"FRUSTRATE THE ENEMY"

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Good Evening to All!

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving (testing)of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. (James 2:2-3 AMP)

We could all learn something from this little girl. The reason I chose this picture is because God's Word says "and the little children shall lead them". May we learn praise, humbleness, and childlike faith from a little child.

How many times have we heard the old expression "what doesn't kill us will only make us stronger"? Before I got serious about my relationship with God, I used to laugh about that phrase and say "yeah, right!" Little did I know that it had true meaning.

We get upset with God a lot of times for allowing things to happen to us, or letting
us get ourselves into situations. (Situations we might not have gotten into had we prayed and listened to God in the first place.)

He allows us to go through certain things not to punish us as some people believe, but to help us. To increase our faith in Him first and foremost. He wants us to learn to come to Him first with all our needs, and not "lean unto our own understanding". He also wants us to ask Him for help in everything we do. He would like to be an intricate part of our life, not just a 2 day a week visiting friend, or a long, lost relative that you call when you need something but no other time. He is in it for the "long haul" and wants to be a permanent fixture in our lives that we turn to, talk to, and listen to.

The more we do this, the more frustrated the "enemy" becomes, because he knows his time is short and that he has NO POWER when God is in the picture. The only power he has is whatever God delegates to him and allows him to have.

I like what Philippians 1:28 says. "do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign ( proof and seal) to them of [their impending]destruction, but [a token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God."

While that version kind of confused me, I looked it up in the Message Bible. It states it this way. Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, a singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you--and both because of God.

The more faith we show in God, and the more the devil sees God is standing with us, He will flee! As the verse says "resist the devil and he will flee". The thing is we need God's help to do this.

The answers to the Bible Challenge "Trees and Flowers Part 2 are as follows:
Image by Martin_Heigan via Flickr
1. d) not known (Genesis 2:16-3:17)
2. d) the person who delights in God's law (Psalm 1:3)
3. c) the person who trust in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
4. sycamore (Luke 19:4)
5. b) Bashan (Zechariah 11:2)
6. c) fig (John 1:47-48)
7. b) mint, anise, cumin (Matthew 23:23)
8. a) cornfield (Matthew 12:1-2)
9. c) olive (Romans 11:17)
10. d) healing (Revelations 22:2)

I couldn't resist this picture. It is a "pink flowering gum tree. Only God could make something this beautiful and unique.

I just realized that the comments were set on disallow again. For the life of me I don't understand how that happens when I don't even touch the options except publish or save. I'm sorry. They're fixed now.

Good Night to all and May God Bless!