Blessings and Battles

As the battle to walk upright without faltering in the way of Jesus rages on, the struggle is real. Some days I can’t seem to sit still enough to listen for God’s still small voice, speaking to me, giving me fresh revelation. I’ve become hyper-focused to the point of obsession while moving in to my new home. This home has been a dream for so long; it’s hard to fathom that it’s finally here. God is good and faithful to hear and answer our prayers.

In the midst of all the excitement and newness, my mind is all over the place. From my anxious thoughts of leaving loved ones behind, to becoming fixated on organizing and decorating (which I love), every time I sit to have a chat with Jesus, I find myself getting up to straighten a photo, arrange the pillows, create a vignette with books on my kitchen counter or reorganizing what I’ve already organized and so on. Oh, and then there are the numerous phone calls with familiar drama adding to my anxiety. Some would say my inability to sit still is expected because moving is among the top stressors.

Moving, a very stressful experience

I thought packing up and purging 25 years of stuff was hard, but moving in, reorganizing, and finding space when you’ve downsized and realized you didn’t purge enough is really tough. I was amazed at the realization of how many boxes I had packed over a two-month period of time. But, I never imagined how that could turn into an overwhelming mountain to break down and tie up for the trash when it’s all unpacked. Add to that doing it in a 100-degree garage. The overwhelming anxiety from moving may be expected, but letting it get the better of you is part of the spiritual battle to continue to walk upright with Jesus and not ruin your testimony of His love. You probably can relate to having a less than loving attitude when you’re uptight and stressed out.

My husband jokes and calls me a slave driver, but I only had him available to help me for two weeks before he returned to work. Thanks to his unrelenting help, I accomplished unpacking all those boxes and organizing in just two weeks. What a blessing to have such an accommodating husband. However, I have overheard him tell his friends: happy wife, happy life! LOL

Having said all of that, I reiterate that spiritual warfare is an expected ongoing battle in the Christian walk. The enemy will do everything he can to keep you from being an effective witness of Jesus. God is amazingly faithful when we put into practice everything He has revealed to us. (see Don’t Give Up Your Authority)

So, I tried to fight the good fight, repenting for my lack of focus during the times that I had devoted to God. I persistently made supplication to God in prayer throughout my days, praising Him for who He is, and being thankful for His generosity in giving us this dream home. I remembered His promise in Philippians 4:6-7, and I received the peace that surpasses all understanding, slowly finding myself being able to listen again.

The Blessing

Through the years, one of my favorite scriptures has been, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) This new home and all of its new furnishings we are able to afford certainly has been one of the many desires of my heart and my husband’s too. It is quite a blessing!

I tell you all of this to warn you that there are dangers and pitfalls that follow blessings. The spiritual battle is everywhere, and It’s not over ‘til you meet Jesus face to face. When God blesses you with the desires of your heart, be careful how much you devote yourself to it because it is very easy for it to turn into an idol in your life.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul and with all of your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)

Let me for a moment clarify other gods. Anything you devote to first place in your life other than God is tantamount to another god or an idol. You can easily love your blessings more than God by prioritizing it over the time you spend with God. Even your problems can become idols when they consume your thoughts. When God is first in your life, you take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and weigh it against His Word. If you don’t, you can get overtaken by it.

The Battle

When I refocused my mind on God’s Word, the dust had settled and I heard that still small voice of the Lord again. Because I was relentlessly focusing on getting my new house in order (in crazy, impatient, record time), I was not sitting still long enough to listen. I was devoting almost all of my time, be it in thought, word or deed, on my new blessing. I knew what was happening and the devil was doing a happy dance.

When my husband’s and my design styles began to clash, my attitude took on an air of superiority, disdaining his ideas. Our joyful blessing started wreaking havoc in our lives. It had taken me captive and caused derision. I knew that repentance was once again in order. I confessed to God and to my husband about what I had allowed to happen. Yes, I allowed my new house to become an idol, albeit not for long, praise God! It is a choice to listen and obey the revelation of the Lord.

That devil tried to use even that to get me, because the next time we had a differing opinion, my husband quickly retorted, “Don’t let the house become an idol”, as if it were a weapon to get his way. As annoyed as that left me feeling, I let it go because I knew the truth of the matter. Choosing to be obedient to God’s revelation is the quickest way to overcome the enemy in the midst of battles (spiritual warfare), and to restore the peace, and enjoy the blessing.

Therefore my friends, learn from me and continue to fight the good fight. Exalt God on the throne of your life. Put Him first, keep praying, keep praising and keep being thankful. Your many blessings will come and battles will follow, but you can overcome all the pitfalls. Remember not to give up your authority, and be an overcomer in Jesus’ name. Amen and Amen!

Thank you for reading my blog. Hope you enjoy more reasons for Why the Word. Until next time, the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you in Jesus’ name.