Reporting For Duty

January 5, 2021 Gracie

The 2021 Draft – God Wants You

Do you recognize this famous wartime poster?

Responding to the Call

That’s “Rosie the Riveter” flexing her muscle.

This iconic poster came to represent millions of heroic and patriotic American women who went to work in the factories during World War II.

While their enlisted husbands were sent off to fight, these inspiring women supported the war effort here at home, all while raising children during some very difficult circumstances.

We can never underestimate the strength and fortitude of women when tasked with a noble mission!

What can we learn from their courageous response to a call?

We can learn that it’s our turn, but for a different mission.

Now that the New Year is upon us – are “we” ready to report for duty?

Our responsibility, present day, is to put on the full armor of God, and to pray.

These aren’t prayers for material wealth, our name in lights, or status.

prayer is reporting for duty

We turn prayer into a heavenly complaint desk where we ask to “speak to the manager.” We treat prayer like filling out an Amazon wish list or a godly GoFundMe. But this is not Biblical prayer. Prayer is the realignment of our warped passions and priorities so they can reflect God’s passions and priorities. Prayer is the process of developing our perseverance and endurance to follow God for a lifetime.- Dr. Michael Youssef, Bible teacher and author.

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

What we are praying for and what we are praying about is serious business.

No doubt, this will be an especially tough year to come in the history of America.

I can’t stress this enough: We must be strong and courageous to fight against the temptation to be silent in the spiritual battles that are to come.

Are we prepared to be challenged for our beliefs?

Don’t think these threats can’t happen.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. – Ephesians 6:13, (NASB).

Reporting for duty doesn’t mean sitting back and sticking our heads in the sand.

Our true strength lies in our prayers to Almighty God, our great “I Am”.

Even when it seems like things in this country are falling apart, be rest assured that God is working His plan behind the scenes.

Battlefield Prayers

While I’d love for the Rapture to happen this instant (considering how wicked the world has become) the fact is we don’t know when that will take place.

That is by God’s design.

We “could be” looking at this present darkness for a very long time.

The problems we are seeing everyday get so frustrating it’s tempting sometimes to throw up our hands and forgo our spiritual conversations with our Maker.

We may not even feel like praying sometimes, but we must pray anyway and resist that temptation. The Evil One hates a praying person.

Reporting For Duty Means Being Prepared

Reporting for duty means showing up and being prepared.

Here are a few ideas:

If you haven’t already, commit to reading the entire Bible this year. Here’s some help for challenging passages.
Memorize scripture. Jesus quoted Scripture, and so can we.
Be prepared to give an answer for your faith.
Ask for God’s will to be done when we pray.

Prayer is the breath of the warrior. The prayer-less Christian is a soldier who is dressed in shining armor but can’t make it up the hill without gasping for air. Just as the soldier needs physical conditioning, so we need spiritual conditioning in prayer. – Dr. Michael Youssef, Bible teacher and author.

Prayer is your weapon and the Lord is your strength!

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* Quotation(s) from Dr. Michael Youssef, courtesy of Leading The Way, “Walking The Walk: Developing Spiritual Endurance Through Christlike Prayer.” November 4, 2020. paragraphs 3 and 5. Web. Accessed December 24, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.ltw.org/read/articles/2020/11/walking-the-walk-developing-spiritual-endurance-through-christlike-prayer

* Quotation from Charles Spurgeon, influential Christian pastor and author. Taken from Charles Spurgeon@spurgeonbooks. 12/16/20, Web. [Facebook post]. Accessed December 23, 2020.

* Photo credit “Rosie The Riveter”, courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net. [Public Domain].

Our Exceptional God

Spiritual Warfare Prayer

October 2, 2015 Gracie

Spiritual Warfare Prayer

I came across a fantastic spiritual warfare prayer on Facebook the other day. I had recently become a fan of this author’s page and, I have to say, her morning and evening prayers are both beautiful and inspiring. It seemed to exactly fit the words I needed to hear on an especially stressful morning.

spiritual warfare prayer Has that ever happened to you?

Have you ever felt plagued by thoughts of insecurity, low self-esteem, or even doubts about your purpose in life?

I’m sure we all have at one time or another. Sometimes, without any warning at all, negative thoughts or doubts pop up in your head, seemingly out of nowhere.

It can happen anywhere and at any time.

It’s happened to me too. The spiritual nagging was frustrating and relentless at first. I kept trying to think about something else, but the rounds of self-doubt just kept coming. What could I do? I remembered to put on the armor of God.

Spiritual Attacks Will Affect All of Us

Perhaps it’s a nagging thought that you aren’t good enough to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Satan always sprinkles a little bit of truth in with his lies. Yes, it’s true no one is worthy, but we must always remember the Cross. Jesus paid the ransom for our sins and we have been redeemed. We have access to His complete forgiveness and grace.

satan's lies Satan is counting on us to forget our relationship with the Father. He seeks to destroy the family of God.

Another spiritual attack you might face is the feeling that you’re unforgivable.

Why did I act that way?

I have to check myself because I can get lost in a cloud of blaming myself for dumb decisions over and over.

The past is the past. I’ve asked for God’s forgiveness. We can never forget that we serve a God of second chances.

Please don’t dwell on your past mistakes. God will forgive you if you’ve confessed what you’ve done.

Don’t believe Satan’s lies that you’re scarred for life and God doesn’t care about you. That’s a spiritual attack.

We Question What We Don’t Understand

Since I became a Christian I never doubted the truth of the Bible. I have, however, questioned God’s reasoning (instead of praying) when things don’t go the way I planned for my life or when a loved one is critically ill. I don’t understand why bad things have to happen to people I love. Regardless, I’m only a sinner and I must trust God throughout the trial.

Don’t be embarrassed when you’re faced with various temptations. Even Jesus was a target of the evil one.

But, we can be ready for the next time the evil one strikes.

armor of God I’ve collected a list of Bible verses that I can refer back to whenever I need that armor. I highly suggest you consider doing the same. Write them down and commit them to your heart so you can recall them instantly when you need spiritual strength.

This verse from 1 John 4:4 is a perfect example:

*”You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

A Spiritual Warfare Prayer Worth Saving

When I found the spiritual warfare prayer I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, I couldn’t wait to add it to my collection of “armor.”

I wanted to share it with you too, so you can start building your own armor when the devil attacks.

This prayer was written by Christian author, Susie Larson. Many thanks to her as she was kind enough to allow me to share it with you here:

Spiritual Warfare Prayer God bless and may everything you do this week bring glory and honor to Him!

# # #

Our Exceptional God

Favorite Bible Verse

September 15, 2015 Gracie

Do You Have a Favorite Bible Verse?

Everything in the Bible is important, but sometimes there’s a verse or two that you keep referring back to. I know that’s the way it is for me.

favorite Bible verse It may be a verse that gives you strength or comfort during a difficult time in your life. Or, it may be a verse that reflects your gratitude towards God for His many blessings.

If you’ve read my blog before, then you know I’ve posted some of the favorite Bible verses from friends of mine from all over the country. It has been my joy to be able to share these verses with you because they come straight from the heart of fellow Christians.

In this deeply dark world we’re living in now, we can use all the encouragement we can get, right?

I was reading a new book I bought yesterday and came across a Bible verse in it that has become a new source of encouragement for me.

Invisible War by Chip Ingram First, the book. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend Pastor Chip Ingram’s, “The Invisible War.” It’s a book about the spiritual attacks we face as Christians and it helps guide us how to put on the armor of God. We know we’re supposed to wear the armor, but do we really know how to use it?

I’ve personally had several spiritual attacks lately. They’ve been distressing, but we know that in life, satan hates all of us. His intent is to discourage and destroy all that is of God. He will use whatever he can to distract Christians from bringing glory to God. It could come from a low blow from a friend, a public put-down at work, or even nasty comments from someone you love. These spiritual attacks seemingly pop up, almost out of nowhere. This excellent book is a great resource for when those attacks come.

The verse that really stood out for me was from 2 Kings. It’s a loving reminder that we are not alone in the battle. God does not allow us to go into a spiritual battle unarmed.

The verse is:

2 Kings 6:15-17 —

*¹⁵Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” ¹⁶So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ¹⁷Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Briefly, the prophet Elisha and his servant were facing a seemingly impossible situation. They were surrounded by the marauding army of King Aram. Their situation seemed dire, but Elisha did not lose faith. He assured his frightened servant that there was nothing to be afraid of.

The Lord heard Elisha’s prayers and the servant was at once able to see, really see, the invisible army of angels who were there by their side the whole time.

I love this! “…those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Boom, there it is!

I don’t know about you, but those verses really comfort me. We face a lot of tough times in our lives. Sometimes it’s so overwhelming, that we forget that God allows trials in our lives to perfect our faith.

The Invisible War

There is most definitely an invisible war going on right now between Heaven and satan. Our assurance? We have an army of God’s angels fighting on our behalf.

Ultimately, the victory is ours. We know who wins! We have that encouraging and blessed assurance through Jesus Christ.

The God who created this beautiful creation, also created you and me…to be victors through our steadfast belief in Him.

beautiful creation Heavenly Father, we rejoice in the knowledge that you’ve shared your Word with us in Scripture and that we have the ultimate victory through You. We continue to pray for your protection over us and for strength and courage in the challenging times ahead. Thank you for being You and for loving us so completely.

In Jesus name, amen.

Dear child of God, try not to be discouraged. You have millions of brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe who are fighting alongside you. Delight in God. He loves you so much!

Real Life Stories of Faith

Putting on the Armor of God

September 8, 2015 Gracie

Gearing Up for Spiritual Battle

In the Bible, we’re instructed to put on the armor of God. The Enemy is on our doorstep, and it’s time to start getting prepared … if you aren’t already.

putting on the armor of God Ephesians 6:13-17, NASB, says:

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

– New American Standard Bible (NASB)Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

That’s a straightforward, pulling-no-punches, command from God. Our strength is in God and in His Word. Ultimately, we are fighting against the devil’s schemes.

No one said it was going to be easy, but no battle worth fighting ever is.

We must pray, read His word, and commit scripture verses to memory so we can be prepared to answer for our faith in the tough days ahead.

Never in my life have I seen so many attacks on Christianity, babies in the womb, racial relations, and God’s design for marriage. As the political arena heats up prior to the 2016 elections, I can only imagine this hatred towards Christians will only get worse.

Blatant irreverence and rebellion towards God.

The News Media Bias is Disturbing

It’s getting real difficult for me to watch or even read the news anymore … continued attacks on pro-life supporters and God’s design for marriage between a man and a woman.

God’s will has now been vilified by the mainstream media as well as the mantra “anything goes” in our society. In fact, there are some segments of our society that want to do away with any descriptions of gender at all. Have you seen what’s happening with California restrooms and what almost happened in a Tennessee school, “he” and “she” were almost done away with.

C’mon, this is nonsense.

As Christians, we need to wake up and get our heads out of the sand.

Parents, please stay involved and watchful.

Those moms and/or dads who have their children enrolled in public schools better be prepared to de-program their kids when they get home. Not doing so is a recipe for disaster. Eventually, the culture war will come to your school and your family will either stand up for your faith in God or you’ll choose to stay silent, hoping it will all just go away.

It won’t.

We are to speak up for our faith when we have an opportunity, exhibiting the reverence we have for our Heavenly Father.

We need to spread the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ alone as quickly as we can against this growing tide of persecution. Have you heard what is happening in the Middle East?

How could anyone stay silent against persecution, even that which has come to America? I do believe we are the terminal generation.

The desecration of a national and historical place in June (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. I refuse to share a picture) was a disturbing assault on our God-given values of family and faith in our nation’s history. I knelt and cried when I saw it.

Our Nation Needs Prayer

Today, our nation needs prayer. I still hold out hope for America to be a praying nation again, but only God knows the timing of every event to come.

There are Christians in the public eye taking brave stands. That encourages me. Evangelist and best-selling author, Ray Comfort, is one whom I have tremendous respect for.

His heart and compassion for people has led him to witness to many people across the globe. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Ray has reached countless souls for Christ.

He and his team at Living Waters have also produced some wonderful films which discuss the Christian response to some of the disheartening topics of the day.

Gods design for marriage I also highly recommend the movie, “Audacity.” I’ve seen it twice now and will put the link to it below. The movie is free and just over 55 minutes long. It centers on God’s design for marriage and how to lovingly witness to homosexuals. I repeat, “lovingly.”

Now, of course, there are those people out there who hate Ray Comfort and anything having to do with Christianity. As vicious as their attacks are, we must pray for them.

Audacity is worth the watch, less than an hour out of your day

We are all sinners and in need of a Savior. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, from a different ethnic group, sexual community, old or young – none of that is the point.

“Audacity” will help you see this controversial issue with new perspective.

Here’s the link to the free Audacity movie:

God bless you all. Stay strong, my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Our Exceptional God

Top Reasons to Save Biblical Sermons

March 3, 2015 Gracie

Did You Know That You Can Save Great Biblical Sermons?

It’s true.

You can populate your hard drive with some great Biblical sermons with just a few clicks of your mouse.

Save sermons I think it’s a great idea.

Why?

Let me start out by saying that it should always be a priority to find and attend a good Bible-believing and teaching church.

You should be discerning. If you’re attending a church that preaches the infallibility of the Bible and that “sin” is still a sin, then you’re on the right track to finding a good church home.

Bible church

A Favorite Biblical Resource

But, how does saving sermons weigh into this?

Allow me to mention one of my favorite Christian resources again: OnePlace Ministries.

This is the site where you can, with their simple interface, save great Biblical sermons right to your hard drive.

Five Reasons To Save Biblical Sermons

Here are my five top reasons (in no particular order) that you should save a biblical sermon:

• If you’re ever too sick to attend church or if you ever become a shut-in due to a disability or otherwise, having your favorite topical sermons accessible on your hard drive assures that you’ll never miss a beat.

• If you haven’t found a biblical church home yet, the Bible and the OnePlace website are your resources! The website is simple to navigate. You can pick and choose your topic or pastor. I listen on an almost daily basis to at least one sermon a day when I’m getting ready for work. It’s much more encouraging and uplifting then the bad news we hear every morning on television. The only day off I take is Sunday, because I’m attending a Bible-believing church. 🙂

• The adjective “topical” sermon raises another good reason. How many times have you experienced a challenge in your Christian life and wished you had access to some guidance on that very topic? Let’s take “anxiety” for example. We’ve all experienced it. Researchers say stress and anxiety are deadly and can make you susceptible to many illnesses. Here’s the good news: on the main page of the One Place Ministries website, there’s an empty search field where you can browse topics. If you type “anxiety”, over five pages of results (sermons) pull up for you to choose from. Listen to one by a wonderful pastor and save it on your hard drive for the next time you’re feeling stressed or anxious. It can have a huge calming effect.

• Lastly, I’m sure you’ve heard the terrible news. Christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith. Terrorism is on the rise and the anti-Israel sentiments by the godless or misinformed in our society are reaching a fever pitch. This is an age of lawlessness and darkness like I never thought I would see in my lifetime. There may come a time when biblical churches are harassed to a point where people are afraid to even attend. There are shades of that happening now. Some news-making churches have unfortunately bowed to societal pressure.

God will not honor that concession.

churches should not bow to pressure Remember, you can always save sermons in case it ever gets to the point where Christians are not allowed to openly worship and express their faith. Current news events point to a rising demonic influence in the world that is threatening to overtake everything we hold dear as Christians. Churches are being picketed, vandalized, and verbally slapped by a mainstream media for standing up for the infallibility of the Bible.

How To Save A Sermon

OnePlace website

You can save a sermon by going to the OnePlace.com website. Register with your email address. Once you have access, you can browse and decide which sermons you want to save. When you find one, download the mp3 version to your hard drive. Now you will always have great biblical teaching, even as the world around us becomes increasingly dark.

Our country is on a downward spiral. We could easily place blame on the political party in charge, but it goes way deeper than that.

Way deeper.

Persecution of Believers

I believe that you should save Biblical sermons because, as the hatred towards Christians and Christian businesses continues to grow, our very access to Scripture may be increasingly limited. I have no doubt the internet controllers will threaten Christian broadcasts and websites. It’s all very anti-God.

We don’t know the timing of God’s divine plan to rapture His church. But, through Scripture, we do know that End Times prophesy is unfolding right before our very eyes.

Remember, dear readers, God is still on the throne, always and forever. He has promised to never leave nor abandon us.

Save Biblical sermons

Put On The Armor Of God

I’ll close with some verses from Ephesians 6:10-17, NASB, which encourages us to put on the armor of God –

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [e]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.

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 [f]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Our Exceptional God