Month: May 2015

Spiritual Battle is Real (and so is the Devil)!

“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” ―CS Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Warning: What you will read below may sound crazy and illogical to most people but I tell you, it’s not a work of fiction. Just disregard this post if you don’t believe in the devil.

I have always known that the devil – Satan, is real and he is our greatest enemy. I also know that the devil’s agenda is to kill, steal and destroy as many people as possible so I don’t have any doubt about his existence.

This is also the reason why I consider Screwtape Letters as one of my most favorite book of all time because the book has really given me a concrete picture how spiritual battles really take place in a believer’s life. It aptly describes the ways and means of the devil in tempting and deceiving a child of God.

Though I am really convinced of the devil’s existence, I admit that I haven’t really taken him seriously in the past. Either it’s because I have a shallow understanding of his presence and strategies or he just simply don’t consider me a threat to his agenda so he doesn’t spend too much time on me, so I don’t have a first-hand experience of his attack.

It was only this year when I became fully aware of the devil’s work in my life, when I have also started getting serious to do the ministry that God has entrusted to me. I started this year full of hope to truly do the Lord’s work only to find myself frustrated and disappointed in the end because the situation becomes more and more difficult. I also shared my sentiments to my leader but she just told me that that’s the way it is because the enemy is also doing double time to distract us.

Then I got encouraged again, after our church’ national cell leader’s summit last April so I was determined again to fullfil my commitments to the Lord. Then, life happens again and I ended up feeling frustrated and discouraged again. As you can see, it has really become a cycle. I don’t want to remain that way so I really wanted to break the cycle, but even if I want to break it, I don’t seem to have the strength to continue and get out of my difficult circumstance.

Praise God that I came across with this article and I learned that I am under spiritual attack. It was only after I read the article when I have started to understand what is actually happening to me. I also thought of sharing the article to my friends at church and their responses and reactions tell me that what’s happening to me is also common to most of us. One brother even told me that he has also experience the same after the summit. So I am now convinced that the devil has started keeping his eye on me.

But so what if I learned that the devil is real? Well, it reminds of the truth written in Ephesians:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It was really a comfort for me to know that what I’m going through is a battle that’s supposed to be won in the spiritual realm. It’s also an encouragement to know that what’s happening to me is not necessarily my fault after all. The greatest lie that the devil will tell us is that we are a failure and I tell you, it’s really paralyzing once you believe in that lie.

Praise the Lord that I am now aware of the real situation so now I know what strategy to use. Our greatest weapon against the enemy, of course, is prayer. And I believe this is what God is really teaching me at the moment – to become more and more prayerful. Because without God, we cannot really stand against the devil’s attack.

Dear Lord

Today, I will not complain
I will not cry out to you
And tell you how discouraged,
Frustrated and disappointed I am.

I will not tell you how much
I really want you to get me out
of this place
Nor I will ask You to take away
this cup from me

I will not tell you how sorry
I am for disobeying You
because honestly, I’m not.
I’m busy wallowing in self-pity
to think about of the graveness
Of my own sin by simply disobeying you,
That by not doing the good things
I ought to do , I have already sinned against You.
But by not being sorry about it, I also admit that I am bothered
I am bothered that
I don’t feel sorry at all.

Yes, I will not tell you about all
these things
Because I know You already
know it
And even if I say it, I know that You will not let me get out of this place without learning a lesson (or two)
Because even if I don’t like it,
You know that I need it.
So yes, I’ll rest my case.

I will not also ask for strength
because I know that my strength
Will fail sooner or later.

But today I will ask You,
That as I go through this realm of the unkown
Please hold me tight
Don’t let me go
Don’t let me slip away
Because I know that if You do,
I have nowhere else to go.

In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your daughter,
Cary

I Made My First Lyrics Video!

Yes! Because if you can still remember, I’ve mentioned before that the title of this blog was inspired by the song ‘Ordinary Day’ by one of my favorite  Christian artist, Ginny Owens. Since I can’t find a music video online, I tried to make one so that you’ll be able to listen to it as well.

As I meditate on the lyrics of the song when I was making this video last night, I can’t help but feel amazed at how the song speaks true to this blog and to my life as well. Truly, with Jesus, there’s no such thing as an ordinary day.

As my way of celebrating my blog’s first anniversary, here’s my first ever song video. Pardon the quality. 😀

The Best Way to Test Yourself and Know Christ Lives in You

I remember when I was a baby Christian, I used to doubt if Christ really lives in my heart. So I asked God about it and He confirmed it to me through His word and showed me how different I am after I met Him. The real test of having a personal relationship with Christ is a changed life. If you can’t pinpoint the difference between your life before Christ or your life after you met Him, then think again, repent and make up your mind to accept Him in your life as your personal Lord and Savior and be determined to renounce your old life and follow Him all the way.

Dave Malnes's avatarWITNESS WELL

The most compelling promise given in the Bible for believers is that Christ lives in you. It is a reality that our human minds cannot comprehend. For the Spirit-filled Christian, Christ is no longer an abstract image looking down from the heavens, but a real presence absorbed in their day-to-day life.

How does a believer make Jesus more real in their life?

View original post 505 more words

Reckless Trust, Naked Faith

Reckless Trust. Naked Faith.
These are the recurring themes of my quiet time with God for the past few months. God knows how willing I am to be used by Him for His kingdom but every time I try to take the first step, things get in the way and I get discouraged and feel trapped so I can’t move on. Praise God for this video for it is really an encouragement. What I need is a major heart operation and I know it will be very painful.

Will you please pray for me? I really want to win this battle but I know I can’t do it alone. Your prayers will be very much appreciated. Thank you.

The Parable of the Two Sons

    “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
    ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.    
     Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
     “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
     “The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32)

I hate to admit it but between the two sons from the parable, I can identify myself more with the second son. God knows how guilty I am when it comes to commiting the sin of omission. Everytime  God reveals something new to me, I always tend to answer, ‘yes Lord, I’ll do it.’ Or sometimes I’ll say, ‘yeah Lord, you’re totally right and I agree with you!’. Then I will think about what I‘ve learned for a long time until I totally forgot the things that God has told me to do.

When I was a younger Christian, I thought that it was okay. I mean, I thought it’s ok to think about God most of the time. It was only this year (or maybe late last year) when I finally realized that God does not want the Truth He revealed to me to just remain as an idea. He wants me to really act on it and take a step of faith. And God will not stop until I’ve learned to apply it and has eventually became part of me, even if I have to go through it for several times.

So what have I learned from this process? Doing the will of God requires cooperation on my part. He is very much willing to accomplish great things through me but I need to put myself in proper position where I can easily receive the grace He has poured out on me. I need to unlimit God by taking the necessary step of faith he requires from me.

The Truth is, I’m not actually busy

But I feel so exhausted and unproductive these past few months. Ironic, right? And it’s the truth. I’m in the depressive mood for the past few weeks and I don’t understand why. I want to spend time with people but being with people drains out all the energy in me.

Will you please pray for me? I want my joy to be restored again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote this draft earlier today, on my way to church, but praise God  because He somehow answered my prayer through the message during the worship service.

The message is about the importance of connection and I was encouraged because God made me realize that I can’t afford to live a life of isolation anymore. I am a member of Christ’s Body so I should now live a life that is connected to the body. Words can’t express how joyful I am about today’s msg so lemme just say, praise the Lord!!