Category: Victory

Bitter-Sweet Moments — Easter Triumph

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment God & Bible, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , , ,
Bitter-Sweet Moments — Easter Triumph

Often the times that most influence our lives come from bitter-sweet moments; times of deep distress mingled with times of unspeakable joy. Which bitter-sweet moment instantly comes to your mind? A wrong turn that made you late for an appointment but prevented you from being involved in an accident? Having to relocate, leaving good friends and neighbors only to connect with amazing people in your new location? We all have them, don’t we? Bitter-sweet moments or as my grandchildren call them “sappy” — a combination of sad and happy.

As mothers, we know the intensity of birth pangs followed by the joy of holding a newborn baby. We have watched that same infant become a teetering toddler, repeatedly falling before learning to walk with confidence. We have bandaged wounds, comforted aching hearts, and waved goodbye to mature progeny, venturing out on their own. Each stage carried with it bitter-sweet moments — moments of pride mixed with closing of chapters in our relationship.

Just like every mother, Mary, the mother of Jesus, witnessed all these moments and more.

Could any bitter-sweet moment be compared to Good Friday — the betrayal and murder of One completely innocent? On the heels of Jesus’ triumphant entry came His execution. Did the heart-wrenching pain of Mary’s sorrow allow her to remember the words of the old prophet, Simeon, spoken years earlier over her infant son,

” … This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Luke 2:34-35

Bitter-Sweet Moments

Then the resurrection! Bitter-sweet moments encapsulating time and releasing the pivotal events which define Christian faith. Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday fulfilled thousands of years of prophecy. Salvation, redemption, and victory over sin and death burst forth in magnified voice, “It is finished!”

Roman powers could neither hold Him to the cross nor keep Him in a grave. Christ’s substitutionary death took our place and paid for our sin, not His.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5

In those bitter-sweet moments, Jesus demonstrated the enormity of His love for us:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proved His divine nature while guaranteeing eternal life for all who would believe in Him.

Life Within: Aeron Brown Art

Slow Down and Listen

As Christians, we may easily lose the wonder of these significant events. Their repetition dulls our hearts to the magnificent of grace of these bitter-sweet moments. This Easter may we slow down enough to listen — to hear the age-old story with fresh vision and tender hearts.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Colossians 2:15

All creation groaned, waiting for the day that long-time slaves would be freed from the bondage of sin and death. Far more than historical, Jesus’ death and resurrection must also become personal and transformative.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“
Galatians 2:20

Believe and Receive

Do you believe Jesus’ death paid the price for your sins? That His death paid a debt you owed to God and could never pay? Will you receive His sacrifice on the cross as a substitute for you? The transfer cost Him everything and us nothing.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10

In some ways, this might sound far too simple. And yet in another way, it requires us to confess Jesus Christ as Lord in full submission to His will and ways. When we will believe these things in our hearts and confess Him as our Savior, we participate in the salvation He has provided. Far more than lip service, this leads us to radical life transformation.

What an exchange! What a marvelous, outrageous extension of unmerited grace! The worthy giving Himself for the unworthy. The holy becoming a substitute for the vile.

There is no more powerful or significant message. May those bitter-sweet moments that occurred over two thousand years ago become more than a historic event. May they become personal and transformational. With all my heart, I invite you to receive Him today.

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Jesus, Hope of the World

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment Christian Living, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , ,
Jesus, Hope of the World

Only when securely anchored in the One true Hope — Jesus, the Hope of the world — will we possess a peace that passes all understanding. Many sources offer the illusive elixir of hope. Though claims may be big, none produce the hope we find in Christ Jesus.

In what, or whom, do you place your hope? Maybe, in finances, the stock market, or a future inheritance? In family or true friends? Many people place their greatest hope in themselves — personal abilities, knowledge, prowess, good looks, or whatever other strength they possess. Often without realizing it, I have been guilty of all of these false hopes at some time or another.

Ironically the most secure place for anyone to put their hope comes from what intuitively feels the most unreliable — placing one’s hope and faith in God.

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.“
1 Thessalonians 1:3

Faith produces work. Love prompts us to labor — or more literally “to toil with pain”. However, the ability to endure any trial, to remain steadfastness under duress, and to patiently (even cheerfully) remain consistent throughout the ups and downs of life, comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Hope of the World

Fifty-three times we find the Greek word for hope, elpis, in the New Testament. The verb form of the same word appears another 31 times. Paul defines Jesus as “our hope.”

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,”
1 Timothy 1:1

Matthew, one of the Jesus’ twelve apostles, quoted Isaish when he declared,

“And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
Matthew 12:21

One hope for all! If we could pinpoint the missing ingredient in so many people today, it would be hope. How many trudge through day after day, not believing for anything better? They walk afraid of being toppled by the “next thing.”

But at just such a time, hope appears quietly and comes gently. It rejects denial of present circumstances and far exceeds wishful thinking. It shows up in the worst of times, giving people the stamina to walk through incredible pain and trauma.

“The feeling of hope activates areas like the prefrontal cortex—the same region responsible for goal setting, decision-making, and problem-solving. When we feel hopeful, our brains light up with activity that helps us plan, persist, and persevere. In other words, hope is not passive. It is profoundly active.”
(From the Psychology of Hope)

Isn’t this exactly what the Bible says about “endurance inspired by hope.” Science proves the benefits of what Jesus has already given to us. Pass anyone a ray of hope and see the difference it makes in their mental and physical wellbeing. Other hopes will fade; hope in Jesus Christ never will.

Internal Hope

From the outside in and the inside out, God works His perfect work within us.

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.“
Colossians 1:27

The fastest and best way to drill deep in hope is to immerse oneself in the truth of Scripture. Below you will find a short list of my favorites, but a simple search will help you uncover your own verses of truth.

  • “… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
  • “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
  • “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).
  • “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).
  • “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18).

These and so many other Bible verses about hope contain rich encouragement, inviting us into realms of deepening awareness of His faithfulness and love.

A Vision

In those tranquil moments between sleep and awake, I saw many butterfly-women coming from their chrysalises. Some barely emerging. Others resting on branches with gentle wisps of wind only slightly lifting their wings. Others began to stretch their fragile wings out and upward. Still others slowly ascended, rising to explore new ways of life. I thought of the many women, young and old, whom I love — no longer held within the once-safe chrysalis. Then, I began to pray for the sweet gentle breath of Holy Spirit to whisper over and into them a hope that would carry them through their transition. I also prayed that God’s peace would fill them as they became both anchored in Him and trusting in His unfailing goodness and love to carry each one into His “new way of life.”

Did the butterfly know what future awaited them? I think not.

There were many. The sky was filled with these graceful and beautiful butterfly-women … first quietly resting, and then gently rising … knowing and coming into maturity of faith, identity, and destiny. Each chrysalis was in the form of a tear drop. These butterfly-women wore new garments called dignity. Their wings were called strength.

The vision became symbolic of hope — the hope of the world through Jesus Christ — to those who held little if any hope.

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Knocked Down But Not Out!

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , , , ,
Knocked Down But Not Out!

The enemy’s assault against you, your family, ministry, and calling may be intense. Do you feel knocked down? Oh friend, you are not out! In God’s Kingdom, the count against us is never final, no matter how great the failure or loss.

Softball became my sport of choice way back in country school. Children from grades one to eight attended our little school. A small-framed little girl, like me, didn’t stand a chance against much larger boys. I always held last place on the roster. Almost every noon hour over the summer, a softball game would occur. I stood at the plate. The bat dangled precariously off my shoulder, as I fixed my eyes on the incoming ball. SMACK! The bat dropped from my hands as I fell to the dirt. The incoming ball had slammed against my head, knocking me unconscious. Of course, no one considered the consequences of concussions back then Both softball and school resumed the next day.

We have all taken hits! Determined to keep our spiritual eyes open, we watched for anything that would harm us or our family. Almost out of no where it came and knocked us off your feet. Whatever the “it” was, we were left to eat dust, helpless to rise again.

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.“
Proverbs 24:16

Far from a game played by school children, the enemy we face plays hard. Oh, but may we remember that we are not out.

Seriously!

Sometimes, I am flabbergasted, totally shocked, at how quickly I trip and fall. I don’t even need a ball flying through the air to take me down. Sometimes fatigue, distractions, or petty insults set me off balance or topple me to the ground. But more often than not, I have simply drifted off course in my relationship with God. The pattern is predictable.

Remember the Israelites, who defeated mighty Jericho with a shout. Yep! One shout and stone separated from stone, disintegrating into dust at their feet. Jericho was Israel’s first victory in the land God promised to them. Next came a puny little town called Ai. No problem, they thought. Let our troops rest while a few of us go take care of it. But the battle didn’t turn out that way. The army retreated, leaving their fallen dead on the battlefield.

The soldiers of Ai couldn’t defeat Israel. They defeated themselves! Their downfall came from within their ranks. God would not allow Joshua or His army to experience another victory until they dealt with their internal issues. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Too many times, I have been in a similar state.)

God clearly instructed the people concerning Jericho that,

“The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord…”
Joshua 6:17

When God says, “All!” He means “All! Everything!” One man, Achan refused to listen. Allured by extravagant garments and shimmering gold and silver, he took them for himself.

More than one sin pierced Achan’s heart. He coveted and took what belonged to God. He lied to cover his tracks. Finally, Achan hid the evidence to avoid being discovered. Achan blazed the well-worn path we all follow. Brave soldiers died as a result. Destruction came to Achan’s entire family. He lost everything for the thrill of short term pleasure.

The consequences of our choices go far beyond any expectations — both for good and for evil.

Redemption

From that time forward the place of Achan’s deadly consequences became known as the Valley of Achor, or Valley of Trouble.

My sin may be different from Achan’s. Your sin may be different still. Without exception, however, disobedience and rebellion inevitably lead to the Valley of Trouble. Oh, but thanks be to God. He delivers us from the Valleys of Trouble we face. He sees us lying in the dirt of our own failures, unable to help ourselves out of our desperate condition.

God opened the way. He turns our fall into life and hope through Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for every one of our failures. He forgives all of our sins.

“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-14

While the enemy taunts and shame tries to push us deeper into defeat, Jesus lifts us from it. Through His shed blood, He declares over us, “Forgiven!” Forgiven when we confess and run back into His loving grace. We, like Israel of long ago, experience defeat instead of victory until we stop hiding and confess our internal propensity to err.

Hope

We find a wonderful verse embedded within Hosea’s tragic life story.

“There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.”
Hosea 2:15

The deepest, darkest Valley of Trouble, God turns into a door or gateway of hope. Only God! Only His grace! By His mercy alone, He picks us up. Though knocked down, we are never out of His reach or absent from His love.

Doors and gateways offer easy access to things otherwise out of our reach. Doors remove barriers and blast open areas of containment.

I wonder how many doors of hope we have missed. How many God opportunities to realign ourselves with Him have we walked past or ignored? How many gateways to restored relationship with Him or others have we bypassed? Too many, perhaps!

Let’s not miss the one He provides for us today. No matter how hopeless our situation, no matter how grave our error, turn back to Him today.

“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
Psalm 50:15

We possess no ability to overcome on our own. When we place our hope in Christ and in His finished work of the cross, He rescues. He saves, when we call on Him.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me. I turn from pride and greed, from self-centered living and self-focused efforts. Lord, You are bigger than every trouble. I thank You that I am always within Your reach (Romans 8:38-39). Forgive me for trying to do things my way and in my time. Help me to trust You with every process for my life. You had so much for Achan and his family. You have so much more and better for me and mine.
Help me to walk according to Your principles. May I experience the joy of restored relationship with You and the freedom to walk in Your ways (Romans 8:1-2). I look ahead to the victories You have waiting for me and those I love. No weapon formed against me will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). You have determined my future. My past cannot keep me down. Through Jesus, You have made me to be more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).
Father, I choose to walk into Your promises through the gateway of hope You have provided. And each time I stumble, I look to You as my Strength and Shield (Psalm 28:7). You, LORD, help the fallen and lift those bent beneath their loads (Psalm 145:14).
Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

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Worth Fighting For — Fight the Good Fight

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , , , , ,
Worth Fighting For — Fight the Good Fight

In your opinion, what do you consider worth fighting for or over? What is both worth the fight and paying the price to win?

Have you ever encountered a “bad” fight? The kind where nobody wins? I have. And actually, more than once!

I remember a heated argument as a child with a young chap at the old country school. Who started it? I can’t remember. I do, however, remember throwing my metal lunch bucket at him in exasperation or rage. I’m not sure which. He may have been a year younger than I, but after tying a licking on me, we both had to face the consequences of upset parents at home. Needless to say, we both learned our lesson and resolved all future disagreements with a tad more wisdom and chunk less emotion. It was not a good fight! To top it off, this young chap was one of my closest friends — before and after the feud.

Though I still tend to be more than a little stubborn, I have hopefully learned to choose my battles more wisely. Sometimes, it is better to run. Other times, we must fight the fight.

“But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:11-12

Paul offers his young student, Timothy, three bits of advice: there are things to run from, things to pursue, and other things we must stand against and fight the good fight. I should have learned sooner how to run from petty arguments and set my heart to pursue a godly life of faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. (None of which I displayed in the school yard those many years ago.) In fighting the good fight, we hold tightly to what we have gained and the things of highest value — eternal things.

Fight

Most of us fall into the category of being conflict averse. Surprisingly, the conflict of good versus evil marks the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Perhaps, these biblical encounters hold a significant clue for us. Every conflict can be reduced to the basest level — the enemy’s agenda rising against God’s perfect desire and purpose

Israel, once freed from the bondage of Egypt, still had to fight for their God-given inheritance and promise. The battles were bloody, the enemy was real, and the stakes were high. Unfortunately, we all to often pick childish brawls against the people closest to us, insteand of putting our energies toward the real battles God would have us fight.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14

It’s pretty hard to be still and fight at the same time. Hard? Yes! Impossible? No! In fact, Holy Spirit peace gives us the confidence to fight the right battle, at the right time, and in the right way. Only then, do we have the assurance that the Lord fights with us.

The Israelites fought. They ultimately took possession of the promised land. Their battles separated the faint of heart from those who knew more about trusting God than combat. They fought against deception from within their camp and guerrilla warfare from the outside. They fought forces much greater and stronger than themselves. Again and again, with God, they won!

Following Christ still requires a steady dose of grit. Nonetheless, we easily grow weary, weak, and worn from battle. Even the strongest person faces the temptation to raise the flag of surrender and quit.

Worth Fighting For

Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp dispute and debate” against legalistic Christians in Antioch (Acts 15:1-29). They sought the advice of their leaders to resolve the problem. Everyone agreed, the purity of the Gospel — salvation by grace through faith — was worth fighting for.

A short time later, Paul and Barnabas set out on another mission trip. “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15:39). What? It is hard to believe that these two powerful men of God couldn’t peacefully resolve their differences. Barnabas saw in John Mark a man worth fighting for. Though Mark had failed and let them down before, Barnabas stuck with him. Paul didn’t want a “quitter” on his team! Later, however, Paul admitted what a great asset Mark was to the work of the Kingdom of God (2 Timothy 4:11). People — broken and unreliable people — are worth fighting for.

In the very next chapter, Paul faces yet another conflict. This time an entire crowd rises against him. The authorities beat Paul and his companion before throwing them into jail (Acts 16:16-40).

Living all out for Christ doesn’t allow us the luxury of getting along with everyone all the time.

Again and again, Paul paid a huge price to bring the message of salvation to all people. Why? People, even strangers, are worth fighting for.

Even as I write, I find my heart broken over how petty and insignificant most of my battles have been. At times, I wonder if I’ve learned anything since my childhood. The good fight — God’s fight — encompasses spiritual rather than physical things.

“…I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”
Jude 3

Fight For

God calls us to fight against injustice and oppression, while standing for the vulnerable. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

We are to fight for our families, protecting their physical safety, emotional well-being, and nurturing their spiritual health. “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14).

He calls us to fight for truth and righteousness, in our homes, churches, communities, and nations. “For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).

Fight With

Warfare implies a severity of battle — a battle requiring supernatural weapons of warfare.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace … take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Ephesians 6:10-18

Tempter tantrums and thrown lunch kits won’t win this war. We need God’s weapons and godly wisdom.

So, friends, whatever your battle, fight well, fight hard, fight for the right purpose, and fight with the godly weapons. Are you weary? So am I. This battle, however, is worth every moment, every effort, every prayer, and every righteous stand. The stakes are too high to quit now or ever. Both eternal destinies and God-ordained purposes rest in the balance. If not us, who? If not now, when?

Rise up mighty warriors and press into the battle. With the Lord at our side, we can and will be victorious. He is fighting for and with us, declaring His mighty victory over every power of darkness that rises against us. We will not quit!

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The Battle Belongs to the Lord

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment Faith & Prayer, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , ,
The Battle Belongs to the Lord

When we find ourselves in the thick of trouble, it may not always be easy to remember that every battle belongs to the Lord. He is our Advocate and our Redeemer. He stands in every gap to rescue and to save us.

Almost daily, I need to come back to this simple principle, reminding myself of God’s faithfulness to fight for not just me but all His sons and daughters. Before rising from my bed each morning, I deliberately turn my eyes toward Him, breathing in the confident assurance that with Him the future holds overcoming promise.

Within one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, we find the true story of a king winning an unwinnable battle. The “ites” had congregated and aggressively advanced against Israel. The Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites came, waging war against Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. His first response to call a prayer meeting sets an example for us.

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”
2 Chronicles 20:3-4

The best step to take when we see a battle ahead is to pray, pray, and never stop praying. Jehoshaphat worshiped God as much as he sought God’s answer to his problem. Whole families gathered to pray.

“All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.”
2 Chronicles 20:13

Can you envision it? Babies in arm, toddlers, ruckus boys, giggly girls, aged grandparents, laborers, the rich and poor on their knees seeking the only one who could help them — worshiping despite the circumstances.

Let this little clip set the tone.

Matthew West - Don't Stop Praying (Acoustic Version)
Watch this video on YouTube.

Assurance

Battles come unannounced and unexpected — often creating confusion and hiding any path of escape. Oh, how wonderful when a clear word of assurance comes from God either through His Word, the counsel of godly saints, or a divine whisper.

“…This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 

God unfurled His battle plan, giving the king a clear strategy on how to advance against the enemy. The king continued to worship. Then in a most unusual move, he appointed singers and musicians to lead the army into battle.

Praise paved the way to victory.

Wait! What? Musicians not warriors? Singers before brave kings? Exactly!

“…Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
2 Chronicles 20:21

How unnerving to the enemy, when we look at the battle with unflinching eyes and praise God!

Alisa Childers - The Battle is the Lord's (Lyric Video)
Watch this video on YouTube.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

God would not refuse such simple trust and faith. At the beginning strands of the opening song, He completely ambushed the enemy! WOW!

“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”
2 Chronicles 20:22

Lesson learned! Yes, we hold fast to the weapons of our warfare. Yes, we take a strong stand against the wickedness that surrounds us. Our greatest weapon, however, comes from knowing that every battle belongs to the Lord. When we know that we know … when faith replaces doubt … when we refuse to give fear a place … God shows up, He annihilates every enemy, throwing him into complete confusion.

The three opposing forces turned on each other until no one was left standing. Jehoshaphat and his warriors came only to gather the plunder.

 “So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.”
2 Chronicles 20:25

Whatever the enemy tries to steal, God restores in such abundance we might struggle to carry the blessing. Do you believe it? Jehoshaphat did! Do you have faith for that great of a victory? The worshipers and the army did!

Albeit with trembling knees, yet we trust.

Phil Wickham - Battle Belongs (Official Lyric Video)
Watch this video on YouTube.

Victory and Peace

“The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.”
2 Chronicles 20:29-30

Oh, dear brothers and sisters of faith, this is more than an ancient story of a king and kingdom long gone. This is a God-story — meant to inspire us and bring hope no matter what we may be facing today.

The source of the battle will never exceed the power of our God to overcome and carry us through to victory.

We don’t need to be trained musicians and soloists to praise our way to victory. The enemy trembles at the sound of our simplest praise; so, let praises flow. All the surrounding kingdoms in the heavenly realm will here of God’s victory. One day, we will stand in the place of His perfect peace.

Psalm 46 - Lord of Hosts - by Shane & Shane (Lyric Video) | Christian Worship Music
Watch this video on YouTube.

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God’s Promise — You Will Not Go Empty-Handed

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Freedom & Transformation, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , ,
God’s Promise — You Will Not Go Empty-Handed

My heart feels unusually heavy, sensing that many people in the body of Christ are under pressure, but God’s promise still holds true! Whatever your struggle, no matter how dark the season you are walking through, He is faithful. He will bring you out into a place of greater abundance, richer hope, and fuller freedom. How can I be so certain? Because God has not changed. He is faithful to all He has promised.

“…The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”
Psalm 145:13-14

Though the enemy may press us, God stands in our defense. He gives us the strength, wisdom, and courage we need for every situation. We will not only come through, but we will come through with our arms laden with rich treasures secured by God’s great grace and favor upon us. He has not, and will not, abandon us. This season of drought and discouragement may not end like we think it should or hoped it would. Let’s remember that, through it all, nothing can detour God’s perfect plan for our lives.

Empty-Handed

God led Israel into Egypt to save them from famine. Four hundred and thirty years later, He brought them out again. In a single day, God decimated their cruel and fierce captors. For many of those years, the Egyptians brutally used and abused God’s chosen people for their own personal gain. Empty-handed slaves! Powerless and oppressed! Until God came to their rescue. And, oh, what a rescue!

“He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered.“
Psalm 105:37

How would you feel if hundreds of years of backpay ended up in your mailbox overnight? Can you imagine? Everything the enemy stole, God said, “No way! It’s payday! Give it back!“

 “And I will grant this people favor and respect in the sight of the Egyptians; therefore, it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall [insistently] ask her neighbor and any woman who lives in her house, for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you are to plunder the Egyptians [leaving bondage with great possessions that are rightfully yours].”
Exodus 3:21-22 AMP

May we not disqualify this as an ancient story of a people far away. This same God works on our behalf. He remains completely trustworthy to defend and provide for His own. His promises hold as true today as when He spoke them thousands of years ago.

Ask

It’s time to ask God to restore all the enemy has taken from us and our households — health, relationships, finances, hope, purpose, destiny … The thief has been plundering God’s people for far too long. The tide is turning. Let’s ask expecting God’s restoration, deliverance, and healing for us, our families, and our communities.

It is time to take a stand against the devil and his league. God told the women to go directly to their enemy, the ones who had misused and abused them, and ask big. “Insistently ask … for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing.” This is far from a selfish ask for bigger bank accounts or luxurious houses. We ask for our “sons and daughters” — for the generations yet to come. Our freedom and breakthrough becomes freedom and breakthrough for those who will some day walk in our steps.

The Hebrews word, wə·šā·’ă·lāh, means to demand. Forget the polite litte, “May I … pretty please …” No! We ask big! We insistently ask, demanding all God’s promise be returned to us.

The enemy is nothing more than a freeloader and liar. He must comply to God’s Word. Jesus emphasized again and again how He holds all power and all authority. All means all! While the devil may boast, God still holds it all!

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.“
Matthew 28:18

God’s Promise

For far too long the people of God accepted their lot as slaves, while the promises of God remained buried in the dust-laden archives of forgotten years. The same can happen to us today.

We have the tremendous privilege of holding and reading the Bible and all God’s precious promises. But it is meaningless until we begin move upon His Word and step into HIs promises for us. The easy chair of idleness will keep us from climbing the mountain of faith.

A great evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, said,

“I don’t want to play with marbles, when God told me to move mountains!”

Taking hold of God’s promise may feel like a mountain leap of faith. What God said, He will do. May faith arise in each of us to throw off the limitations of slavery. May expectation of God’s goodness take form in our lives, until we ask big, and ask often, and no longer settle for empty-handed living.

“You will not,” He speaks to each one of us. “You will not go empty-handed.” Whatever this difficult time has taken from you, “You will not go empty-handed.” Determine by His grace to walk out this circumstance with hands overflowing with God’s promise.

God’s people played an important role of direct action in accordance with His will and His Word. Were they apprehensive to demand so much from their oppressors? Probably. Did some ask too small? Undoubtedly. Did some refuse to believe God would be so generous and good-hearted? Maybe.

But those who believed God’s promise received God’s blessing. They came out full! Let’s leave the enemy sorry he every touched us and our familes.

“Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given … was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”
Joshua 21:45

Oh, brave one, take courage!

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Mistakes Eat at Us: Dealing with our Faults and Flaws

MaryAnn Ward 3 Comments Christian Living, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , , ,
MaryAnn Ward - Blog - Faults, Flaws, and Mistakes

We all make mistakes. By ignoring and internalizing them, these faults, flaws, and mistakes eat at us from the inside out.

Today, I made a fresh batch of breakfast muffins, but I didn’t add quite enough butter to the mix. The first batch revealed my error, but after adding a bit more, the second lot baked to perfection. Either way, I will still eat my mistakes.

We all make mistakes every day — some (like my baking) are inconsequential but others are far more damaging. We don’t always do good, and we know it.

Last night as I prayed, I remembered the first two kings of Israel. They both had faults and flaws. Their different patterns of dealing with those mistakes caused me to consider the two paths mistakes may lead us.

The Path of Saul

One of the first and perhaps most revealing indicators of Saul’s character comes at his inauguration as king.

“So they asked the Lord, ‘Where is he?’ And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.‘”
1 Samuel 10:22

Hiding among the baggage of life always causes our mistakes to eat at us. We all tend to wander down the Saul path of dealing with our faults and failures. We:

  • Self-protect, justifying oneself for poor behavior, which leads to strained relationships (1 Samuel 13:8-13; 15:9, 15, 20-24, 30).
  • Externalize, blaming others to protect fragile our egos and deny personal responsibility (1 Samuel 15:16-23; 19:9-17; 20:30).
  • Become jealous and controlling to prove our own worth, which only leads to more anxiety and irritability (1 Samuel 18:7-9).
  • Internalize through negative self-talk plagued with guilt and shame (1 Samuel 16:14).
  • Withdraw from matters of faith and publicly disobeying God (1 Samuel 13 & 15)

Though remorseful, Saul refused to turn to God in repentance. Sadly, the freedom God provided remained out of his reach. Instead of being victorious, he remained dark, moody, and sullen, until he ultimately took his own life (1 Samuel 31).

“But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
1 Samuel 13:14

The Path of David

Through a quick comparison of the faults and failures of these two kings, we could easily assume that David’s adulterous affair far surpassed any crime Saul committed. But David didn’t respond like Saul. He acknowledged his weaknesses and understood the key principles to effectively deal with his faults and flaws.

  • From young shepherd to an aged king, David put God first, developing a heart of worship (1 Samuel 16:18-23; Psalm 63:1-5; 2 Samuel 6:12-15)
  • He valued spiritual leadership and sought godly counsel and direction (1 Samuel 23:1-3, 4-5, 12-14; 30:8-9: 2 Samuel 2:1-2; 5:17-21, 22-25; 21:1).
  • He honored even corrupt political leaders (1 Samuel 24 & 26)
  • He was quick to repent and fully turn back to God (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51)

David did not allow remorse to shackle him. He pushed past ego and pride, humbling himself before God and those he sinned against. By valuing his relationship with God and others, David earned the title of a man after God’s own heart.

“…acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever….”
1 Chronicles 28:9

The Godly Path of God

David demonstrated the path of God for us. But talk comes easy; doing comes hard.

Without godly counsel and accountability David may never have confronted his sin patterns. In a safe and productive way, Godly counsel freed him to acknowledge and leave his baggage behind.

First Samuel 30:6-8 tells us that when David was in deep distress, he “encouraged himself in the Lord.” Not only did he submit to others, he also knew how to personally connect with God in a sustaining and life-giving way.

Though Saul often allowed “friends” to sway him, David consistently chose to obey God rather than the poor advice of his comrades to seek his own revenge (1 Samuel 24:4-9).

We are no longer talking about baking ingredients and muffins that don’t turn out quite right. The paths we take dictate life choices with far reaching consequences. Taking the God-path leads to turning our hearts fully to God and humbling ourselves before Him and others. Through seeking and honoring godly counsel, God gives us the capacity to leave our hiding places and dusty baggage. He gives us ample courage to face our responsibility regarding our mistakes, faults, and flaws, not in shame but as victorious overcomers.

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White and Black Dog: The One We Feed Will Grow

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Freedom & Transformation, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , , , ,
MaryAnn Ward - Blog - White Dog_Black Dog

A wise, elderly pastor shared an illustration, explaining how life resembles living with both a white and black dog inside of us. Whichever one we feed will grow; while the one we neglect will become dominant. The black dog represents the sin nature with all its selfish cravings and demands. The white dog represents a life empowered by the Holy Spirit, following and obeying everything godly — love, grace, and beauty … honor, humility, and honesty. God encourages us to intentionally feed and focus on only the “white dog” of the Holy Spirit.

I know the illustration is faulty, but it also gives a clear picture of the two realms we struggle between. In Romans 7, Paul explained this daily dilemma of living with two desires warring against each other.

Dead

When we commit our lives to Christ, God wipes the slate of past sin clean, erasing all the charges once rightly held against us. The old has gone and the new has come! Done deal!

Although this “legally” holds true, we experience a different reality — a reality of contending for the very victory Christ has already won. The white and black dog war within us. The black dog refuses to accept death, while the white dog welcomes us to the fullness and freedom that is ours.

“For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious.”
Romans 7:5

How true these words? Whatever we felt we could get away with, we did or perhaps still do.

MaryAnn Ward - Blog - Black Dog

Alive

“But now that we’re no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we’re free to live a new life in the freedom of God.”
Romans 7:6

“But now!” Oh, how I love those words! The white and black dog both ask to be fed. But now, the freedom of Christ gives us the power to choose. Will we feed the things of the Spirit or our own cravings?

Deciding to do the right thing, the good thing, the godly thing, often fails us, however. Our past rebellion ingrains our present actions, as we repeatedly say and do things which we know dishonor God and hurt others. Again and again, we feed the black dog.

We obviously need help. The thing we want to do, we are unable to accomplish.

MaryAnn Ward - Blog - White Dog - Black Dog

Something More

“But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.”
Romans 7:17-19

God understands our dilemma and has given us all we need for complete victory. The something more we need is Someone more — Jesus Christ. Into our poverty and powerlessness, He comes, providing the way.

“The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
Romans 7:25

MaryAnn Ward - Blog - Which Dog Will We Feed

The Choice

So, we live within a sobering reality. God provided through Jesus all we need for a complete and victorious life in the Spirit. Each decision leads us to feed either the white or black dog.

Jesus summarized all the commandments this way,

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’“
Matthew 22:37-39

Whatever attention we give to the black dog of sin results in a disastrous outcome. It may be delayed, but it will come. But love always feeds the things of the Spirit. As we give our full attention to loving God and others, the things of the Holy Spirit (or the white dog) will grow stronger. Through Jesus Christ, victory becomes our portion over every area of our lives.

When we can’t find the strength or power to will and do God’s pleasure, thank God … Jesus Christ can and does! Let us turn to Him each day in prayer and petition, in reading His Word and devoting ourselves to follow its direction, and to love and serve God and others to the best of our ability.

May the black dog die from neglect and the white dog flourish.

MaryAnn Ward - Blog - White Dog

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The Cheering Squad – A Huge Crowd of Witnesses

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Christian Living, Inspirational Blog, Victory , , , , , , ,
The Cheering Squad – A Huge Crowd of Witnesses

This past weekend our family gathered, forming a cheering squad for our granddaughter’s volleyball team. We were a loud and ruckus group! Dignity was cast to the wind as we applauded every good move they made — despite points scored. As it turned out, they lost most of their games. Nevertheless, we were proud of this small-town team as they faced league champions without flinching or bowing.

After two days of leaping to my feet and cheering, this grandmother felt more than a little hoarse and weary. But my heart rejoiced at my granddaughter’s accomplishments. That evening as I rested, I felt the nudge of God, “Do you think you cheer for someone you love more than I do?”

I was instantly brought to tears with the realization of how much God loves us and cheers for us. Whether we “score” points in our Christian walk or “fumble the ball,” He is for us and not against us. And when He is for us, who can stand against us?

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
Romans 8:31

A Huge Crowd

A recent scientific study examined the effects of cheering on sports team. When crowds couldn’t gather to cheer for their teams during covid, they found that the points scored had significantly diminished.

Oh course, God knew the advantage of applauding crowds long before human studies proved the point. I’m not sure how this all works, but I believe the Bible when it says,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1

If you believe this great throng consists of negative naysayers waiting for us to fumble and fail, think again! These people have already experienced how tough life becomes. They know what it is like to fight the same battles and face off with the same enemy we fight and face every day. Because they understand our struggle and know our pain, they cheer for us all the louder.

Let’s close our eyes for a moment and open our hearts to envision this heavenly cheering squad, rising to their feet in thunderous applause as we lunge for the ball? Whether we make the save or not, they roar on our behalf. Whether we spike the ball into enemy turf or not, their hands are raised in victory.

I love the way the Message Bible describes the scene, “Do you see what this means — all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on …” (Hebrews 12:1). WOW!

Keep Going

Several times during a match, our beloved team would be down by a few points. Our frantic cheering from the sidelines kept their spirits high and hopes elevated. As a result, so many on our team demonstrated their best performances ever.

Casting aside any discouragement, they refused to quit and fought for the win!

What a wonderful example of what God calls us to do.

“It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running — and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.”
Hebrews 12:1b MSG

It’s time to give our cheering squad, that huge crowd of witnesses, reason to leap to feet. Let’s strip off everything that limits us from running our best race and effectively fighting against the enemies strategies. Is there known sin? By quickly confessing and renouncing it, we refuse to allow shame and condemnation to sideline us. Let’s shake it off and get back into action. Those things that has drag us down or hold us back don’t belong to us. We can break free for the win!

A huge crowd watches in anticipation of our victory.

The Champion

Perhaps we feel much like our small-town team facing athletic giants, who boldly display their victory banners from previous wins. We may feel weak against the strong.

The tables are about to turn! Victory is ours! How do I know? “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?“

May we never forget The Champion of all champions, Jesus Christ, lives in us and stands for us. We rise victorious by keeping our eyes on Him.

 “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:1-2

Often when one of our girls missed a move, they instinctively looked toward their coaches who watched from the sidelines. Without fail, their coaches smiled, applauded, and gave them a thumbs up, while cheering, “Great job! You have the right idea! Yeah, keep going!”

Our Champion and Coach, Jesus Christ offers us far more. Yes, He points where we can and should improve. Yes, He gives us wisdom and direction. But no one cheers us on more than He does. He dwarfs the thunderous cheer of the great crowd of witnesses with His victorious roar!

We Win

As we work together, we become an unbeatable team. We have no time for backbiting and criticizing each another. Some have taken a hit to the face. Others have fallen and injured themselves. Not everyone senses the great crowd of witnesses cheering them on to victory.

Let’s be the one patting them on the back and encouraging them to the finish. Let’s step forward, helping them back to their feet. May we, like Jesus, whisper in their ears, “Great job! You have the right idea! Yeah, keep going!” By the grace of God, we can become a one-person cheering squad wherever we go.

Together we win!

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