Hope Without Limits

Where do you struggle the most in your life?

What looks like your downfall or weakness in your eyes?

Where does it seems like the enemy continues to come against you to try to steal, kill and destroy something in your life? (John 10:10)

Surprise, surprise …. that’s probably your biggest strength.

Think about it.  When there is a battle taking place … whether military or in a game of sports … what is the biggest win?  To take out your opponent’s biggest strength because it provides both a physical and emotional impact, a double whammy.

For me it’s hope.  Honest.  It’s where the enemy hits me the most.  I’m in week four of trying to recover from an emergency root canal due to complications from the Fibromyalgia.

The enemy just seems to keep putting situations in my path to try to tell me:  nothing is going to change; why do you even bother; there is no light at the end of the tunnel; it just is what it is.  I’m guessing you have thought or felt similarly at some point if you are reading this blog.

But then I realize I have this huge, HUGE weapon.  It is called choice.  And with the weapon of choice, I can take hold of the 2-edged sword of praise.  It’s pretty amazing what praise does when you choose to wield it.  Why?  Because God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3)  Our Heavenly Father receives that choice as a sweet sacrifice because His Son, our Savior, knows what it costs when you are tired, worn out, overwhelmed, hurting physically and/or emotionally and you choose to trust, to praise, and to worship our Heavenly Father.  Jesus set the example at the last supper (Matthew 26:30) and at Gethsemane (Luke 22:42-44).

Are you wondering what does a 2-edged sword of praise look like?  Think light saber as used by a Jedi knight in Star Wars.  Yup.  The “on button” is choice.  It cuts through the darkness.  It makes a way for Our Heavenly Father to inhabit our praise and to take what the enemy has purposed for evil and to turn it to His good purpose. (Genesis 50:20)

I’m not saying it’s easy.  I am saying it’s worth it.

Again, where do you struggle the most?  That’s your gifting.  Seriously.

Now that you know your enemy’s strategy you can respond with “hey, thanks for pointing out where I am so gifted.” 🙂  Followed by I choose to praise the Lord for the gifts He has created in me.  I choose to rejoice in the One who loves me and who is ready to overwhelm you and me with more blessings than we could ever imagine so that each of us will always be taken care of in every way and we’ll have more than enough to share.

There’s a reason to hope!