Under Seige

As we endure continued attacks from the enemy, I thought it might help to share part of a conversation I had today.

I have searched for this verse previously without much success, today when I needed to see it I had no trouble finding it.

Psalm 46:7

The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (KJV)

"The LORD of hosts" is also translated "The LORD of Heaven's Armies"

Selah (Hebrew) is used to stress the importance of a preceding passage- the Amplified Bible says it means "pause, and think of that". 
Clark's commentary on the Bible defines it as: Selah- This is a firm, lasting, unshaken, well-tried truth.

I can't think of anyone better to have on our side going through this than the LORD of Heaven's Armies.  Doubt is a tool of the enemy, but I take heart in knowing that the LORD of Heaven's Armies is with us, he is our fortress and refuge.

Psalm 47 goes on to say:

10 Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (KJV)

It is a choice

Today, we received some less than ideal news.  This has caused the familiar cycle of depression and wavering in my faith to start all over again.  In response, I began reading my Bible verses that I have at the ready and I prayed.  One of the prayer is one that I received in an email from Joel Osteen Ministries (mailing list):

Father, thank You for Your hand of victory upon my life.  Thank You for making a way even when there seems to be no way.  I choose to stand in faith.  I choose to believe, knowing that You are ready, willing and able to cause me to overcome in this life in Jesus' name. Amen

As I was reading this prayer I thought -there it is my answer is right there  "I choose to stand in faith.  I choose to believe, ...".  It is a choice, a conscious decision to believe in the goodness of God even when life is not going the way we would like it to or have prayed for it to.  Instead of feeling like there is something wrong with me (why can't my faith be stronger?) and letting the enemy continue to try to crack my faith I say to the 3 alright maybe 4 readers of this blog:

I choose to stand in faith
I choose to believe in the goodness of God
I choose to trust that God is working behind the scenes on my behalf
I thank God for his favor which is making a way even if I cannot see a way
I choose to put an end to worry in my life
I choose to totally trust in God every day of my life
I believe and declare:
     That God is for us and not against us
     I am in the palm of God's hand
    This hasn't come to stay, it has come to pass
     I know who I am, I know whose I am
     God makes all things work together for my my good
     God goes before me to make my path straight and easy
     The blessings of God are chasing me down and overtaking me
     I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength
     Everyone who asks, receives
     Everyone who seeks, finds
     Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened

All these things are made possible with God and by believing in Him.  I choose to believe, I choose to stand in faith.

As for the other issues and feelings that I have been wrestling with these last 2 weeks-

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (NKJV)
     I believe and declare that when I was saved, when I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior that everything that I have done, all the times that I fell short of being the man that God wants me to be was washed away by the blood of Jesus and I shall feel condemned no longer.

I am forgiven

                                                 And so are you.

Psalm 27

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation-
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a  mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I'm attacked,
I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord-
the thing I seek the most-
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord's perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me."
And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don't leave me now; don't abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I've never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

This chapter from Psalms has helped me today, I post it here in the hope that it will find others in need of His comfort.