The Battle Only Within, Never Without
Every so often I am reminded of things I've done and said in the past.
My past sin; my cross I bear.
It can be quite overwhelming at times, these memories.
Something sometimes unrelated, sometimes quite related, remind me of my old self... and the shell of a man that was removed from me.
Life is challenging enough dealing with the thorn(s), some that may not likely be removed, let alone being reminded of the things I willfully did and said times ago.
I beg Him to remove them all, or at least only allow the memories to linger but allow for a failed response to current temptation(s).
But I, and we who have been gifted faith, have in the world with us the Way necessary, already won for us.
We have the Holy Spirit living within us leading us to victory time and time again.
We have prayers directly to the Father's ears, from within our heart and mind, in silence or spoken, that places us before the thrown of Grace.
We have the Word of God, written on our hearts and in printed form.
We have the testimony which reminds us the best news, the good news ( Gospel ) any human being can ever hope to hear and know.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Yeshua the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- Hebrews 4: 14-16We also have fire-branded first-hand experience of what it means to walk the Way to heaven, written down for us, and also evident in many who live by faith Today.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
- Hebrews 12: 1-3So when the thoughts begin an onslaught and the spiritual battle begins, these testimonies and experiences all authored from Above, have been written to encourage us, to feed us, to inspire us and to remind us we are never alone... no matter what our mind or tempted heart may momentarily ponder.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things Above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things Above, not on earthly things.
- Colossians 3: 1-2The battle is not with physical weapons, as some are confused due to their fear and state-religion.
The battle is always in the Spirit against things we, thanks be to God, cannot see with the human eye.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5
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