My five year old granddaughter's circle of friends are always saying "she's not my best friend anymore." And this is really traumatizing to them. I got to thinking that about best friends. And I realized that the word "best" means one. That none other can compare or come close to being that one best. Only I can't say I have only one best friend. I have many best friends. And so a prompt came from that idea.
For a new journal you can divide it into a timeline of recording your many best friends.
In grade school you have many best friends. You may have "Sally" as your best friend on Monday and on Tuesday you have "Trisha" then on Wednesday "Penny" is your best friend. Well, Sally starts being best friends with Trisha and Penny wants to play with "Linda" so you don't have a best friend on Thursday. And so on and so on. Write about the many best friends you had in grade school. Each year you move up a grade and each year you have a one best friend in that grade. Do you remember your friends from grade school? Write of some of the fond memories you have playing with them. Are you still friends with anyone from those early school years? If you haven't corresponded with some of them for long periods of time, send a card and let them know you were reminiscing and wanted to say hello.
In Junior High having more than one friend can be a little dramatic at times. Each person wants to be accepted by one special best friend and if that person shows an interest in making new friends you may get upset. Junior High and adolescence is a rough time for friendships. Did you have a friendship that was unbreakable? Or did you have a friendship during that period that "someone or something" came between you? Is that relationship still estranged? Pray about it and if it was meant to be reunited the Lord will provide the path to renewing your friendship. Write about what may have caused your bond to be broken. If you are still friends with your Junior High friend write about what makes it still a special bond.
High School is a time of busyness. You have a lot of friends doing many different things. Write about your friendships during these grades. Write of the things you did that made it a special time. Were there times that being friends with someone may have caused you distress? Did you ever experience situations where your "best" friend did not actually consider you her best friend? Were you in a circle of friends that if one was mad at someone or did not like what someone was wearing you could not talk to that person who she is mad at or you couldn't talk to the person wearing the wrong clothes? Do you have a long lasting friendship that was established in High School? Write about these many best friends in High School.
Write about the many best friends you have had that may no longer be in your life. Write about those reasons why they haven't been a part of your life any longer. People come and go and some stay. Write about those people who were important at one time but for whatever reason are no longer on your list of people who are your best friends.
There are other types of best friends you can journal about:
Best friends at church
Best friends at work
Best friends in the neighborhood
Best friends from online groups
Did or do you have pen pal friends? Have you have an opportunity to meet that person? Write about your experience meeting your pen pal. Or have you met anyone that is an online friend? Record that meeting.
Did you go to church camps when you were younger? Write about those friendships.
Did you stay with a relative in another town or state during the summer months and strike up a friendship there? Write about those summer friendships.
Did you have friendships that were not accepted by the popular crowd in school? Write how these friendships effected your life.
Best friends can also be relatives. Do you have a cousin who is your best friend? Or is your sister or brother your best friend? Is your husband your best friend? Write about these different best friends in your life and how important they are to you.
Now, there is someone who wants to be your best friend. He is Jesus Christ. Look up verses about friends found in the Bible. Write about the ways Jesus IS your best friend. Write about the ways you need to be able to honestly say I am a friend to Jesus Christ.
Search the different friendships found in the Bible. Write about failed relationships in the Bible. Write about the characteristics of being a friend as mentioned throughout the Bible.
If you could have been friends with anyone in the Bible who would you call friend?
Does anyone call you her/his best friend? Are you a good best friend? What makes you others would want to have a friendship with? Could you be a better best friend?
What are the different things you have learned from your many best friends?
Do you correspond with your friends on the phone? on the Internet? Via snailmail? Write about the different ways you keep your friendships alive.
Find poems about friends. Search blogs that are you haven't read and can make the blogger your new friend. Join online groups and make new friends in the virtual world that can very well turn into a real life friendship.
And very important: pray for your past friends, your current friends, and your friends you have yet to meet.
May you know how blessed you are to have many best friends.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A "Door" Beyond Describing...
Working at a retail store, I am required to greet each person when they come into the store. When I hear the doorbell ring no matter what I am doing I am supposed to tell the person entering "hello" or some form of that greeting. If I am stocking merchandise in the back, I am to stop and go to the front and greet my customers. So, I listen for the doorbell. It is more of a bell chiming. Whatever the sound, it is there to alert me of customers entering the store. Now, why would such a small gesture be of a requirement? First, it is to let the customers know we are glad they are visiting our store. But, one more reason... it is to let potential shoplifters know we are aware they are in our store and we will be watching them. That being said, I started thinking of how important doors are and from that well, you guessed it, I developed another prompt. This prompt is about doors, but more importantly, about doors mentioned in the Bible.
The following are types of doors mentioned in the Bible and the verses where they can be found. Write the verse and record what kind of door it is. Do a research of the different types of other doors you can find in the Bible. Record what the door represents. Are these any doors you have come in contact with yourself? Write about the many doors and what they mean.
Door of opportunity IICor 2:12
Door of heaven Ps 78:23
Door of hope Hos 2:15
Door of faith Acts 14:27
Door of my lips Ps 141:3
Door of utterance Col 4:3
Other verses relating to doors are:
God's doorkeeper Ps 84:10 Write why you think God would need a doorkeeper? What if God would ask you to be His doorkeeper? A
There is a door of the gate in Ezek 9:14. Do a word study on gates too.
Let's discuss rooms that have doors:
We are familiar with the prayer closet mentioned in Mt 6:6. Do you have a special place that you use for a prayer closet? Describe it in your journal. Is this a place you frequent daily? or occasionally? Is this a place of reverence to the Lord or a place you go to to murmur, gripe, and complain? Do you enter the closet in haste or for quality time with the Lord? Do you avoid entering the closet? Do you keep the door closed or is there a "open for business" sign on all the time? Is there a door that needs to be oiled because it's hinges have not been opened in some time? Is there a special time you enter the door to your prayer closet? Discuss your time inside of the closet with the Lord.
There are doors to your house. Your front door, back door, garage door, kitchen door, bathroom door, office door, craft room door, playroom door, den door, and bedroom door. Describe in your journal what we will find if we were to enter through those particular doors as a visitor to your home. Now, think of those doorways as an opportunity to pray. Pray for those people that go through those doors. Pray for what the people who use those doors daily. An example: when you go through the bedroom doors pray for the person who sleeps there. Pray for the person to have rest and peace while sleeping. Going through the kitchen door, pray for each person who will be eating there that day. Entering the bathroom pray for each person in your household to remain healthy. When going through your garage door to get into your car, pray for a safe trip for you and your family. Do you have a special place that you sit and journal? When entering through that door, pray that the Lord will provide you with opportunities to write things that will glorify Him.
There are other doors you can use as opportunities to pray. Grocery store doors, convenient store doors, retail doors, hospital and medical clinic doors and restaurant doors. My favorite door is to a library door or a used book store door. Use these doors mentioned and others you can think of as a prompt to write out prayers for those who enter them. List other doors that you may enter. Describe the people who enter them. Describe what you expect to happen when going through those doors.
Let's discuss four types of doors:
The traditional wooden - you cannot see through it. Look at the door and think of what others may expect to see through that door. Example: does the person expect to see a clean house? Does the person expect to find shelter on the other side of that door? Now ponder on this: if the person were standing on the other side of the door and could not see through it, but could hear what was being said on the other side, what would she/he hear? Would there be words that are expressing love? Would the person hear screaming and yelling? Would there be laughter from the children? Would the Lord feel ashamed of what He heard while standing there listening? Write what people would hear on the other side of your wooden door? Now is what you have written something you need to change?
The door with glass inlay designs: These are doors that are beautiful for the eye to behold. From the outside they are a work of art. But when you try to peer through it to see inside the things you see will be distorted. Is this how others see you? A Christian on the outside, but when one tries to befriend you do they see a more distorted you? One of standoffish? One who has no sympathy for others? One who feels they are better than others? Worse off, would that distorted picture be one of hypocrisy? Or would what the person see through that beautiful glass be one that is inviting and the person wants to enter the room?
A screen door: one can see through it but yet it offers some security. The images can still be distorted but you are able to make out them better. And you are able to hear more clearly what is being said. The screen door is used more for allowing the fresh air in and keeping the flies and other creatures out. Is your life like the screen door. One that allows for fresh information to penetrate your thinking? Does it provide security to keep out the unwanted things that may enter if the door were open? Such as, sinful things, sinful thoughts, sinful actions?
The half-door; this door is for people to be able to stand and see in the other room and to be able to openly talk to the people in it? But the bottom part is closed so other things like small children or animals will not enter it. Now look at your life...do you use the half door? Do you let others see into your life only half way? Do you only let the Lord talk to you at the half door and keep Him from entering? Describe what makes your life like the half door. What could cause you to open the bottom half?
Occasionally doors need to be cleaned. The wooden door must be cleaned with a cleaner specially made for wood. The glass door uses glass cleaner. There are doors that need to have a power sprayer taken to it. Whatever the type of door, there are special cleaners made just for that type of door. Does the door to your life need cleaning? Do you daily ask the Lord to clean you of your sins? Does He need to use a more powerful cleaner at times? Does He use only need to use a soft paper towel at other times? Do you feel that He needs to use a power sprayer on things you have not forgiven yourself of yet? Describe how you feel the Lord needs to clean you of your sinful ways. If you have not sinned today, then your door does not need cleaning. But what if someone else has entered through that door and is a sinner? That person needs cleaning and since she/he has entered through your door as a sinner it is your responsibility to pray for that person's salvation. Lead her/him to the Lord.
There are verses that discuss doors where the Lord is present. Stand at the door Rev 3:20. Jms 5:9
Open doors: Rev 3:8, Rev 4:1, Col 4:3, Mk 2:2 and 2 Cor 2:12 Everlasting door Ps 24:7 A great and effective door I Cor 16:9
How do we know there is someone at the door? Door bells, door chimes, and door knockers are helpful. Occasionally you will hear someone yell "hello is anyone there?" Write of times you know the Lord was knocking and you did not open that door. Write of times that someone was at your door but you did not answer it. Write of times when you went to a friend's house and knocked and they weren't there. Write about that same friend who's car was in the driveway but did not answer. How did that make you feel? How do you think the Lord feels when you ignore His knocking?
There are many people who come to our doors but never enter them. Some would be your mail carrier, the delivery person, church people, strangers, politicians, utility workers. Pray for these people. Write a thank you note to your mail carrier and leave in the mail box. Use those people as a part of your prayer list.
There are people who should never enter your doors. Thieves, scam artists, drug addicts, etc. Pray that your home will be protected and that no harm will come to those who enter and leave from those doors. Pray for those who should not enter in your home. Read Jn 10:12. Do you know anyone like this?
Read Mk 16:3 Is there a stone in the door of your life that needs rolled away in order for Jesus to enter in? Write of this rock and what needs to be done for the rock to be rolled away.
Write out the 10th chapter of John and how Jesus is the Door and how the door is the Shepherd. Is this true of your life?
Doors have to be physically opened and closed, but there are time that the wind can swing a door open or close it. Is the door to your life easily opened or does it take a strong force to open it? Does sin enter through that door as invisible as the wind? Describe how one needs to enter your life's door.
In Jms 5:9 it discusses the judge's door. Are you the judge or should you be judged? There are many who live behind prison doors (Act 5:19) Are you living in bondage to something? Are you looking through a prison door of sin? Have you found yourself guilty of something for which you cannot forgive yourself? Allow the Lord to use a battering ram and knock that door down and allow you freedom to pass through it.
There are things people put on their doors, such as decorative wreaths, golden door knockers, etc. When one goes to your door of your heart is there a "keep away" sign there? Or is there a "welcome" sign there?
How often do you go to a stranger's or a neighbor's door and knock to visit or ask if there is something you could do for them? My husband knocks at stranger's doors and ask if he could haul off their junk for free. How often do you share with others that the Lord is knocking at their heart and offers salvation for free?
There are doors you should avoid. Doors to bar establishments. Doors to pornography stores. Doors when someone wants privacy. Do you find yourself turning the handles of doors you should not enter? Are there things you are doing behind closed doors in private you should not be doing? Write these things down for only your eyes and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Tear it up and praise the Lord for helping you gain victory over these sins.
This has been a long prompt about a simple inaminate object called a door. One more question: Are you a friendly door greeter or are you the mean guard dog who growls at whoever comes to the door?
May you never close the door to your heart for others who need Jesus in their life.
Vist these sites for devotionals relating to doors...
http://devotionalchristian.com/praising-god-for-closed-doors/
http://www.christian-resources-today.com/short-devotions-11.html
http://www.blessingsdirect.com/archive/devotional_08_13_07.html
find other blogs that you could share with us that have articles about door devotionals.
The following are types of doors mentioned in the Bible and the verses where they can be found. Write the verse and record what kind of door it is. Do a research of the different types of other doors you can find in the Bible. Record what the door represents. Are these any doors you have come in contact with yourself? Write about the many doors and what they mean.
Door of opportunity IICor 2:12
Door of heaven Ps 78:23
Door of hope Hos 2:15
Door of faith Acts 14:27
Door of my lips Ps 141:3
Door of utterance Col 4:3
Other verses relating to doors are:
God's doorkeeper Ps 84:10 Write why you think God would need a doorkeeper? What if God would ask you to be His doorkeeper? A
There is a door of the gate in Ezek 9:14. Do a word study on gates too.
Let's discuss rooms that have doors:
We are familiar with the prayer closet mentioned in Mt 6:6. Do you have a special place that you use for a prayer closet? Describe it in your journal. Is this a place you frequent daily? or occasionally? Is this a place of reverence to the Lord or a place you go to to murmur, gripe, and complain? Do you enter the closet in haste or for quality time with the Lord? Do you avoid entering the closet? Do you keep the door closed or is there a "open for business" sign on all the time? Is there a door that needs to be oiled because it's hinges have not been opened in some time? Is there a special time you enter the door to your prayer closet? Discuss your time inside of the closet with the Lord.
There are doors to your house. Your front door, back door, garage door, kitchen door, bathroom door, office door, craft room door, playroom door, den door, and bedroom door. Describe in your journal what we will find if we were to enter through those particular doors as a visitor to your home. Now, think of those doorways as an opportunity to pray. Pray for those people that go through those doors. Pray for what the people who use those doors daily. An example: when you go through the bedroom doors pray for the person who sleeps there. Pray for the person to have rest and peace while sleeping. Going through the kitchen door, pray for each person who will be eating there that day. Entering the bathroom pray for each person in your household to remain healthy. When going through your garage door to get into your car, pray for a safe trip for you and your family. Do you have a special place that you sit and journal? When entering through that door, pray that the Lord will provide you with opportunities to write things that will glorify Him.
There are other doors you can use as opportunities to pray. Grocery store doors, convenient store doors, retail doors, hospital and medical clinic doors and restaurant doors. My favorite door is to a library door or a used book store door. Use these doors mentioned and others you can think of as a prompt to write out prayers for those who enter them. List other doors that you may enter. Describe the people who enter them. Describe what you expect to happen when going through those doors.
Let's discuss four types of doors:
The traditional wooden - you cannot see through it. Look at the door and think of what others may expect to see through that door. Example: does the person expect to see a clean house? Does the person expect to find shelter on the other side of that door? Now ponder on this: if the person were standing on the other side of the door and could not see through it, but could hear what was being said on the other side, what would she/he hear? Would there be words that are expressing love? Would the person hear screaming and yelling? Would there be laughter from the children? Would the Lord feel ashamed of what He heard while standing there listening? Write what people would hear on the other side of your wooden door? Now is what you have written something you need to change?
The door with glass inlay designs: These are doors that are beautiful for the eye to behold. From the outside they are a work of art. But when you try to peer through it to see inside the things you see will be distorted. Is this how others see you? A Christian on the outside, but when one tries to befriend you do they see a more distorted you? One of standoffish? One who has no sympathy for others? One who feels they are better than others? Worse off, would that distorted picture be one of hypocrisy? Or would what the person see through that beautiful glass be one that is inviting and the person wants to enter the room?
A screen door: one can see through it but yet it offers some security. The images can still be distorted but you are able to make out them better. And you are able to hear more clearly what is being said. The screen door is used more for allowing the fresh air in and keeping the flies and other creatures out. Is your life like the screen door. One that allows for fresh information to penetrate your thinking? Does it provide security to keep out the unwanted things that may enter if the door were open? Such as, sinful things, sinful thoughts, sinful actions?
The half-door; this door is for people to be able to stand and see in the other room and to be able to openly talk to the people in it? But the bottom part is closed so other things like small children or animals will not enter it. Now look at your life...do you use the half door? Do you let others see into your life only half way? Do you only let the Lord talk to you at the half door and keep Him from entering? Describe what makes your life like the half door. What could cause you to open the bottom half?
Occasionally doors need to be cleaned. The wooden door must be cleaned with a cleaner specially made for wood. The glass door uses glass cleaner. There are doors that need to have a power sprayer taken to it. Whatever the type of door, there are special cleaners made just for that type of door. Does the door to your life need cleaning? Do you daily ask the Lord to clean you of your sins? Does He need to use a more powerful cleaner at times? Does He use only need to use a soft paper towel at other times? Do you feel that He needs to use a power sprayer on things you have not forgiven yourself of yet? Describe how you feel the Lord needs to clean you of your sinful ways. If you have not sinned today, then your door does not need cleaning. But what if someone else has entered through that door and is a sinner? That person needs cleaning and since she/he has entered through your door as a sinner it is your responsibility to pray for that person's salvation. Lead her/him to the Lord.
There are verses that discuss doors where the Lord is present. Stand at the door Rev 3:20. Jms 5:9
Open doors: Rev 3:8, Rev 4:1, Col 4:3, Mk 2:2 and 2 Cor 2:12 Everlasting door Ps 24:7 A great and effective door I Cor 16:9
How do we know there is someone at the door? Door bells, door chimes, and door knockers are helpful. Occasionally you will hear someone yell "hello is anyone there?" Write of times you know the Lord was knocking and you did not open that door. Write of times that someone was at your door but you did not answer it. Write of times when you went to a friend's house and knocked and they weren't there. Write about that same friend who's car was in the driveway but did not answer. How did that make you feel? How do you think the Lord feels when you ignore His knocking?
There are many people who come to our doors but never enter them. Some would be your mail carrier, the delivery person, church people, strangers, politicians, utility workers. Pray for these people. Write a thank you note to your mail carrier and leave in the mail box. Use those people as a part of your prayer list.
There are people who should never enter your doors. Thieves, scam artists, drug addicts, etc. Pray that your home will be protected and that no harm will come to those who enter and leave from those doors. Pray for those who should not enter in your home. Read Jn 10:12. Do you know anyone like this?
Read Mk 16:3 Is there a stone in the door of your life that needs rolled away in order for Jesus to enter in? Write of this rock and what needs to be done for the rock to be rolled away.
Write out the 10th chapter of John and how Jesus is the Door and how the door is the Shepherd. Is this true of your life?
Doors have to be physically opened and closed, but there are time that the wind can swing a door open or close it. Is the door to your life easily opened or does it take a strong force to open it? Does sin enter through that door as invisible as the wind? Describe how one needs to enter your life's door.
In Jms 5:9 it discusses the judge's door. Are you the judge or should you be judged? There are many who live behind prison doors (Act 5:19) Are you living in bondage to something? Are you looking through a prison door of sin? Have you found yourself guilty of something for which you cannot forgive yourself? Allow the Lord to use a battering ram and knock that door down and allow you freedom to pass through it.
There are things people put on their doors, such as decorative wreaths, golden door knockers, etc. When one goes to your door of your heart is there a "keep away" sign there? Or is there a "welcome" sign there?
How often do you go to a stranger's or a neighbor's door and knock to visit or ask if there is something you could do for them? My husband knocks at stranger's doors and ask if he could haul off their junk for free. How often do you share with others that the Lord is knocking at their heart and offers salvation for free?
There are doors you should avoid. Doors to bar establishments. Doors to pornography stores. Doors when someone wants privacy. Do you find yourself turning the handles of doors you should not enter? Are there things you are doing behind closed doors in private you should not be doing? Write these things down for only your eyes and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Tear it up and praise the Lord for helping you gain victory over these sins.
This has been a long prompt about a simple inaminate object called a door. One more question: Are you a friendly door greeter or are you the mean guard dog who growls at whoever comes to the door?
May you never close the door to your heart for others who need Jesus in their life.
Vist these sites for devotionals relating to doors...
http://devotionalchristian.com/praising-god-for-closed-doors/
http://www.christian-resources-today.com/short-devotions-11.html
http://www.blessingsdirect.com/archive/devotional_08_13_07.html
find other blogs that you could share with us that have articles about door devotionals.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Finding Victory in Jesus
Independence Day is our nation's celebration of a great victory won to start a nation under God and not be under the rule of a king. But there is a greater victory that was won recorded in the Bible. This month let's journal about how the Bible is filled with many victories over satan's rule. Our king is Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. We were victorious when we accepted Christ. When was the last time you shared your salvation testimony with someone? Journal about how the person responded to your testimony. Was the person interested? Did the person listen attentively? Or was the person just pacifying you? Now record why did you share your testimony? So that the Lord will be glorified? Did you share that time in order to plant seeds of faith? Praise the Lord for the victory over sin. Praise the Lord for saving your soul. Write these praises down. Record your salvation experience so others may find Jesus too.
Research the different times that the Bible has recorded victories over satan's evil hold. Record how the people handled each incident and how the Lord was the Victor. During these times take note what happened to the people who did not listen to God and do as He directed them.
Now, think of the times in your life when you were battling satan. Record the times you followed the Lord's direction during your trial and tribulation. Write about how the Lord brought you through these times and the battle was won victoriously. Were there times though you went into battle and did not rely on the Lord to be your commanding officer? Did you enter into the battle and not consult the Lord's direction? What victories were won during these times? In the end, did you call on Jesus for help? Record these different times and compare the outcomes. Memorize the following verse and carry it as you go into life's battles:
Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Write the lessons you learned from the times you did not let the Lord direct your path and you went into the battle on your own. Write how you learned to understand the importance to trust in the Lord first with your life battle you are experiencing.
Praise the Lord for the times He forgave you for not taking Him with you as you marched head on into a particular battle. Those times you went "alone" you were not really alone. Write how you came to that understanding.
There are many battles we all must fight in this world. Depression, financial struggles, relationships, jobs, strangers, mistakes in general, all are different kinds of battles. Are you experiencing a war of your own right now? Are you currently battling one of satan's deceptive lies? Record this war you are in and pray for the Lord's guidance to overcome it and then record how the Lord helped you come out victoriously.
Journal the different times you know the Lord won the victory over one of your friends' battles. Record how the Lord was victorious in your family's life. Write these victories down so that others may learn from them one day. You will have them recorded and will be able to use them to help others. This is how our generals of our armed services go into battles today. They read and study up on battles/wars from the past and take note how they were won. We have something to rely on in battles and can learn from history. It is the Bible. Let the recordings of the Lord's many victories be your example to win your personal battles.
Record the lyrics to "Victory in Jesus". Now journal how that song can be your own personal story.
Make a list of the different battles you have been through. Record how the Lord helped you win them.
Now make a list of the battles you are currently experiencing. Record your prayer on how you will seek the Lord's direction in each of these battles.
Record prayers of how you will rely on the Lord for battles you may encounter in the future.
Do a word study on victory, victorious, victoriously, and victor.
Record verses that have "victory" in them.
Extend your word study on synonyms of victory: triumph, conquer, success, win. A couple antonyms of victory are defeated, beaten. Write how these words relate to incidents in your life. Record how the Lord helped you overcome them.
July 4th may be a day to celebrate "independence", but we must go through each and every day "dependent" on the Lord. Depend on the Lord as your commander-in-chief.
An extension activity: Do a word study on depend. Record the different people who depend on you. Remember the one thing you must take into battle for these people - prayer. Can people depend on you to pray for them? Start a prayer journal for your family and friends. May you become their prayer warrior.
This Independence Day make a commitment to depend on Jesus. May you be victorious knowing the Lord is on your side. Fight the enemy, satan, the devil with God's Word. Use Scripture as your weapon. The Bible is your sword in this war called life. You will always win when you have Jesus to guide you through whatever struggle you are experiencing.
Have a safe holiday and remember to celebrate your dependence on the Lord everyday.
Research the different times that the Bible has recorded victories over satan's evil hold. Record how the people handled each incident and how the Lord was the Victor. During these times take note what happened to the people who did not listen to God and do as He directed them.
Now, think of the times in your life when you were battling satan. Record the times you followed the Lord's direction during your trial and tribulation. Write about how the Lord brought you through these times and the battle was won victoriously. Were there times though you went into battle and did not rely on the Lord to be your commanding officer? Did you enter into the battle and not consult the Lord's direction? What victories were won during these times? In the end, did you call on Jesus for help? Record these different times and compare the outcomes. Memorize the following verse and carry it as you go into life's battles:
Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Write the lessons you learned from the times you did not let the Lord direct your path and you went into the battle on your own. Write how you learned to understand the importance to trust in the Lord first with your life battle you are experiencing.
Praise the Lord for the times He forgave you for not taking Him with you as you marched head on into a particular battle. Those times you went "alone" you were not really alone. Write how you came to that understanding.
There are many battles we all must fight in this world. Depression, financial struggles, relationships, jobs, strangers, mistakes in general, all are different kinds of battles. Are you experiencing a war of your own right now? Are you currently battling one of satan's deceptive lies? Record this war you are in and pray for the Lord's guidance to overcome it and then record how the Lord helped you come out victoriously.
Journal the different times you know the Lord won the victory over one of your friends' battles. Record how the Lord was victorious in your family's life. Write these victories down so that others may learn from them one day. You will have them recorded and will be able to use them to help others. This is how our generals of our armed services go into battles today. They read and study up on battles/wars from the past and take note how they were won. We have something to rely on in battles and can learn from history. It is the Bible. Let the recordings of the Lord's many victories be your example to win your personal battles.
Record the lyrics to "Victory in Jesus". Now journal how that song can be your own personal story.
Make a list of the different battles you have been through. Record how the Lord helped you win them.
Now make a list of the battles you are currently experiencing. Record your prayer on how you will seek the Lord's direction in each of these battles.
Record prayers of how you will rely on the Lord for battles you may encounter in the future.
Do a word study on victory, victorious, victoriously, and victor.
Record verses that have "victory" in them.
Extend your word study on synonyms of victory: triumph, conquer, success, win. A couple antonyms of victory are defeated, beaten. Write how these words relate to incidents in your life. Record how the Lord helped you overcome them.
July 4th may be a day to celebrate "independence", but we must go through each and every day "dependent" on the Lord. Depend on the Lord as your commander-in-chief.
An extension activity: Do a word study on depend. Record the different people who depend on you. Remember the one thing you must take into battle for these people - prayer. Can people depend on you to pray for them? Start a prayer journal for your family and friends. May you become their prayer warrior.
This Independence Day make a commitment to depend on Jesus. May you be victorious knowing the Lord is on your side. Fight the enemy, satan, the devil with God's Word. Use Scripture as your weapon. The Bible is your sword in this war called life. You will always win when you have Jesus to guide you through whatever struggle you are experiencing.
Have a safe holiday and remember to celebrate your dependence on the Lord everyday.
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