My thoughts for today.

I sat in church yesterday, and I heard a sermon given by one of the members. Our pastor is out of town on a mission trip with the youth. The sermon was about living victorious. Not just some pep talk. For real. There were 3 things. Remind, remember, and release.

1. Remind the devil where he came from and where he is headed.
We all face challenges. Some more "memorable" and tragic than others. All can get us into the "floor in the kitchen crying our hearts out, terrified of what is happening" (to quote the speaker).
We can either sink into that fear, or we can live according to what Christ has done for us. The devil wants you, particularly if you have decided to live for Christ. So, tell him who he is. He is FALLEN. Taken from Heaven because of his greed for glory above God. God already defeated him. It is WRITTEN. It has been FOREtold. He is going to lose the battle in the end. He has ALREADY lost the battle.

Life happens. We live in a fallen world. We all know that. It doesn't stop us from asking why when terrible things happen. But that knowledge and trust that God has got us, KEEPS us from giving in to Satan's lies and attempts to destroy us. He could care less about what happens to us physically, we all will die at some point in time, gracefully or tragically. It is our FAITH that he wants. That is why we MUST tell him he has ALREADY LOST. So back off! You can't have my FAITH.

2. Remember when we became new.
When we are born again in Christ, we are not just saying that to be in some club. Our spirit has now taken on the Spirit of Christ. Why do you think God in his awesomeness sent Christ? BECAUSE WE CAN'T FATHOM GOD. He has dones things that we can't as HUMANS figure out. (Since we are all about figuring it all out!) BUT!!!!! He sent His spirit to the world in a Human, named Jesus. Jesus was a carpenter. We can relate to that, right? We build things. We take baths. We fish. We walk on the sand. We sleep. We go to the bathroom. We talk. We cry. We pray. Jesus did all the things that we can relate to. Jesus lived as a man, but had the spirit of God within Him. He was able to be perfect and sinless because he was God, in a form we can relate to.
So, being born again, makes us have the access to to the Father, the same as Jesus did. We have the capabilities of having a real relationship with a father who loves us more than anything He has ever created.

So, remember when you accepted Christ! That was the day you were adopted into the family that God created. We have the same rights as the real son of God (Jesus). We have ACCESS!!!

Phillipians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus

3. Release your faith.
Don't just sit around and think about how wonderful this new information is. RELEASE IT! Let your faith guide you. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We can't do anything with our faith, if we don't know anything about it. We have to know God's word if we are going to fight against the devil's attacks. Fight him with what has already beaten him! The word of God.

All of this is for me. I hope you can take any of it for yourself, and it bless you as much as it has me.