Weapons of Warfare
[given to and shared under inspiration of Ha Ruach Kodesh)
(NOTE: This is a devotional from YHWH's Word Of Faith Ministries. To receive the daily devotionals, you may sign up at YHWH's Word Of Faith Ministries website)
Shalom all,
Sharing with you lessons we learned here, it's a bit long, I tried to keep it short :)
Two years ago YHWH spared us all from a tornado that ripped through the property. But that's not all HE did. Of course I couldn't possibly list everything YHWH has done for us in one email. When I think back, I recall the time YHWH put back breath into Rachael who had stopped breathing as a tiny infant sleeping in bed beside me. She was cold and blue. How HE saved her in the womb too. Her umbilical cord had a knot in it, and yet YHWH let food pass through it and she was born healthy! HE gave her breath again when she choked before she was two, and had completely stopped breathing. The ambulance was at our front door, when suddenly she took in a deep breath and began breathing again! One dark night driving on the highway we had no way of veering around an object directly in our path as both lanes beside us were occupied. We hit a large piece of steel but the car did not swerve at all, we were able to change lanes and pull into an off ramp with a blown tire and shredded rim and no other damage at all to the car. We've had our eldest son stop breathing because of asthma when we didn't even know what asthma is! We kept confessing scriptures while he struggled for breath. All glory and honor to YHWH. Though "we" confessed His Word..HE alone is worthy of glory and honor and praise! It was on HIS Word that we stood, through His Spirit within us! HalleluYAH! HE is amazing! I could share more, but tonight's that's not why I am being compelled to share.
YHWH also did something else. He exposed a shortcoming in us, that thankfully we could seek repentance for. The spirit of fear.
When we looked back to all those moment's we realized that things could of turned out horrifically, but they did NOT! All glory and honor to YHWH. During each "storm" YHWH gave us strength! Enabling us to speak in faith to every situation. We had no fear during these time, for our focus was totally on YHWH and HIS Word. There really wasn't even time to fear! We were confessing Scriptures, praising YHWH, trusting all HIS promises.
So where does the spirit of fear come in?
Ever notice that during a major crisis, most of us "hold it together", but a few hours later, when we realize how severe a situation we were in, we begin to fear what "could of" happened? When our last baby was born, I actually woke up to check to make sure she was breathing! If she even coughed the tiniest amount, the memory of our other daughter choking filled my mind and I ran to make sure the baby was ok! The next time an asthma attack came, I remembered how horrible it was watching a child struggle for air, how someone could die that way!! The next time the weatherman said we were under tornado watch, I began to pray not because I was standing on Yah's promises, but because I was scared, and began to pray simply out of fear!
After all the trials and storms YHWH brought us through, you would figure we would of learned valuable lessons! I think to Yisra'el, their journey out of bondage to the promised land. How they saw YHWH's hand so mightily! How was it they so quickly feared and grumbled and murmured? How are we any different?
I noticed in my personal walk with YHWH that the next time a storm arose that we had through HIS mercy been spared from.........my mind become flooded with all those things that "could" of happened to us, all those things I had seen on TV or read in papers or heard of via the Internet of horrors that happened to other people. And the more I meditated on those things, the less I became focused on YHWH's Word. All those confessions that brought us through the first storm.......seemed to have almost faded in comparison to the memories of horror and tragedy and sorrows we always hear about.
You know what YHWH showed us? The worst part of anything that could possibly happen...........is the part that we allow the spirit of fear to feed on in our very own minds! Not any reality of Yah's Word, not even the storm at hand, but rather, all the "if's", predictions by weathermen, the possibilities of the worst ever, the memories of scenes that other's went through, or perhaps the memories of what we were spared of ourselves.......all of these churning around, over and over in our mind. Those very memories being the ones spoken AGAINST in YHWH's Word.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Ha Moshiach;
We've been given the most amazing weapons ever! YHWH's Word!.......oh HalleluYAH! Through YHWH all strongholds are pulled down! When we begin to cast down all those thoughts of "what if's" when we stand against the spirit of fear.........yes those high things that exalt themselves AGAINST the knowledge of YHWH, when we take those thoughts captive..........we always do see victory in Yahushua! I shared with a brother that when we are ignorant of a situation, we don't seem to fear! It's when we know what "could" of happened, then we give that spirit of fear a playground. Thankfully we can repent of letting our own minds be filled with thoughts that exalt themselves against YHWH's Word. Thankfully we've been given authority and power over all the attacks of the enemy, including those that take place in our mind. Oh may each of us renew our minds daily! We renew by reading YHWH's Word, meditating on HIS Will, His promises, all the while rejoicing in all that Yahushua did, showing us, enabling us to also walk as the victorious children of YHWH we are! So, what shall we say then when a storm arises?
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Messiah
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Yahushua:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after Elohim is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
For all of you facing trials, tribulations, storms of any kind.........I pray sharing this blesses and encourages you in YHWH even as HE had encouraged us.
Ahavah v'barchot b'YHWH