PIC: Be ready. Stand Strong
Back in the day, the men wore a wide belt-like girdle around their waste — to tuck in their long tunics. They got ready for battle or exercise by tucking-in their loose clothing.
That is the meaning of “Gird up your mind”. 1
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.
Satan is the enemy of our soul, along with the world and the flesh. We are in a spiritual battle. And at all times must be prepared to fight.
be sober, well balanced, self-disciplined, alert, cautious in every circumstance
We are always at war. “That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” Be ready to meet him….
This is a fight we’re in.
And in this fight, God has “endless patience” 1 Timothy 1:15-20 if/when we fail Him. We can count on Him to pick-us-up when we are struck down, and give us strength to carry on in the battle.
We may be “surrounded and battered by troubles”, “we’re not sure what to do”, “we’ve been spiritually terrorized”, “we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken” 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 The Message.
Even being on God’s side we may experience being 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 AMP …pressured in every way, perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], hunted down and persecuted; struck down — but not crushed, not driven to despair, not deserted [to stand alone], but never destroyed:
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 AMP
“8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; 9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;” 2
I live with confidence – because my Abba Father is no little daddy! He is the biggest in the universe! Is God your great, big, Abba Father?
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Mark 14:36
He [Jesus] was saying, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgment] away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.” -
Romans 8:15
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” -
Galatians 4:6
And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”
FOR MORE:
“Don’t let it get you down” – the song goes. Life is tough. But we can be strong in our faith – and fight the good fight.
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Fight the good fight Excerpt:
What fight are we in, as believers? Of course, if we are not truly following Christ, then it doesn’t change things one way or the other – whether we fight the good fight or not. But, for those who follow Christ sincerely, it is incumbent upon us to fight, as 1 Timothy 1:18-19 shows us:
1. Keep our faith (a) in Christ, (b) true to God’s message, (c) clear of false teachings,
2. Have an extreme confidence that God is active and caring for us, and
3. Not allow our sinfulness to wreck our faith.
Stand Strong…” – 1 Timothy 1:15-20 The Message
Born Again. Reborn from above…believers
This is a fight we’re in Excerpt: Many people of faith “have made a thorough mess of their faith.” What a scary thing — to be messed-up with God.
Have you ever felt that, that terror — the terror of a God Damn! Being God Damned! What if God still has me all damned to eternal darkness? 3
What it is – this lifetime battle we are in called “Spiritual Warfare”
Go to God for salvation and for His strength for living
He’s got this Excerpt: Whatever it is that you’ve got troubling you, “He’s got this!” When I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to Jesus.
When I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to Jesus
When difficult times assail us
Can you really see what is going on in this world?
Philippians 4:11
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
Finding Perfect Peace Excerpt: When the burden is heavy, I like to pray:
Lord. All of this… I bring to You. You’ve asked me to cast my cares on You 1 Peter 5:7. I know you care about me.
So here it is…. This is what I am dealing with, and I need your peace, your wisdom.
Help me in this situation. I give it all to You to deal with.
May The Lord help us to keep our minds “stayed on Him”. There is no better way to deal with life.
2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent
to present yourself
approved to God
as a workman
who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately handling
the word of truth.
Quote: Have you ever felt that, that terror — the terror of a God Damn! Being God Damned! What if God still has me all damned to eternal darkness?
My terrors in the dark place…that terror
The ultra extreme unresolvable horror upon arrival for God’s condemnation…the terror
Letting it reign until Hell is Home
That sudden flash of realization saying “Oh damn!”
Hell by God…all damned to eternal darkness?
I live with confidence Excerpt:
Although I am not perfect, I have, growing in me…
“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. – Galatians 5:22-23
That grows confidence!
Living the good life – with courage and confident hope
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Isaiah 51:12
“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of a son of man who is made [as destructible] as grass..?”
At Death we put on immortality
I do not fear Matthew 7:23 anymore
Do not fear, I will help you…fear not
Oh haunting fear of death – be gone
Charlie Kirk will be remembered for this
Jesus abolished death…conquered death
Oh haunting fear of death – be gone
Death. What A Wonderful Way To Explain It
When difficult times assail us…when we are struck down. – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 AMP
God is my refuge and strength… EHV version: “…a helper who can always be found in times of trouble.”
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
– Psalm 46:1 KJV
Footnotes
- BibleGateway Footnote:
1 Kings 18:46 This phrase is related to the type of clothing worn in ancient times. To keep from impeding the wearer during any vigorous activity, e.g. battle, exercise, strenuous work, etc., the loose ends of garments (tunics, cloaks, mantles, etc.) had to be gathered up and tucked into the girdle.The girdle was a band about six inches wide that had fasteners in front. It was worn around the loins (the midsection of the body between the lower ribs and the hips) and was normally made of leather. Expensive or embroidered girdles were also worn and were made of cotton, flax or silk. The girdle also served as a kind of pocket or pouch and was used to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things.
The commands Gird up your mind or gird up your heart are examples of variants of this phrase and call for mental or spiritual preparation for a coming challenge.
2 Corinthians 4:10-15 AMP
10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death]. 12 So physical death is [actively] at work in us, but [spiritual] life [is actively at work] in you.13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” We also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence. 15 For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God.
- I waver and am flooded with old fears. What if Jesus is not Lord and Savior of my sin drenched soul? And…
- What if I am self-deceived, a fake?
- What if I’m not all His, I’ve held-back somewhere?
- What if I died and found myself in Hell?
- What wicked way is in me that will send my soul to Hell?
- What may I have failed to see as sin, and it remains in me? I practice what the Lord condemns. I say it’s just fine, but He says not.
- I deceive myself all to Hell and I am damned.
- I’m damned all to Hell.
- What if tomorrow never comes and today I go to Judgement at His feet and He now loves me not?
- What if He puts me in a goat fold where we’re huddled fearful, in terror of this Holy, Holy God, where He tells us all, “…depart from Me— you losers, workers of wickedness, all.”
– Source: My terrors in the dark place.
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