Thursday, March 31, 2011

TWO-FISTED FAITH

Faith is tough sometimes, isn’t it?

And yet, we need to have tough faith.

Faith that stands against the enemy’s attacks.

Faith that stands strong…

But are you like me? Sometimes I struggle with faith – struggle with what it requires.

You know that little red-and-white bullseye logo for a certain company? (Target…of course)

Paint one of those right on my back.

I talked about these targets last week – how the enemy seeks us out when we step out for the Lord. It’s like the fire of the Holy Spirit draws him in – like a heat-seeking missile.

He zeroes in – waiting for the perfect, vulnerable moment to strike.

And strike he does…over and over…

I’m being bombarded.

Suffice it to say – the attacks are coming on various fronts – financial, emotional, physical – my friends and family have had more things happen in the last month than has happened in the last year…

You know what it’s like – it’s happening to all of you, too.

Sometimes it makes me feel like I just want to run and hide. It was easier flying "under" Satan’s radar.

It is so easy to doubt God’s presence and His plan, when our eyes are so short-sighted, our minds so limited by human understanding.

Sometimes we have doubts and fears – and they seem overwhelming.

After all, we’re still walking through "the valley of the shadow of death."

And it is in that valley that the devil whispers one of his worst taunts…

"Is God really good?"

Sometimes, the evidence seems to point otherwise.

I think this is the believer’s greatest battle – to believe, no matter what.

My pastor calls it "two-fisted faith."

He uses this Scripture to explain what he means:

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power…" (Daniel 3:16-17)

That’s one fist…

"BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you…that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
(Daniel 3:18)

That would be the second fist – I’d say it’s the one that delivers the knock-out punch.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God to deliver them. BUT, they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences.

This is crucial – we should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not.

OUCH – that’s such a tough one for me.

But I am asking the Lord to increase my faith muscles. To strengthen my shaky legs, and restore my spirit. To enable me to stand strong, in spite of the attacks. To give me a sense of His presence and peace.

We are never alone.

There will always be that fourth person in the fire…standing alongsidekeeping the fires of adversity from burning us up.

God is good.

He has a Master Plan that is unfolding, though it may be unknown to us. We must ground ourselves in the faithful promises of God, not in our feelings. We have to allow our doubts and fears to lead us closer to Him.

So, with that target on my back, I’m asking the Lord to help me raise two little fists in faith…


Will you join me in the fire?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"


19 comments:

  1. Our young pastor is fighting brain cancer, and his favorite verse is Daniel 3:8. He said the other day that there are days He knows God has healed him and he will be here for years, then after doctor reports he will feels his faith slip. He said that is when I cry out "help my unbelief"...that God is the one who grows our faith, not us and He looks to the Lord to strengthen his faith.

    As a third person viewing his walk I am amazed, he has three small children, the pastor of a congregation of over 10 thousand and he has traveled the world between treatments sharing the gospel. His words of encouragement that God is the one who strengthens his faith is encouraging to me, as I cry out, "Lord Help my unbelief!"

    Blessings through you struggles as God increases your faith.

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  2. War and Peace...yes that does sum it up. The picture that came to my mind was Jesus walking across the water and the storm....creator of both! So glad we just need to lift our eyes to the creator that calms the sea or walks through the storms with us...so yes, War and Peace.

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  3. Sharon:

    This hits home for me too. Always that battle of claiming what we know He has promised, and our faith faltering... I'm right there with you. We ALL are, one way or another and one day stronger than another. Trust... it's what He wants us to do. I stand beside you today, and say a hearty AMEN to all you've written! It's my heart today too.

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  4. That's tough for me too. I KNOW that God won't always deliver us out of things but he always helps us through it. I am selfish and weak and don't want to have to go through it at all. God forgive my frailty.

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  5. Another great post, Sharon. I too want to two fisted faith.

    blessings,
    Joan

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  6. Sharon, reading this reminds of Psalms 18 that my pastor spoke from last night.

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  7. joining you in the fire, Sharon. sorry its been a tough time for you, but.....take comfort in knowing that you are doing something to further God's kingdom with all you are involved with and the enemy never likes that. But you are right, God is right there walking alongside you and will strengthen you and guide you and comfort you and "watch your back" too; you know no one can snatch you out of his hand!!!

    betty

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  8. Sharon, Sharon, Satan has asked permission to sift you (all) as wheat...
    But I have prayed for you (Sharon) that your faith will not fail.
    And when you return, strengthen your brothers (or sisters as the case may be)

    This is how I feel at times, and these are the verses that kept coming to mind as I read about your two-fisted faith. This post ALONE has strengthened me.

    If you were not going through this particular battle, would you have written it?

    Maybe. But I don't know that it would have had the power in it that it does on this particular day. It has the earmarks of the groaning of the Spirit in it.

    I know it isn't fun. I can't tell you how much I hate the arena you're in right now. I'm praying against it, in fact. But I also can't tell you how much the posts inspired by your current struggle have been used by God to light MY path and keep me from stumbling right now.

    That must be a pretty powerful light you have, my friend, it shines all the way from California to Georgia.

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  9. Hi Sharon,

    Yes I will and I can relate to the attacks you mention. I have skimmed through your blogs a bit, as my mind is distracted, with the baptism on sunday and not feeling too well. So will be back when I am more focused, but do appreciate your prayers and will be praying for you. God Bless - Nita.

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  10. I love the term, "two-fisted faith." I want to keep my faith strong even when I am headed towards the furnace!

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  11. Janette - I continue to be amazed at the faith of certain people in the midst of terrible circumstances. I love what you have shared here - and your pastor's take on faith. It does come from God - and it's His responsibility to grow it. If it takes a furnace to do it, then He knows best.

    Sonja - Thank you for your encouraging words. Yes, faith is a day-to-day thing - some days I'm stronger than others. It's my pleasure to have a friend like you standing beside me.

    Parsley - Oh, how I loved your honesty. Truth be told, that's exactly how I feel. I want God to fix things, to make the hard stuff go away - I don't want to fight the battles. I'm frail, too. My heart sometimes has trouble holding on to what my mind believes to be true - that God knows best.

    Joan - Thanks. We'll keep praying for our faith together, OK??

    Wanda - Psalm 18 is perfect. "The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals...He rescued me from my powerful enemies..." Yes, amen!

    Betty - Oh, my dear friend. How I needed to hear your wonderfully empowering words. It's a pleasure to stand next to you in the fire!! And you are so right - no one, NOTHING, can snatch us out of His hands - not ever!

    Debbie - I am moved beyond words. Thank you, thank you, for what you said. No, I wouldn't have written this post in the same way, and perhaps not at all, if I wasn't in this "season" of battle. It blesses me greatly to know that you are being spoken to through my struggles. And the last comment? About my light? It brought tears to my eyes...

    Nita - I read your post earlier today. My, yes you are battling too. And I don't think for one instance that it doesn't have something to do with your upcoming baptism. The enemy is on the offensive - perhaps because God's soldiers are stepping out! Praying for you, too.

    Alisa - I also love that phrase. When our pastor coined it, I just thought it was the coolest thing. And I have a picture of those three men in the fiery furnace, with both fists raised in the air. With God's strength, I will hold mine up, too.

    GOD BLESS!

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  12. It's easier when times are going good then when things are going rougher!
    sandie

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  13. Sandie - YES, that is true! But I want to be one of those people who doesn't give up when it gets rougher!! What's that old saying? "When things get tough, the tough get going!" I want to be that way - short, sweet, and TOUGH!!

    GOD BLESS, my friend!

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  14. Hi Sharon -

    How interesting...

    I posted on my blog today and also mentioned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego...then I came here to catch up on your posts and noticed that you posted on them, as well.

    You expressed, "There will always be that fourth person in the fire…standing alongside…keeping the fires of adversity from burning us up."

    How right you are, Sharon. When we walk uprightly with our Lord, He proves to us that He delights in our righteousness. Glory to His precious name!

    You asked, "Will you join me in the fire?"

    Yes, sister warrior - I am suited up, with my ladder, hose, and siren. Get thee behind us, Satan. We are ablaze in potent Holy Spirit power.
    The Word of GOD is our hope, rock, defender and fighter.

    Lord, according to Your Word, please rebuke the devourer for our sakes and pour us out blessings that there shall not be room for us to receive. And please, prepare tables before us in the presence of our enemies. May our cups run over... Thank you, Lord - Amen

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  15. Sandra - You have no idea how I needed this message from you tonight! On Thursday, I have my first speaking engagement - it's to a group of young mothers. You would NOT believe the attacks I've had in the last week or so. Actually, fellow warrior sister that you are, you would probably totally understand! Your last paragraph especially washed over me - I needed a prayer to rebuke that tired old enemy. So, thank you, dear friend. I cherish our friendship.

    GOD BLESS!

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  16. Hi Sharon -

    Clearly, Satan is envious of GOD, and His Most High Power. Satan's envy and fury has intensified because he knows that his time is shorter. I noticed an increase in his fury about as soon as 2011 arrived.

    That is why, I believe, that for the past couple of weeks our Lord has had me to focus more fervently on the Word of GOD, and prayer. I sense in my spirit the need to dig in more to our Lord. Yesterday, another blogger commented on my blog a similar spiritual sense.

    Fear is not present with me but a strong sense of spiritual urgency to dig in more intensely with our Lord.

    You are doing missions for our Lord, Sharon. Satan is incensed. He will fight against you but he shall NOT prevail.

    Jeremiah 1:19 - KJV
    And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

    Jeremiah 39:17,18 - KJV
    But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

    For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou has put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.

    Esther 6:13 - KJV
    ...Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.

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  17. Hi Sharon -

    Me again - I was led to share the comments below with you.

    Here is an excerpt that I placed on someone else's blog today, "...Satan aims to devour us but Glory to GOD, Hallelujah - no weapon formed against us shall prosper. The devil shall NOT prevail against the righteous because we walk with the Most High - Almighty GOD!

    Our Father is our fortress, our shield, buckler, deliverer, healer, and a very present help...

    GOD is invincible, indestructible, fearless and He bows to NOTHING AND NO ONE. All shall bow to Him - sooner, later or when it is too late. But we shall ALL bow to the GOD of gods. My choice is to bow now, later, and for all of eternity.
    You are with me dear fellow warriors and I am glad that we are on GOD'S valiant team. Hail to the King of glory.

    Message to Satan:
    The Acts 5:39 - KJV
    But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it;...

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  18. Sandra - What a message!! WOW! I am unbelievably encouraged! Thank you - you get me all fired up like no one else. I also agree that things have been "stepped up" a notch (or ten) since the beginning of the year. But your words are strong! I loved especially what you said about having an urgency to dig in more intensely with the Lord - that is perfectly said!

    Today went well - I am completely spent tonight. But, at peace that God was with me...

    Thanks for being you.

    GOD BLESS!

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  19. Oh Sharon, I am so glad that you go back and re-share these really wonderful posts from when you first began (actually the following year but it looks like before I knew you). So I am double blessed to go back and read it again. Although I do not know what you were going through at this time, you made it through "the fire" and He was and is with you clearly. I love the comments and your delightful responses but Debbie's (as most often she does write) words from her heart are so very true. I, too sense that powerful light shining way down here in my darkness and even if and when I get back home to MN, I pray that your light will keep shining and your writing will continue inspiring so many - as it does now in 2016 just like back here in 2011, Sharon still shines! Plus you had more time to reply (even without the button, which really speaks of your personal touch and concern for others that come and read here, you do minister and your writing does help us connect our daily lives, battles, struggles authentically with God's Word - and it looks like since the 'almost' beginning of Sharon Sharing God ... you have and do apply God to our ordinary, making it super-ordinary or extra special ministry to mending our brokenness in the light of your vulnerable and honest sharing - and I can see that God is using you from the mountain to the city or the prairie or the desert, wherever we hail from (my typo said "ail from" and I almost left it because it's true too)... Thank you Sharon for being true to yourself and us since the nearly beginning of this blog {makes me think I should go back and read each one since 2010 that I may have missed P.S. - pre-Sharon}! Such a rich treasure you are and have been as are you writings! Thank you for the "two-fisted faith" that inspires mine continually. Yep, just like that song "this little light of mine ... don't let satan 'fvit'(sound) blow it out..." May God continue to stand with you Sharon in the fire or in the rain (which CA could use) in every battle, in every glorious triumph. Press on sis! You make me proud to know ya' - I came back here from today's because "Grateful Thoughts" was not ready yet, still had previous week's. Hope you are well and all is well for you and yours! ~ Peggy

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)