{Truth}

I’ve been told that I’m not the only one going through seasons of discomfort. That spiritual warfare is present amongst many fellow friends—but when you are in so much grief and pain, it is hard to acknowledge that anyone else’s pain exists.

Don’t get distracted by the thoughts that appear selfish in thinking of only one’s self pain. It is just candor — and unfortunately what many of us feel in those moments of battle. We become amnesia covered; and compassion with empathy can cease when we have been desensitized to certain pains of this life. Someone’s mountain might only be an ant hill in your eyes—and further regardless of the if we chose to be in our own pile of consequences, by golly pain is still pain.

No one liked to feel the discomforts so prevalent in a fallen world; but the enemy has found a way to make us feel lonely in our emotions. We feel no one can understand this deep pain, but that is a lie.

It’s a lie the enemy wants us to believe to feel unworthy of rescue or hopeless in our situations. It is a lie to remove those who have compassion and empathy—to be able to see a light at the end of our darkened tunnel or to hear the hope fall on our deaf ears. Our eternal glasses get knocked off when unexpected events hurt more than we ever planned on; or the fear really was deeper than we thought and felt suffocating; or the false belief that a self-rescue plan would eventually work. “I didn’t need help” was really just a disguised, painful cover up.

People can tell you all they want about how praising The LORD makes you feel better. How it changes your mindset; but sometimes we are so run down that we do not see the point. You want them to keep speaking the Truth to you; but you absolutely do not feel it. It can even feel annoying—like a Jesus band aid. You become embarrassed because you do not feel like the warrior anymore. The girl before this present season of battle was stronger than this, wasn’t she? Shame and condemnation can be weaponized to make up feel even more lonely and not want to acknowledge to others what appears to be a simple battle. But that appearance of a “simple battle” is whipping the tar out of you!

This morning I chose to acknowledge a remember memory— instead of just moving onto the next task of the day. Time with Jesus as one of the first things in my morning was never wasted. He had a Word for me today—so I opened up the Bible with expectance and He met me right where I needed rescuing—Psalm 149..

He knew I needed help understanding a concept. I understood from the others that praise and worship would give me rest—that it would make me feel better and put my mind in a different place. That the answer to fight spiritual battles was in Ephesians 6—but the question still remained: Why? Why does praise and worship work in battle?

Psalm 149:6

“Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two edged swords in their hands…”

The commentary tied to the Fire Bible ESV pulled it all together—and it was so good, I had to share it with you.

“This verse addresses the activity of God’s people in two areas are connected: godly worship and spiritual warfare…Praise is a powerful spiritual weapon because it honors and acknowledges God as our source of strength and power. It also strengthens our faith as it takes our focus off our opposition and puts it on God who can overcome any opposition. When our spiritual battles become REMINDERS to praise God, we rob satan of his greatest weapons of pride, fear, and discouragement.”

I got it. It made me smile with gladness that the WHY was finally acknowledged. By changing spiritual warfare from something that was dealing with feelings and fears and pride and hopelessness—which were all things I was feeling—they were not absolute truths. I was reminded to choose the Truth and acknowledge The LORD over everything. That He was not just my Judge of some things, but all things. His Word was true regardless of whatever was seen in the physical. His Spirit was Truth by His Word’s standards and faith was in the shield.

My heart could be deceived and my emotions flighty. I choose to believe Jesus even what I cannot see it. He has given me a spirit of love, power, with a sound and sober mind. Even when the feeling of fear arises in my gut, His Scripture trumps those. His Truth is above those of what I am physically feeling; because I am claiming spiritual truth.

I choose to believe even when something appears hopeless—that greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world. That the one who is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy will be lowered to be stomped by underneath my feet. The One and Only Jesus who says my life will be abundant and free because of what He did on the cross and His Word are what I claim to be true.

I believe the Bible says I can do nothing good on my own—but must be connected to the Vine (Jesus) and helped by His Helper (The Holy Spirit). I believe He has placed people around me to be encouraged, humbled, and held accountable. He made me that way to be for others in my life as well.

Closing today with a reminder of His great LOVE in Psalm 149:3

“For the LORD takes pleasures in HIS people. He adorns the humble with salvation”

My prayers for you today…

I pray that you see the truth of spiritual warfare and praise today. I pray that your eternal lenses are picked up off the ground and put back on your eyes. I pray that you would see that battle from victory and not a victim. That the LORD acknowledges all your hurts and pains; but we cannot stay stuck here. He has so much for you. I pray that you acknowledge those feelings, fears, prides, and soul wounds. I pray He would give you the eyes to see what He wants to show you—and the ears of your heart to be softened to listen. I pray you replace all those fears, lies, pr and prides with God’ truth that will implant a seed of peace that goes beyond understanding. That the faith you actively and physically walk out in your day to day life will put out EVERY SINGLE flaming arrow of the enemy. Every lie will fall. Every fear will dissipate. Every distraction will be destroyed.

Knowing God’s truth, His truth will set you free. Use spiritual warfare as a reminder to praise and acknowledge real truth—not as a hopeless prison.

Always,

Rach