Most of the time, it is only a problem if it is a problem.

     Christians are often offended, get panicky about things and drag the past around in big soul barnacles.

     Why should we live that way when we have One by whose stripes we are healed?  Why live as though there were no help?  Why stew and fret?

     Why not live as we are instructed in God's Word, learning to come to Him, pouring it all out and moving forward by faith, all the while deciding to eagerly embrace any correction or chastisement?

     Wound-licking starts as a child.  Children must be taught to change the countenance.  They must learn to be sensitive to the needs of others before their own needs.  This is not natural and is learned through consistent and prayerful correction and, more importantly,  by example.

     What does it mean to take up The Cross?  It is the place of the death of the flesh - the flesh that wants its own way and anything else is a problem.

     Was Judas a problem?  Not for God
     Was Pharaoh a problem?  Not for God.
     Was the Cross a problem?  Not at all.  The Cross had to come before the Resurrection.

     Soldier, pray to be taught to march without missing beats.  It is supernatural.   You were created to walk on the water.  You were created to live by faith. 

     You were created to be grounded on the Rock and not on anything else.  Make sure your stability does not depend on what goes on around you.

     Present yourself as a Living Sacrifice. 
     Aloud.

     Soldier of The Cross, you must be aware of your thoughts.

     They all start somewhere.    We know we are influenced, and we can choose that influence.    It is not possible to choose to avoid temptation, nevertheless it is commanded that we take every thought captive and lead it away.

           [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),    
                              II Corinthians 10:5   (Amplified Bible)

     So then Soldier, your job is to take this matter to prayer.  If you do not, the enemy is able to shoot in a fiery dart and begin a thought against another, or even your own thought against yourself.

     God's Word has a great deal to say about the mind.  The mind is the initial expression of the soul, and if the ungodly thought is not recognized, the result is frustration and then anger, division and spiritual cancer.

     Soldier, only He is Light.  And, the One who named you and has your name written on the palms of His hands is also keenly aware of your thought life. 

     Take it to Him.  Aloud. 
     Today.    

     You feel tiny and insignificant.

     Yet, all the world is watching you.  So are the unseen hosts.  Your obedient thoughts give off something that honors God. 

     The tenderness of your countenance Glorifies Him.

     Your measured words reflect Him.

     No matter what happens, you are a Soldier of The Cross and the whole universe knows it.

     Looking back over the day, the important things are, what did you think and what did you say?

     If you met with the Lord, you lined up with Him and it is not possible to meet with Him regularly without the freshness of His Word.

     Your thoughts should have lined up with His.    Your mouth must not have been used to assassinate anyone, nor to spread negativity. 

     No one is exempt.  The enemy tries with every Soldier of The Cross.  He seems to have a limited repertoire, but unlimited energy.  Resisting him is the result of prayer.  No prayer, no recognition of what is happening.

      Believers must ask for the heart to be searched.  He who does the searching is able to reveal Himself in the matter and will cleans and lead.

     Today's Church has turned things upside down.   It's not about you. It is about Him.  From Him and to Him. 

     We can only see what is before us.

     All else we see by faith.

     Soldier of The Cross, what makes Him more real than anything seen by the eyes?  Prayer.  Those who deal with things in prayer, leave things with Him in prayer and cover others in prayer are those to whom eternity is more real than time.

     When you are tipped over, what spills out?  Is it eternity, or is it a soulish of dissatisfaction with what is before you?

     Determine to live in eternity before Time passes you by.

     Do you understand that this is about Him and not about you?

     Are you seeking something for your self?  Are you sure you can answer that honestly?  Will you be a Soldier of The Cross and tell Him that you submit to and long for the death of the flesh?

     We are all in the same place - choice every second.  Will you choose the thing that compels you, or will you choose according to the Word of God?

     That is the issue.

     You must tell Him and you must tell Him aloud.
     Do it now. 

     Your next hours belong to the Lord.

     It is tempting to plan and even pray as though the time belonged to you.  It is more than your managing the use and spending of the days.  It is a matter of seeing that the One who spoke the universe into being, is the one who will lead you through.

     There must be a vision of waiting for Him, looking for Him and then recognizing and following Him.  It doesn't mean that we are robots, moving only when the signal strikes us.  It means Light.  Wisdom.  It means making mistakes and then seeing the alternatively better choice.  It means abandon unto Him and no other.

     It means admitting you do not have the capacity to run your own life.

     Soldier of The Cross, He is never boring.  He is never passive.  He is never slow. 

     He who is Love has designed you to take up The Cross, the place of the death of the flesh, and follow Him.
Daily.

     Tell Him you will do anything to learn to obey.
     Tell Him alone and aloud.

 

      Lord, as I stand before you tonight, I declare my desperate need for you.

      Since meeting you, I've been aware of your attention and faithfulness, but tonight I cry out to you for encouragement, consolation and vision.

     Lord, it seems to me that if this matter is not resolved, I cannot live.    Of course because of your Word, I know that is not the case.  Nevertheless, I reach out to take the Hand that is always extended to me.

     My Lord, I need you so.  I need to see you.  I need to hear you.  I need to experience your Touch.  I beg you to open the shackles.

     No matter what Lord, please do the deepest work in me in order to bring about your own likeness.

     My Lord and my God.

     Soldier of The Cross, consider those around you.

     What do they see?  If asked, could they say your life is about serving the Lord?  Or would they say your life is about getting it together? 

     Can they see abandon unto Him?

      We are only passing through.  It does not cheapen the human experience which is important, and has eternal consequences.  Nonetheless, this is about eternity.

      Turn your eyes away from your own issues and gaze upon the One who gave Himself for you. 

     Soldier of The Cross, you may not miss a beat because of someone else's sin.

     Every day I deal with folks who are upset because someone is making unfair demands, saying something untrue or displaying terrible behavior.

    As far as you are concerned, your thought life and behavior must be based on God's Word, what He has done for you, where you are headed, and the fact that you have determined to be a Living Sacrifice. 

     This is not to imply that you are a wimp.  You have a supernatural backbone empowered by the Indwelling Holy Spirit.

     Those who are His must have their eyes on Him and must be going forward in a straight line - not glaring or staring at the offender.

     You can't fix someone else.  You can't lend your emotions to the enemy.

     Learn to be one who can be trusted in the hardest circumstances, including misunderstanding, persecution and bizarre events.

     Look up and move on!