God Chimed In At Baseball Practice

Yesterday screamed all things spring.  Our season’s first baseball practice could not have  been more strategically placed in the month.  The weather was a perfect 70 degrees.  The fields vibrant green.  Weeping willows are dripping the first signs of life and the Bradford Pears are working hard to press through the final remnants of winter.

I sat in a red camping chair, leaning an ear towards the team devotional from Coach Nathan to a circle of antsy seven-year-olds, when my phone chimed notifying me of a message.

A devotional of my very own.

Sue Molitor, speaker and blog writer for Living Free In Him sent me an unexpected word of encouragement.  The content of that Facebook message held such weight and truth, I couldn’t help but share with you.  Here is what Sue wrote…

Hey Becky, I was just reading in Beth Moore’s study on the book of James and I felt led to share this with you. I know you have done the study, so this may be redundant, but felt compelled nevertheless…

“A person has hardly begun to have a real fight on her hands until she starts serving in her full-throttle giftedness and effectiveness. She who proves a threat earns an enemy you can bet will do everything he can to make her sorry. Nothing in the visible realm is a greater reality than the unseen battle raging over our heads.” – Beth Moore

Arm up girl!  Be aware of the enemy’s devices. You are entering a battle zone, but you are equipped with the full armor of God and you will be victorious! If you have marriage issues, it is the enemy. If your kids are acting crazy, it is the enemy. If sickness comes, it is the enemy. Daily fight and pray on the offensive to lessen the cause to have to be on the defensive. I just felt led to share this with you. Love you! (Good advice to me as well!) – Sue

These words are so packed full of goodies it makes my head spin.  Read it again!  Whoa.

Sue is spot on.  The enemy is constantly carousing.  Seeking. Prowling.  Looking for prey.

He wants to confuse us.  Abuse us.  And use us for his good and gain.

But bless God, WE ARE VICTORIOUS!  We stand against the devil, equipped head to sole with the armor of God.

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Are serving in your “full-throttle giftedness” my friend?  If so, then I exhort you, as Sue did me…ARM UP!  Read this plan of action in Ephesians daily.  You are a threat to the enemy and therefore a TARGET (and not the Target we ladies love so much)!

• Press into God’s Word.

• Pursue His presence in prayer.

• Be alert.

• Be of good courage.  Don’t cower down… BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST, you are victorious.

Join me back here tomorrow as Sue will make a guest appearance, introducing us to an online Bible Study through Proverbs 31 Ministries (beginning April 7th!).  If you have been praying about a study this Spring…You just might have found it.

Can’t wait!

See you here tomorrow, and in the meantime visit Sue’s blog.  Her heart for the Lord challenges my own.  Love this woman.