it didn't matter. God provided. The Lord looks at the heart. If you seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, all needs will be provided. 

And your wants? They'll melt away. And they'll stay away, for as long as you fill up on Him.

What God Gives His Children

Home Sweet Home
Walter Dendy Sadler

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Linking with Emily today, at imperfect prose.

As I pray through Beth's disease and all that it means, God speaks to me. Just maybe, my lessons can help you, dear friend? I believe God wants to use her story for His glory. 


Few things in life are surer than this: We will experience pain, and we'll watch our children experience it. Most veteran parents would agree...it's harder to watch a child suffer, than to suffer ourselves, except when our suffering leads to the neglect of our children.


As I pray about Beth's arthritis medications, I come to this question. What is God's design for addressing a child's pain? Our Heavenly Father thought of every detail when he designed us. He knew children would suffer physical and emotional pain.


My conclusions may be controversial, and certainly some readers will be angry with me, but I keep coming back to this: He meant for a parent....preferably a mother, uniquely gifted to comfort... to be present throughout the raising of a child. 


Except when the Lord takes a mother Home, and has another plan instead.


Before I detail how a mother helps with pain, let me digress a bit to address the absence of some mothers.


Women are in the workplace for many reasons. I know a teacher in California who had to work because her husband, a teacher himself, wanted a grander lifestyle than his own income could provide. His wife, my friend, wanted to stay home with their two children, but couldn't. 


Other women work because their husbands walked out on them, or abused them, leaving the wife no choice but to make it on her own. Some widows work because the extended family couldn't pinch enough pennies to come to her aid...or because they didn't think it was their duty to help her. We are no longer a people who take care of our own, as the Bible directs.


I couldn't possibly list all the reasons women are in the workplace. But I don't believe it is God's design. Rather, it is a result of us, as a people, living too far away from God. Our Father comforts when money is scarce. He comforts through strife-filled marriages. (Get away from your husband, though, if you or your children are unsafe because of abuse.) Our Father can comfort us through a myriad of hardships that we, instead, go out and try to solve on our own. In the end, we only create more problems.


God's design is that we parent children through pain and suffering. Nursing provides pain relief in very young children, and for all children, these help: stories and songs, cuddling, talking, praying together, and games and giggles. Our presence and nurturing love help a child experience joy, in the midst of pain.


As adults, most of us don't have the benefit of physical help. Adulthood comes with never-ending responsibilities. When I suffer a migraine, no one is available to take over my mothering and homemaking duties, so I use Excedrin. I see little choice...my children must be cared for and kept safe from themselves. I can't retreat to a dark room for hours on end. Nor can most clinically-depressed mothers avoid anti-depressants. There are many legitimate reasons adults take medicine.


If your own healthy, well-balanced mother is within helping distance as you parent, consider yourself blessed. When a healthy grandmother can step in and assist, everyone benefits. Grandparents are one of God's graces.


In dealing with pain, medical intervention has its place; God gave us the ability to research and save lives. He gave us the natural resources for medicines. But when the risks outweigh the benefits, and when parenting can bring joy to a child, must we turn to pain medicine? Aren't love and presence pain medicine? God's pain medicine?


Over the past few days I've read accounts of arthritic children with as many as eleven joints affected by the disease. Certainly there are cases of pain and suffering, and of long-term damage potential, that no amount of dedicated parenting can touch. If a child clearly experiences little or no joy, then serious medicine becomes necessary.


I've also read accounts in which children received injections for two years (methotrexate, and Enbrel or Humira--newer biologic drugs), and still, once a week they screamed and kicked when injection time came, causing at least one parent to stick herself--and her husband who was holding the child down--with the needle. These same children were sick all the time because the drug(s) suppressed their immune systems. During illnesses they couldn't receive their injections and their pain levels went up for two reasons: the disease became more active without the medicine; and because the illnesses themselves caused more active disease. (Which is common with autoimmune diseases.)


My daughter's disease may be progressing. It may be attacking her left knee--always her better one--in new ways. Soon her doctor may look me squarely in the eyes and say, "If you don't try to halt the disease with drugs, your daughter may get far worse, including having more diseased joints."


If that moment comes--if God allows it to come--than our choices will change.


But right now my love and presence--God's graces for children--bring my daughter joy. Her quality of life, though compromised by disease, still remains higher than that of most people on this planet. She laughs, she sings to Jesus, she plays. She knows joy, everyday.


God is the ultimate Parent. The only perfect parent. As parents ourselves, what can we learn from Him? What does He promise His children? Not a life devoid of suffering, but a life rich in two things: His Presence and Love.


Parental presence and love bring far more than relief from childhood pain and suffering. They also allow us to disciple our children so that one day they can fully experience God's Love and Presence. Undiscipled children become undiscipled adults who look for love and presence from the world, instead of from God. Sadly, they find only destruction.


Presence and Love. Our Father gives them freely. Let us do the same. If as a mom you must be away, know that God has special grace planned for you. If you follow Him, you'll receive it.