Choosing my favorite weapon

Every warrior has a favorite weapon and mine is the phrase, "I choose Jesus."  Those three simple word don't appear to be awe inspiring or fear worthy but they are the three most powerful words one can ever utter.

This week I've been suffering from great anxiety, and if you suffer you already understand that it sneaks up on you and comes and goes in varying degrees of debilitation.  The ones that hit me this week have been very powerful indeed.  Ironically I am grateful for the memories that these attacks bring because they reckon back to the time when I was a slave to anxiety and depression.  So while I battle these feelings of paranoia and fear I take the time to appreciate just how far those three words mentioned above have taken me! 

While I may never be entirely free of these attacks I now have the weapons, skill, and courage to fend them off all given to me by our Lord Jesus Christ who stands with me and battles for me. 

So in the midst of an attack I choose Jesus.  When faced with fear I choose the Lord.  And when those negative feelings have passed I choose my Lord all the more, with gratitude and praise.

All of my days - I choose Jesus!  I choose to believe that I am who he created me to be for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.   I choose to believe that I am a child of God, a citizen of the Kingdom of heaven, and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  I choose to believe that I can walk in freedom and peace just like he's promised.  I choose these things.  And when I do I release his power and promises  into my life and find myself free of  fear and paranoia once again. 

With these three words:  "I choose Jesus" comes the greatest hope that the world has ever seen.

Conversations with our Father

I saw this cartoon on the wall where I work.  It struck me as profound truth, and I wanted to share that with you.  To often I make too big of a deal out of prayer.  It does not have to be a complex ritual.  It does not have to be filled with bible verse or formal language.  While all of these things are beautiful, and have their place, many times prayer can and should just be a quiet conversation with our best friend.  Yes he is the Lord of the Universe.  Yes he is our King and our Father in heaven.  But he is and always will be our friend.  So today I'm going to have a long casual conversation with my friend, who knows all and will always love me.  I hope you do too.

Welcome Warrior

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13

You may not feel like a warrior.  You may feel weak and beaten down by the world.  But keep in mind that while warriors march into battle, they usually come limping back.  And their wounds only serve to punctuate their courage.

Their scars and yours should become points of pride.  You are reading this blog.  You are still standing.  You are fighting the good fight even during the times that you don't think you can fight any more.  And I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and we can fight the darkness together.

Welcome Warrior.  I'm VERY glad that you're here.