fighting.

Prompt: When did you struggle?

I feel that struggle can come in many different ways. I can struggle in a fight (which I did this past year and won mind you—thanks Mahaffey-butt), or struggle to get up in the mornings, or struggle to fully give myself over to the cause of Christ. In my life I feel that at some point in time we will have endured all types of struggles in life, but it isn’t the struggle that defines who we are, but rather the response we have in the midst of adversary.

For me I would say the biggest struggle I have is when I am in the very presence of my Father. I heard a wise man say that our biggest struggle we will have with the enemy is during or after a spiritual high. Why? Because Satan doesn’t want us there as professors of the faith. There is so much truth behind it. And if we look in scripture we will see that even Jesus went through the very same thing…

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written,"'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, 'and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. Luke 4:1-14

Here we see that Jesus himself struggled with the enemy when He was spending intimate time with the Father. And how did Jesus respond? By quoting scripture and standing firm in His belief that the Father would take care of His every need. Jesus found rest at the Father’s side and by doing so He was able to resist every temptation that Satan threw at Him.

Now as for me I have responded like Jesus. I have stood firm on His sweet and perfect promises. But then again I have fallen in my struggle. More times then I would have liked to. And in the moments of each fall I would hang my head in shame. But I can feel even to this day that God Himself takes His hand and lifts my head. He looks at me and says that forgiveness is mine because of Jesus. And in that I can stand firm. In that promise I find full hope. I find full relief. I find full rest.

His grace is beautiful isn’t it? “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” Lamentations 3:22

Until next time!