Seriously...now what?

You may be thinking at this point...."encouragement is great and inspiring, but seriously, when I am confronted with the loves of this world - what do I do at the pressure point???" Times like: it's late at night...the kids didn't finish off the birthday cake...the leftover frosting is calling my name! or it could be Monday morning, you're tired, stressed, overwhelmed that it's already Monday, and someone brought fresh doughnuts!!! What do you do now?

Here is where "hiding God's Word in your heart" comes in handy! You remember the Word, the inspiration, the encouragement, and let it elevate you to the choices you WANT to make. What's the BEST encouragement? God's Word. His armor. He has given you all the weapons, tools, and ferociousness you need to fight any and all battles that come your way. Can't pull anything up in the moment? Pray!!! He will hear you, and honor your choice to give it to Him; loving you for bringing this to Him. He will love you for trusting Him, and for allowing Him to work in this area of your life. The more you give yourself to Him, the more of Him you have!

What is your battle today? Fuzzy thinking? He gives you the mind of Christ and the helment of salvation! Co-workers, kids, and famliy pressuring you to consume serious amounts of brownies, doughnuts, ice cream, or just anything that you know is not right for you??? You have your armor!!! Put this on EVERY day! Wake up in the morning, and while "getting yourself together" put on every piece of armor found in scripture! Call your mind into submission - "taking all thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ"

Then, once you have your armor securely engulfing you, give it all to God! Ask Him to help you - guide you, protect you. The Word says that He "puts good things in your mouth" This is not only good words, but good food.

God has given us control over our mind, our thinking, our body....use that authority, take control of it - or it will take control of you!! How many times have we let this happen??? Ever look down, and suddenly you are holding an empty tub of Blue Bell?? Or a brownie pan that is spotless, when just a moment earlier it held 6 or 7 brownies?? You think - what just happened?? Our mind and body has not been disciplined to recognize when to say when! It's so easy - and it happens to just about everyone.(notice I used the term "we"!!) Remember, "there is now, thereore, NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"

And also remember: that enemy out there wants to condemn you, to make you so ill you cannot show or spread the goodness of God. If you are always under the weather, stressed out, "fuzzy brained", or drained, then the enemy has you right where he wants you. He is doing his job: "to steal, kill, and destroy"! If we are not at our best, it is hard to represent or be used of God.

And that's why we are to be diligent in taking such good care of what our God has created! He has created you for a purpose!! He believes that you were a great idea, and He wants what's extraordinary for you...and that includes excellent health!!!

So go forward, be armored up, and conquer!!! You are Fit for Service!!!

Ephesians 3:17b-19, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (NIV)

Ephesians 3:16-17a, "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you w ith power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (NIV)