Battle Plan

Satan is a thief and a liar. He steals things from us. He lies to us. He wants to destroy us.

He is here to steal, kill & destroy. His ultimate goal is to destroy you and keep you from your purpose. He loves when he trips us up. He knows exactly where to hit us, how to hit us and what weapon to use that will cause the most damage. That is why it is important to have a battle plan. We are at war. We are in a spiritual war.

We are at war with principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Anyone going into battle, has a plan. A battle plan, a strategy to defeat the enemy. Ephesians 6:11-18

Do not stress or worry! There is good news! The enemy will lose the war! Jesus wins in the end! He died for us. He bore the weight of our sins. He has the keys to death, hell and the grave. (Revelation 1:18)

Ephesians 6:11-18 describes the type of battle we are in and how to protect yourself.

Verse 11 says to put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand .

What is the whole armour of God?

1. loins girt about with truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. feet shod with the gospel of peace
4. shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked
5. helmet of salvation
6. Sword of the spirit -word of God

Verse 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 All of the above help us in our battles. Lately my focus has been on prayer. I used to dread praying because I never knew what to say. I felt like I wasn’t giving it my all when praying. I started writing my prayers and saying them like I meant it and things have been changing. I don’t have a space that I can go in and shut the door but my laundry room is my space where I can be alone with God even if it is for a few minutes.

Prayer changes things and it is a good weapon against Satan. I’ve been  reading a book called Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer. It has changed my perspective on prayer. I needed this book to help me see where I was lacking in prayer and to realize that my passion for prayer was gone. Each chapter has a strategy that Satan uses and how you should pray to overcome each obstacle, temptation and problem he throws at you.

I challenge any woman reading this to get a copy of this book. Being specific and having a plan of action in prayer are important!

I come from a family of pray-ers. I don’t think that is a word but it is now. My Mamaw Nickels could pray for anything or anyone. I knew God heard that woman’s prayers. I used to love being at hers and Papaw’s house when they prayed. I loved listening to their prayers. They always were so thankful and they prayed with passion and all their might. They prayed at their couch. My Dad is another praying man. I used to sneak up on the stairs when he would go upstairs to get away and pray so I could sneak a listen to him praying. I didn’t know until recently that he did the same thing to his Dad (Papaw Nickels) when he was younger. My Grandpa Wagoner would always get so choked up when praying over a meal. He was so thankful for all of the family and you could tell that he was thankful. It always made me cry. I used to sit with my Grandma Wagoner sometimes in church. She was a silent pray-er but she always cried and knelt in the pew and I felt that she was praying with all her heart. My Mom used to help me prayer as a kid. She taught me to say the prayer for food and to pray for my family. I am so grateful that she did.

I believe it is important to have good Godly examples in your life that you can look up to. People that have it and make you want to have it too. I am thankful for my family.

I am grateful for the book that I am reading (Fervent) and how it  has changed my prayer life. Reading has made a little light bulb go off in my head. It has finally clicked!

I challenge each and every one of you to make a battle plan in prayer and make sure that you wear the full armour of God.

Love from above!

Iva Mae

Come To The Well

I have what you need, but you keep on searchin’. I’ve done all the work, but you keep on workin’. When you’re runnin’ on empty and you can’t find the remedy, Just come to the well.

You can spend your whole life chasin’ what’s missing but that empty inside, just ain’t gonna listen. When nothing can satisfy and the world leaves you high and dry, come to the well.

The above lyrics from Casting Crowns, The Well stuck out to me. I’m done searching for something that I cannot get myself. I’m done stressing over things I cannot control. I’m done chasing things that do not bring me happiness. I am done holding onto things that I need to give to God fully!

I have had a mindset lately that has brought me down. I have let so many things bog me down and keep me in chains. I’ve let Satan have a hay day in my mind.

I forgot who the true enemy was. I have been dwelling on financial mistakes that I’ve made and worrying over how to fix them. I cannot fix it. I know God can but I don’t want to let my burdens go. I keep looking at what every body else has and dwelling on what I don’t.

The above verse says several things.

1. Take Heed- take caution, pay attention!
2. Beware of covetousness- watch out for your desire to have what others have.
3. Your life is not in the things that you own or don’t own.

L.U.S.T. – Living under Satan’s Thumb. We all lust after something.

We all have a desire/lust for more than what we have. Sometimes it becomes so strong that it takes over our thoughts and our lives. It will drive a wedge between you and God really quick.

God is the source of all joy and happiness. He has store houses full of things that we need.

Luke 12:28-30 “ If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.“

God know what we need. He will feel the emptiness. He will take the burdens. All we have to do is go to him. He will fill our empty vessels.

Sometimes to be filled we must first be empty. We must get rid of the pursuit of perfection, fears, temporary pleasures, earthly treasures, dried up & empty religion, chains of addiction and guilt that brings you down (These are all mentioned at the end of the Casting Crowns song The Well).

We must lay those things that have filled us up and left us filling empty. Give it to God. I have the hardest time doing that. I like to be in control. I hate to lose control of anything.

…life hits you out of nowhere and barely leaves you holding on. and when you’re tired of fighting chained by your control, there’s freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go…

I am still working on letting go and letting God. It is hard for me.

God has a never ending well and water that will quench your thirst. (John 4)

I am going to be working on letting go of my worry, my doubt, my fear and letting God take care of me. He can do it better than I can.

I know this was short and simple but this has been on my heart. I encourage you to listen to the songs below and to pray and ask God to help you let go of the things you need to and to fill your emptiness with his love.

Songs:

The Well by Casting Crowns

Just Be Held by Casting Crowns