Suiting up for The Battle

Sunday morning I went to church with the Derrs. It was good worship but the message was just what I needed. The church is in the middle of a series on wounds. This week’s topic was winning the battle in your mind. This has been my biggest struggle for most of my life. I continue to battle that enemy and his lies about myself and this sermon was a great reminder in addition to some great weapons to use. I need to be reminded of the importance of clothing myself in the armor of God each and every day. The war is won but the battle is still constant! I won’t give the whole sermon or all the references but we closed to standing and proclaiming in unison the following truths (which I think someone came up with earlier so you might be able to the list and scripture references online) that the enemy cannot take from us:

I Am Accepted

I am a child of God.

I am Christ’s chosen friend.

I am holy and acceptable to God (justified).

I am the temple of God. His Spirit dwells in me.

I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.

I am a part of Christ’s Body, part of His family.

I am a saint, a holy one.

I have been adopted as God’s child.

I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.

I have been brought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins.

I am complete in Christ.

I Am Secure

I am free from condemnation.

I am assured that all things work together for good.

I am free from any condemning charges against me.

I cannot be separated from the love of God.

I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected.

I am a citizen of heaven.

I am hidden with Christ in God.

I can find grace and mercy in time of need.

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I Am Significant

I am the salt and light of the earth.

I am part of the true vine, joined to Christ and able to produce lots of fruit.

I have been chosen and appointed to bear His fruit.

I am a Spirit-empowered witness of Christ.

I am a joint-heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him.

I am a temple where the Holy Spirit lives.

I am a new creation (new person).

I am God’s co-worker.

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

I am God’s workmanship, created to do His work.

I am righteous and holy.

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved.

I am not the great “I AM”, but by the grace of God I am what I am.

I think I will keep this list in my pocket this month so that I keep reminding myself of each of these truths.

Another thing that I walked away with from the service: I need to rest in the Lord. I don’t know how many times the pastor mentioned “rest” throughout the service along with songs by the worship team but I know it was a clear message for me. The day before I left, Jeremy Vaccaro suggested The Rest of God for my reading list. I downloaded it onto the Kindle and I love the reminder at church that I need to dive into it and truly learn to rest in the Lord.

One of the worship songs talked about talking, singing and living like God is in the room with me. As my journey into making God my best friend and closest companion, I can’t think of a better image! I need to talk to Him like He is in the room with me, sing like He is before me and stand like He is standing with me. All these things are true so I need to do them like I believe them. My best friends are the people that I want to do life with, the people I want to experience new things with. All this requires a time together to make it happen. As I seek focused time with God, this all reminds me that I need to believe and function in every moment that He really is with me. He is not a friend to call up when times are bad. He is the friend that is constantly with me, no matter what I do or say and no matter what the circumstances.

The service ended with a worship song from earlier in the service, God is able. Really, that is the simple yet powerful truth. God is able. No matter what I do or don’t do, it all comes down to believing that God is able. He is able to do any and all things. He conquered death! He can show up in a real way for me in my journey toward becoming a friend of The King and I will live my moments forward believing that is true and He will.

Some songs I’m listening to:

Death In His Grave & How He Loves both by John Mark McMillan (didn’t know him until the David Crowder Band concert last week but I’m loving his voice and the album)

Battle by Chris August (another awesome album from the David Crowder Band concert)