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We certainly are in the end times!  Look at the things that are happening around us.  The world and its people are displaying all of the predicted end-time manifestations - earthquakes, killer storms, disease, moral decay - just to name a few. And, in the midst of it all we as individuals are in the middle of wave upon wave of spiritual attack.  It is a 'telling time'.  How we react to the attacks that come against us reveal so clearly what we truly believe - what we trust in - where we place our faith.  Our reactions and the words of our mouth give us away.  We can no longer hide behind our 'religion'.  It is a time when we are being called to put God's Word - all He has promised - to work in our lives.  We can no longer just nonchalantly say - "Oh, yes, I believe the Bible."  - and then go on as though we had never read it.  It is time to take God at His Word!  Ask - as you pray for understanding and wisdom. (Ps. 25:4-5, Ps. 119:130&135, Prov. 1:23, Jn. 14:26, Jas. 3:17)  As we get more and more of the Word in us we will live as God intended us to - even through - especially through - the attacks! 

Stop for a moment and do a "Thought Check"  -  What have you been thinking today?  What have you 'fed' your spirit - what is it meditating on?  Be honest with yourself.  You don't have to tell anyone else.  Take time to get quiet and remember what thoughts you have entertained today.  Now, honestly - what type of thoughts took up most of your time?  Were they thoughts that encouraged your faith in God's promises - or thoughts that encouraged your faith in fear and doubt?   Faith is in us.  We can't help that.  We put our faith to work every moment of every day.  That's just the way we were made.  But - we have a choice how we 'apply' that faith.  Will we use it to put God's promises into action - or will we use it to give power to the negative attacks that Satan would so much like to inflict upon us.  Faith is not a matter of great effort on our part - it is simply making a decision to give ourselves to it.  In other words --- what we allow to occupy our thoughts will then create words and actions - these words and actions direct the path our life takes.  We can be defeated or we can be victorious - the choice is ours.  It doesn't really matter what we see with our physical eye - what does God say about it????  That is truth.  No matter what our physical eye sees we can still be the victor when we stand with God and trust His Word.

Here's an illustration.  The enemy approaches you with a package.  It may not look all that attractive - but - being the curious individual you are - you take it and open it.  Inside you see a strange looking vest. It has a collar, and a large pocket on the back.  Its not really something you would pick out for yourself - actually its just plain ugly!  But - you try it on anyway.  Hmmm.... Its surprisingly comfortable.  Easy to wear.  Oh -- look there's someone else with a similar vest.  You get together to compare them.  Funny - the more you compare the heavier the vest seems, but its cozy.  Look - someone else with a vest.   Let's form a group!  Let's talk about our vests and how ugly they are and how heavy they are getting!  We will be able to 'understand' each other.  (don't confuse this with bearing one another's burdens - and act of agreeing with God's Word concerning the situation)  More and more join the little group.  The more we discuss the uglier the vest looks - the heavier it is - and ---  Sometime when you weren't paying attention the collar was snapped tightly around your neck.  Pretty snug fit!  More conversation - heavier weight - tighter collar...  Finally the day comes when the comfort the vest once provided is seen for the burden it truly is.   You want to be rid of it - how?  Breaking free of the burdensome yoke the enemy presented to you is as easy as accepting the salvation that Jesus gave to us.   It is an act of our will - it is making a decision to fill our minds and our spirits with what God has said and - each time the old thoughts try to come back -   to reject and refuse them.  You can do it!  It gets easier with practice.   The more you fill your mind and spirit with what God says - the less room there is for fear and doubt.  One day you will stop in the middle of your praise and joyful response to the Lord and realize that "Whoa!!  I have changed!"  Your physical eye may not see the fulfillment of the promise as yet - but you will know in your spirit that in God's eye it is already done!  Just as you are sure that you are born again - you will know!  There is no comfort - no protection - no peace that can be more fulfilling than that which comes from confidence in God! 

Remember -- Faith is not effort  --  it is not striving -- it is not like using will power!  Faith places all the burden on God and in return He gives us His promise!  Wow - what a trade!  The responsibility to "make" the promise a reality is not ours - it is His - He did not tell us that we would make His Word come to pass - He promised that He would!  All He required of us is complete and total trust.  If He said it - I believe it!!! 

Eccles. 2:26
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God....


2 Peter 1:4
Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

John 7:17
If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.