"GODS AT WAR" Day 1

Welcome 

to the "gods at war" daily devotional exercises.  Hope they are as powerful for you as they are for me.  Be encouraged - God is with you.  All that follows has been adapted from the "gods at war" combat journal.  Since there is not an electronic version - we've decided to get the questions to you this way.  Please note that this is only inspired by the Combat Journal and not directly copied.  There is much more helpful information in the Combat Journal that will help you go much deeper into these exercises and do inner work which would bear great fruit as you continue on this journey.  I have also added additional questions, a twist to some of the exercises, and an evening scripture reading and prayer.  I am praying for you each day, as well as journeying through these devotional exercises myself.  Enjoy and press on.

Before you can confront the enemy - you first have to know who the enemy is.

Each morning this week I will encourage you to ponder one of Idleman's 7 diagnostic questions from our first session on Sunday morning.

This Morning

Ponder:  What has most disappointed you in life?

While you ponder this throughout your day - do not be ashamed of anything.  Instead bring it into the light knowing you have a God who loves you deeply and desires your heart.  Trust in his grace and mercy is key for this exercise.  Don't judge yourself or back away - temptation to do so is only the enemy.  You have the power of the Holy Spirit that will give you strength to authentically look deep into this question.

So, what has most disappointed you in life?  Why does this circumstance disappoint you?  What implications might your disappointment have?

This Evening

After considering this question earlier today - try writing out your disappointment on paper or expressing it through a drawing.  False gods are able to survive because they often operate under the radar.  Writing it down or expressing it through a drawing, painting, picture, piece of clay (or playdough) - drags this disappointment out into the open where it cannot hide and grow in the darkness.  You might chose to destroy it when you are done so that no one else can see it.  If you have a spouse or intimate friend, you might consider doing the activity together and sharing your answers with one another.

Reflections

What were today's activities like for you?

Scripture and Prayer  

1 John 5:21 - "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

The disciples were often called "children of God" or "children of the Kingdom" by Jesus himself.  Here now, Jesus calling you a precious child of God - Jesus' own brother or sister in The Kingdom of Heaven.  Place before Him your disappointments and imagine his light shining so bright in that area of darkness that it disintegrates before your eyes.

Abba Father, I am not perfect.  I am a broken person and yet you love me.  You know the depths of my mistakes and evil thoughts and you still call me your own.  Gratitude for your mercy and forgiveness floods my soul.  Work a new desire in my to worship you and you alone.  Reveal yourself to me anew each day and open my ears to hear your voice - open my eyes to see your loving arms reaching for me throughout the day.  Let me respond to your invitation with praise and thanksgiving.  You are my God and I am your child.  Amen.

SYRIA - Thoughts & Prayers

As I watched Pres. Obama address the nation last night, I listened to his plea for understanding and support as He and other world leaders deliberate and discern the best course of action in regards to the Assad regime and Syrian civil war.

I found myself asking, what is justice in this situation? How would justice best be served? 

Those who know me will tell you that politics are not an area where I focus much of my attention. In fact, those who know me very well would say that my faith and relationship with God comes before governments and political parties. 

I have been aware of the Syrian conflict for sometime and as so many of you, I have been getting news updates daily about changes in the situation.  However, for whatever reason I was struck last night with a compelling sense of grief for the families in Syria who have suffered through the most recent attack of chemical warfare. 

As the president spoke, I had flashes of imagery in my mind - what if that were me and my family...what if I were the one watching my child suffocate and begging for them to breathe and survive. It is a heart breaking thought - and most heartbreaking is that these actions are being carried out by their own government. It nearly made me weep aloud for their pain. In that very moment I felt compelled to give thanks to God for allowing me the privilege of being an American, where civil liberties are protected and the value of human life is high - especially in comparison to other nations. I gave thanks for all of those who are living and dying to protect the freedoms we share as Americans.

Only by living in this tension between sorrow and gratitude could we ever authentically reflect on the meaning of justice and how justice would be served in this situation. I hate war and violence, nearly to the point of pacifism (using hyperbole)...but the thought of mass groups of people being targeted, abused, and murdered evokes an almost involuntary response - a desire to stand up for the oppressed, even at the risk of persecution - as Christ did for me, and every other person in the world.

I don't have the answers. I don't know whether it is right or wrong to take action in Syria... All I can do is pray - lift up all those in pain and in grief - all of those who are in leadership positions around the world, and trust in the all powerful God to continue to place His hand over them all. I could sleep soundly last night rejoicing in the knowledge and truth of God - that God is love, that God is good, that God is in the business of redeeming, and that God takes such an interest in the business of humans that he would become one of us in order to conquer death for us all. 

In these unsure times it is easy to get wrapped up in the bad news and the scary "what ifs" of the future - but i am convicted that this is not our (civilians') burden to bear. Perhaps our burden is to pray and trust - to love and help - to come alongside those unlike us - and to be open enough to allow God to change our hearts to being more like his.

Will you join me in prayer?

God - you know the brokenness of humanity and yet you continue to love us and call us into your kingdom. Show us your justice. Give us wisdom to choose the right path. Jesus - I lift up to you our nation's president and leaders who are diligently working on making our country safe and the world as just as they can. I know you, with all of us, are praying for peace - interceding on our behalf, seated at the right hand of God...Light - righteous path for us now. Reveal your way and let all people come trust in you. I lift up Syria - both sides of the conflict there - and pray for reconciliation, comfort, healing, and peace. 

Holy Spirit, move in the world. Cover every crevasse of creation with your grace, mercy, and kindness. Make your presence known throughout the world in a way that all nations would work together to bring about God's kingdom of peace and unity in love on here and now. Remind us all that life is not about dying and going to heaven one day - but about bringing heaven here to earth with the help of you - the One True and Triune God.

What are you seeking?

What are you seeking?  Do you ever wonder if the spiritual journey could be more clear?  Have you ever sat around a dinner table on Wednesday night or in Sunday School class on Sunday morning and wondered, "Will I ever hear God's voice louder than this?"

Most people don't have a solid group of spiritual friends, and that is especially true for men. Intentional relationships with others are an important part of our spiritual journey.  Spiritual friendships help us to connect with the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.  They serve as guides along the path toward Christ-likeness.  Spiritual friends keep us accountable to ourselves and to our faith.  Everyone needs spiritual friendships.  Spiritual friendships are deeper relationships than those you build on the sidelines of the soccer field or upstairs with the moms during dance practice.  In some cases, spiritual friendships become stronger than some familial relationships.  They require trust, commitment, and brotherly love.  These kinds of relationships don't happen overnight or by accident.  Spiritual friendships are intentional and they take time. 

Often, churches overlook this important area of ministry or believe that these kinds of relationships will develop in Sunday School or in a Wednesday night study.  Although this happens sometimes, it is rare because the purpose of such opportunities is not covenant relationship; it is Christian education. 

Life Groups' purpose is spiritual formation through relationship building, prayer, and sharing our Christian journeys with one another.  Groups are forming now based on common life experiences, age, and life-stage.  If you are interested in going deeper into you spiritual journey and sharing that experience with others for the sake of encouragement, prayer, accountability, and transformation - Life Groups are for you.  The Life Group format makes participating simple and although a commitment is necessary, it is not a burdensome one.  To learn more about Life Groups and how you might get involved, click the link below.  If you already know Life Groups are for you, click the second link to get a participation form.

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