Bring it!

The enemy is a sly sly devil isn’t he?

His attacks on me and family have been ferocious for the last two years.

I respond with fasting, prayer and scripture memorization.

I completed a 40 day fast 2 years ago in 2009. I heard the Lord calling me to do so long before I agreed to this massive task. It was a terrible time in my life and I desperately needed the Lord to deliver me from the tentacles of my greatest sin: unbelief.

I will write about that experience further and give you the play by play. I came out of that experience blessed. A changed person, inside and out. There is nothing that God can’t do. There is nothing beyond his grace and mercy. I am a living example.

Prayer is a part of my daily thought life. The first thing I do when I wake up is greet the Lord and thank him for this day that he hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I make the choice to be happy. I thank him for peaceful rest and then just marvel and spend time. No long lists of requests, no pleadings, just time to enjoy the company of my savior. Glory.  Throughout the day, I talk to God as if he’s that friend that I go to parties with. We sit in the back and observe, make jokes, have a blast. He’s in my car with me, in the office and we’re constantly chatting. We talk about ways to improve the next project, why my co-worker seems moody, what to eat for lunch, etc. Sometimes my prayer is super simple: Please-help-me-help-me-help-me-help-me-help-me!! Or I ask God to help the stranded motorist that got stuck on the side of the road. God is always there. He is, he was and will be.

Scripture memorization has become important in my life ever since I’ve done the Beth Moore bible study called: Believing God. I follow her blog as a “siesta” and participate in memorizing scripture every 15^th and 30^th of the month. This one practice has been a great blessing to my life. When things are being thrown at me and I can hardly keep my head above water, the scriptures I’ve memorized in the years past come to me quickly, easily and give me peace. It’s amazing. I may not remember the words in my leisure time, but when I need them they come running to my rescue. And nothing thwarts the enemy like some good scripture. It’s powerful. Even more so when said out loud. I find it helpful to memorize old school by writing the scripture over and over and over again on  a piece of paper. I also use the current memory scripture as a password so I am conscious every morning as I get into work.  I still have one of those old style rolodex and write the scripture and verse on one of the cards and keep it front and center so I have to stare at it constantly. Hiding God’s word in your heart is invaluable. When you’re destitute and broken you won’t remember to get on Bible Gateway and look up verses. When you’ve just had it, a bible may not be close by. Memorizing scripture keeps it in your heart and works as an armor against all things evil.

Here are some of the greatest hits:

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry..." (John 6:35)

"Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always)"

(I Thessalonians 5:16, AMP).

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:11-12

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, love always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men.

Colossians 3:23

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

So do not throw away your confidence: it will be richly rewarded. You need to perservere so that when you have done the will of God; you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:35-36

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would would you as its own. As it is you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

John 15:18-19 (NIV)

Turn your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.

Proverbs 2:2-4