"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." -Matthew 18:18
"You... shall... not... PASS!!!" - Gandolf, The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Rings
A pastor came into town to speak at our church for our annual summer conference. He told a story in which he was having a conversation with God, and God asked him a question.
"Bob," (not his real name), "Why do you think you get attacked by the enemy?" he said.
The pastor replied, "Well, Lord, it's because I'm you're servant and I've got a mark on my back! I'm a threat to the kingdom of darkness."
God said, "No, it's because you let him attack you."
There is a famous moment in The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gandolf stands in the gap on behalf of his friends. Here we see an important principle. Gandolf knew that if he did not stand against the beast Balrog the fellowship would not be able to continue on to fulfill their mission. So he drew the line - and appears to have lost his life in the process. As Christians, we are called to draw the line against the enemy in our lives. Our option is a little safer - we don't literally have to die in the process, but we will be changed as a result. Gandolf comes back to life later as Gandolf the White.
There is something to be said for upholding God's promises on the earth. Is there an area in your life where you need to draw the line in faith? Is it provision, restored relationships, health, or a dream you want to see fulfilled? Is it overcoming something for you or on behalf of someone else through prayer, like an addiction, a belief, thought pattern, or attitude?
Draw the line for what you will or will not accept in your life. When you make that stand that's within God's plan for your life, God will be standing with you.
"Be vigilant, listen obediently to these words that I command you so
that you'll have a good life, you and your children, for a long, long
time, doing what is good and right in the eyes of God, your God." -Deut
12:28
What is the good life? It seems in our culture that a good life is
defined as being filled with money, fame, and unconditional recognition.
This seems as though it's the good life... but, is it?
"The good life begins in the fear of God - Do that and you'll know
the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever!" -Psalm 111:10
The Israelites spent years in the desert, 40 to be exact, learning how
to trust in and be obedient to God. They were lived day by day, with
just that day's bread for food. But, after many years and many failed
tests, a new generation of Israelites got to enter the Promised Land and
have the 'good life' they had wanted and waited for for so long.
How can we have this good life as Christians?
"Even though a person sins and gets by with it hundreds of times
throughout a long life, I'm still convinced that the good life is
reserved for the person who fears God, who lives reverently in his
presence, and that the evil person will not experience a "good" life. No
matter how many days he lives, they'll all be as flat and colorless as a
shadow - because he doesn't fear God." -Ecc 8:12
Being right with God brings the good life. Staying within the boundaries
of His teachings & commands brings the good life. Doing right by
others, and not believing Satan's lies about us brings about God's
goodness in our lives.
Are you experiencing the good life today? Ask God if there are any areas
in your life where He is teaching you to bring you into the good life.
God desires that all of His children experience this good life through
serving, worshipping, and loving Him.
"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." -Proverbs 25:28
Have you ever heard the term 'boundaries' before? The word may conjure up images of a fence or a wall, but the idea of boundaries has come up in recent years as it relates to our emotional and spiritual health and interactions with others. Drs. Cloud and Townsend have written a great book on the subject entitled Boundaries. Why are boundaries important?
Boundaries give order to our lives, and our world. If we didn't have them, our lives would be out of order. Imagine if you always stayed up late and got up early. You would always be exhausted. Your work would suffer, your relationships would suffer, and so would your health. Exercise habits, sleep schedules, dietary choices, time management, financial management, and relationships are all about good or poor boundaries. The Bible talks about boundaries. In the garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve both freedom and boundary. The Ten Commandments are a set of boundaries that God set up to help us be successful in life.
Perhaps the most elusive type of boundaries are the ones we need to have have with others. They may or may not make sense to us due to the way we were raised.
Recently a friend was sharing with me an experience she had had over the holiday between her and a family member of hers. This family member had said aloud that he did not like her music, (she is a musician), which was fine, but the statement came across as rude and belittling. She told him he was that he was entitled to his own opinion, but that she didn't appreciate the belittlement. He later apologized for his behavior.
The stronger we become in Christ, the stronger our boundaries become. But, this doesn't mean we shut people out. Conversely, we are in a better position to give and receive love. We are safe to be ourselves because we have set good boundaries in place in order to do so. As we realize more and more about God's nature and character we realize how He operates. He invites us to live within certain boundaries so that we can live a free and holy life, pleasing unto him, and a blessing to those we encounter.
Where are God's boundaries? What kind of boundaries should we have as His children? Make sure you are not a "city without walls" so that God can use you greatly for His kingdom.
