STRUGGLING WITH THE ENEMY

As I typed the post title, I realized how broad that is.  Struggle.  We all do it.  Often.  We struggle with decisions.  We struggle with fear.  We struggle with insecurities.  The list of struggles is endless, isn't it?  Or is it just me?

If I really get to the nitty-gritty of it all, the struggles are enhanced by the enemy.  That saying "the devil made me do it" has a lot of truth in it, but only if we let him.

I read some devotion scripture this morning that I honestly had never read enough to really be encouraged.  And believe it or not, it's from 2 Chronicles no less--one of those Old Testament books that I rarely even look at with names of people I can't spell much less pronounce.  In this case, it's Jehoshaphat.  I learned that King Jehoshaphat was a leader who feared the Lord and sought his guidance in his leadership.  It seems that his country's enemy somehow entered the country and caused a threat.

Did Jehoshaphat start gathering up his army and weapons?  Nah.  The first thing he did was to pray to his God for help and encouraged his people to do likewise.  You know what God replied to him immediately?  "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's, but God's. (v.15)  "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them; for the Lord will be with you." (v.17)

Jehoshaphat and his people worshipped and praised God loudly.  The got up early the next morning and headed into the wilderness.  The Bible doesn't say they were armed, just said they went praising God.  Long story short, the Lord sent ambushes against the enemy and the enemies beat themselves.

This account spoke to me this morning.  I need the stance of Jehoshaphat.  I need more prayer.  I need more praise.  I need more trust.  Yes, I learned a huge lesson in trust and praise and prayer.  I encourage you to read this account in 2 Chronicles 20.

And remember....the battle is not ours, but God's.  Don't be afraid of the devil or insecurities and such that he tries to bring to you.  Resist the devil.  Praise the heavenly Father who has it all in HIS hands.

Consider.......

SCORECARD

My faithful blog readers might remember my post from July 24, 2019 about "Sights of Summer".  In the post, I mentioned my pea "patch".  I also voiced my hope that I would be able to get a "mess or two" of peas before the deer did.  The Husband was confident the deer would get them all.

I just wanted to report to you, my interested blog readers, that I have gotten four pickings of these peas which will, for two people, equal many "messes of peas".  I happily have bags of peas in my freezer and the pickings will continue if all goes well.  Here's my harvest of my mixed peas from the last 12 hours.

Score of pea pickings:

ME:        4

DEER:   0

Maybe my deer herd likes protein more than vegetables?  Just sayin'.......

ORDINARY

Our friend, Mr. Webster, defines "ordinary" as "the regular or customary condition or course of things".

For a couple of weeks now I have again been dealing with the dreaded intestinal adhesion flare.  Maybe it's resolving on it's own, maybe not.  One day is better, one day is not.  It's been almost a year since what has become the annual surgery of summer and I remain hopeful that I will make it through this summer without that same thing.  It's becoming quite ordinary for me so I deal.

I was thinking the other day how that as I have aged, I just like things ordinary and normal.  I am liking the process of downsizing.  I am finding the emotion to part with some things that I have not been willing to part with before.  I've never been one to grow upset over a dirty house.  I didn't say filthy, I said dirty.  A little dirt doesn't bother me.  So I'm acquiring a liking for "ordinary".

The other thing as I was doing my devotion time this morning is the thought of how often I miss blessings of the Lord in the "ordinary".  I want to allow HIM to speak to me through these things.  Admittedly, it wouldn't hurt my feelings to sleep a bit later in the mornings.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings to be able to stay awake in the recliner to make it through my favorite TV shows such as Masterchef last night.  I fell asleep  ten minutes before it was over.  I do find myself thankful for the not-so-ordinary-for-my-house DVR.  Technology at it's finest.

I just pray to find joy in the ordinary things of life.  We all have different "ordinary" things of life but I want to encourage you, my blog readers, to find your own joy in YOUR ordinary.  Look around and see.  In my world, of course, The Grandbaby is a huge joy and just having her is a blessing but I find myself chuckling when she has begun to come out with words like "ACTUALLY, Neema...." .  Really?  At three years old?  Actually?   But yes, it's just those little things.  I found myself loving a simple selfie The Girl had taken of The Grandbaby, The Girl, and me recently.  It just makes me happy.  Yes, I know you want to see it so I will share.   When I look at the picture, I see the dress I'm wearing...the same dress I've had for about ten years now but I feel it's comfort.  It's one of my favorites, especially when my intestinal adhesions are amiss.  What I see when I look at this picture is happiness, smiles, and love.   The second picture is one I took a while back of The Husband in our yard.  I love it, it's a sweet normal picture of The Husband whom I can classify as one of the best. If you look closely, you can see his big smile even though the picture is far away and as I look at that big smile, I can almost hear his laughter that is so much like his own mama's was.   Then there is The Son-In-Law who loves his girls and his unique t-shirts.  I gave him a matching one for The Grandbaby for Father's Day.  Ordinary family making extraordinary blessings of love.

I want to encourage myself to look for the ordinary blessings all around me and let those give me joy. I often take "ordinary" for granted.  Maybe you do too?

Consider.....