Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Like a Red Rag to a Bull (11/28/13)
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TITLE: The Arena | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cynthia G. Peoples
12/02/13 -
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Destiny knew she was at the end of her rope. She was totally alone and almost destitute. There was nowhere to go and no one to turn to. But she did know that she was going to have to make some drastic changes in her life. “But how am I going to do that?” she asked herself, “How do I even begin?”
Destiny had just enough “religion” in her background to own a Bible. So she searched the house till she found it tucked away in a keepsake box that she kept under her bed. She grabbed the bible and held it close to her body as she carried it to the kitchen table. She began reading in the book of John and all of a sudden, the words began to make sense to her. She was reading the story about the woman caught in the act of adultery in the 8th chapter of John when she realized she needed Jesus and He was the only one that could help her!
So Destiny fell to her knees right then and there. “Please God,” she cried, “Help me and show me the way!” Then Destiny literally felt Jesus reach down from heaven and pat her on the head. “It’s okay my child,” He said, “I understand, now go and sin no more.”
From that moment on God began to go to work in Destiny’s life. She was baptized a few months later and joined a local church. She began to read her Bible more and more and prayed faithfully. But the more she tried to serve God, the more trials and temptations would come her way. She’d serve Christ for a while, then get discouraged and give up and go back to her old ways.
“You’re not worthy,” Satan would proclaim, “No one loves you or cares about you…and you sure don’t belong with Christian people. They’re all just hypocrites.”
God tells us in His word in 1Peter 5:8 to: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (NLT)
The truth is Satan’s wiles and ways to believers and un-believers alike can be compared to a bull charging at a red flag! We are all in a bull fighting arena daily and battling for our very life. God has a plan for each of us but so does Satan. And when we are filled with doubts, fears, anger, and hopelessness we are waving a red flag right in front of Satan and opening ourselves up to be destroyed. The closer we get to surrendering to letting God have His way with our lives, the harder Satan charges at us. And he will use every weakness we have to try to keep us from serving our Lord and Savior.
Our spirituality is like a new birth and we have to grow up little by little, day by day. Along the way we’re going to get bumps and bruises and fall down. But God is faithful and He picks us back up, fixes our boos-boos and sends us on our way once again. He never gives up on us and the most important thing of all is perseverance.
That’s why God tells us to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10, 11, and 12. (NLT)
So, the next time Satan comes charging at you put on the whole armor of God which is: “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6: 13 thru 18 (NLT)
May God bless you and yours always!
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