November 28, 2005
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We’re home!
We’re finally home from Branson. Our plane arrived in Sacramento on Friday evening around 6:30pm. We had a lovely time. The time flew by way too quickly, though. Thanksgiving day was such a blessing. My daughter has not seen her Grandmother for several years so she was so excited to spend Thanksgiving with her. Her children were so good and polite. I was so proud of them.
We had yummy, yummy food! My youngest son lives in Branson with his family so he asked if I would make my dressing and a cheesecake. I brought home 3 new recipes to make for Christmas. I hope to type them onto the website soon. There is a jello recipe, homemade rolls and a dessert. I’ll write NEW next to them and they will be listed under OUR FAVORITE FAMILY RECIPES.
I got sick the night we were supposed to leave for the airport. I ran to the hospital 2 hours before we were supposed to leave. I had a bladder infection. By God’s grace I was able to get meds and we made it to the airport on time.
I think that unsettled me a bit because I felt as if I was in a spiritual battle the whole time we were gone. I continually was bombarded with thoughts of fear and anxiety.
I heard a preacher on the radio today talking about spiritual warfare and how often we forget that we are in a spiritual battle. We go about our days unmindful that our enemy is seeking whom he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Our shield of faith can be let down so easily and unaware.
I was thinking about this a lot today and how much I dislike dealing with these emotions of fear, anxiety and depression. These are 3 common traps the enemy uses against women, especially.
I remember years and years ago when I was a teen and then a young Mother how I gave into these thoughts and emotions. I was a young Christian and had not been taught to fight against them with the Word of God. Once I began dwelling on the ungodly thoughts I would sink deeper and deeper into self-pity and sin. If I dwelt on the fear then it would be magnified and torment me even more. If I entertained the depression it would send me into more depression and eventually thoughts of suicide in order to escape it.
Oh, how I praise the Lord for His Word that shines LIGHT into DARKNESS and shows us the way to be set free from these paralyzing thoughts.
Eph 6:10-17
v. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
v. 11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
v. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places.}
v. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
v. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
v. 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
v. 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil {one.}
v. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ungodly thoughts and emotions must be dealt with immediately or they will take hold and create ungodly patterns of thinking. At the first glimpse of fear, anxiety or depression our sword (the Word of God) must be pulled and used against the sinful thought. Our mind then is renewed by God’s Word and we can then put on godly thoughts and responses. This means that we must know what the Word of God says. Do we have Scriptures memorized and hidden in our heart to fight against fear? If not, then our sword will dull and we will not be fit for battle.
It’s an every day battle and I don’t imagine it will subside this side of heaven.
Hope you all had a peaceful Thanksgiving!
Hugs and blessings,
Georgene
Comments (10)
Glad to have you back!!! And so glad that you had a great time with your family!
The emotions are hard to deal with sometimes because of the world we live in…for the first time in my life I struggled with depression this past summer. It was the most horrible feeling I have ever had…I take heart medication and my doctor had perscribed some other medications for cholesterol…the mixture of certain chemicals induced the depression…Yes, at least it wasn’t because of life in general… and he adjusted my medicine, so within a month I was back to normal…but, through all of that, I got to thinking about people that go through anxiety and depression because of situations going on around them…the battles of life, a death of a loved one, financial trouble, spouse trouble, etc..and how people don’t KNOW how to overcome…a lot of people, even in our churches do not know how to overcome depression…it’s just as you said…by renewing your mind with the word of God. So, my husband and I started a class at our church on “Getting Over Depression” (notice the intials G.O.D)…we got an overwhelming response…people are so desperate and so hungry.
While I do believe in God’s healing power, He has also given us wisdom and doctors and I am not totally against drugs for those who have chronic depression due to chemical imbalances…that is between them and the Lord…I do know that some of the people in our class needed to be on something…my Lord! ha! Seriously though, as the world gets worse and worse out there, people need to be more informed on how to stand against the evils and tricks of the devil, because we do wrestle against evil forces, especially dealing with emotions and the mind!
Great post..sorry my comment is so long…I could make it longer…no? Okay! ha! This is a subject that hits close to home…thanks for talking about it (Oh, that’s another thing…people don’t want to talk about it, because in their mind, it shows a sign of weakness…I could go on and on about it!)…
God Bless and have a great day!
Hugs to ya, Connie
God just keeps telling me to press into Him. Lean on Him when I am weak, He is there to help me. I was kind of down this morning and with Him help I was able to have a productive day. I have some scriptures I’ve put up at my desk and I read them every morning. I also have one in my book and everytime I open it to read I read my scripture. I think I should put one in the bathroom. Someone once told me spiritual warfare can also be believing Him and trusting Him. I thought He was teaching this morning to do what I need to do no matter how I feel and trust Him to help me.
Hi Georgene! I’ve been memorizing the Word now, and it really has been impacting my life in a wonderful way. I’ve also been getting up early more often for morning devotions. PTL! Love, Jeani
Georgene. I know all too well the spiritual battle that we face. I have struggled with this all thru my marriage. It’s only been thru the last couple of yrs that I realize that I was depressed. God has helped me thru this. He has sent Godly women like you to help me. This yr, thru much prayer, I decided to go ahead and take some kind of meds. Thru this and trusting God for His grace and mercy, guidance and teachings, I am doing alot better. I know that God cares about every little thing that concerns my life, not matter how trivial it may seem to others. I am learning to lean on Him. He hasn’t failed me yet.
God bless you
I love reading about Christians that have gone before us living for their Lord, too! I found Martin Rinkart’s story at the site I just pasted <—- .
I noticed you are a Christian Homeschooler, also. Speaking of which… my son is most certainly done with breakfast and ready to get going! Thanks for visiting my Xanga. Have a blessed day… I will come back and read your post later…
Suzanne
Excellent post!
I love to bake, too… especially cheesecakes
Fear, anxiety, depression… the enemy of my soul has attacked me those as well… this morning I was thinking about the LORD’s battle with the enemy in the wilderness – the sword HE chose was the rhema:G4487 – Word of God… a specific Word given by the Lord for the specific temptation… not just open up the Bible and wherever it lands! I have seen some very well-intentioned young Christians do that… not understanding that they were using the Word like ‘magic’ instead of allowing God the Father do deliver them through the Truth. Also this morning I was thinking about Praising God… just like Paul and Silas (Acts 16)… if there ever is a reason, they had reason to be fearful, anxious and depressed, but instead they praised God…
We truly have all we need to be delivered from every evil attitude, thought or action in God… HE is truly all we need AND isn’t it wonderful HE sends us brothers and sisters to take part in this journey with us…
Hello and welcome back home. Thank you for commenting. I too have battled thoughts of anxiety and fear, especially in this past year (because of some health issues and marital issues), but I am confident that Christ is changing me and growing me through it all! :)
Sorry you were ill, but glad to have you back! I anxiously await your new recipes.
Hi! Glad you are back safe and sound! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Thanks for your comments on my site. I LOVE Elizabeth Elliot! What book did you find her comments about Psalm 16? I’d love to pick up a copy!
God bless!
Beth