GodChicks: "Really in the midst of a tough time, we have two choices. We can be a WHINER, or we can be a WARRIOR. I am not sure there is much middle ground. Whiners are the ones who collapse under pressure and then get mad at God for the trial. These are the ones who, when they get knocked down by life, stay there. And if you happen to try to help them, they give all sorts of reasons as to why your suggestions won't work."
I admit, I have been a WHINER before. Oh yes, I sure have. And no, I am not proud of it.
In the past, I have been hit square in the face with issues of "life". I'll be honest. I sat down and wallowed in it. Why? Why me? Why my family? God, it's not fair? How can YOU let this happen to me? Oh my goodness.... how pitiful I was. And just like in the quote above, loving sisters attempted to help me, but nothing was a good suggestion. I just wanted to wallow in it all!
Thank you Jesus, that I have learned to be a WARRIOR! I still have times when "life" hits me and hits me hard! But I have learned how to arm myself and cloth myself with what God has given me, in order to fight and keep going.
Sometimes I see the battle coming, and sometimes I am blind sided. But daily, I do my best to get up, and put on my armor and pick up my shield and sword and be ready for battle. I CHOOSE to put on my Breastplate of Righteousness, my Belt of Truth and Shoes of Peace (what girl doesn't like shoes). I shine my Shield of Faith and sharpen my Sword of the Spirit. I do what all I possibly can in order to be ready!
One other weapon I have, that I have not always used or valued in the past is my WARRIOR SISTERS. I have learned that having a few people who are able to wage war on your behalf is vastly important for winning wars. When my pace begins to slow and my arm tires of striking with my sword, I have warriors beside me who can help lift my arms and quicken my march. We lean on each other and we strengthen each other. No one wants to go into war alone... of course not, we want an army with us!
Do you have your armor on? Ephesians 6 says: "14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God."
Be prepared my sister! We have everything we need! It has all been provided for us, we just have to choose to put it on! Go to war! We will prevail!
Good word, Sugar! I used to put on my armor daily, but it's been awhile. And I'm afraid my sword's not very sharp, either...
ReplyDeleteI think a big part of it is lack of local fellowship. It's been about a year and a half since I've attended church on a weekly basis and though I'm in touch with sisters from our former church via facebook and the phone, it's just not the same. Rog and I have been "church shopping" since early December, but the Lord hasn't led us to any one particular place as yet. And now that we are back and forth between home and where Rog works (4 hours one way), it may be awhile before we find another church home.
Thanks again for sharing, Hon! Blessings on you and the whole family <3