CHALLENGING THE ENEMY

In excerpts from a Joyce Meyer devotional below, despite how our thought patterns are run through out our day, our natural tendency is to focus on the negative.

Various thoughts run through our minds every day—some good, some bad. Our natural temptation is to focus on the bad, so accepting them doesn’t take any effort. The effort comes in being determined to cast down the negative thoughts and take a firm grasp of the positive ones.

Positive minds full of faith and hope produce positive lives. The opposite is also true—negative minds full of fear and doubt produce negative lives, which can ultimately destroy your life. Some people have been hurt so many times that they don’t think they can face the pain of another letdown. Therefore, they refuse to hope so they won't be disappointed.

Today was no exception with taking my negative thoughts captive. My mind ran rampant at work today like never before. Bringing up more bad garbage that needs to be dealt with. Maybe this negativity is so very heighten because of the irregular sleep I am getting. PMSing up the kazoo today also does not help either.

Battles are fought in our minds every day. When we begin to feel the battle is just too difficult and want to give up, we must choose to resist negative thoughts and be determined to rise above our problems. We must decide that we’re not going to quit. When we’re bombarded with doubts and fears, we must take a stand and say: "I’ll never give up! God’s on my side. He loves me, and He’s helping me! I’m going to make it!"

Life here on earth is rough and can be down right painful. Christian or no Christian, we all face struggles and hard times. It is inevitable. When I began my journey over two and a half years ago, I said at the beginning that I would be determined and finish my race no matter what. Some of the painful emotional things I have gone through already, if I knew that I would have had to go through some of them ahead of time, I would have been greatly tempted to throw in the towel.

No matter how bad the battle rages in your mind, don't give up! Step out and regain the territory that’s been stolen from you. Even if it’s only an inch at a time, make sure you’re leaning on God's grace and not on your own ability. In Galatians 6:9 the apostle Paul simply encourages us to keep on keeping on! Don't be a quitter! Don't have that old "give up" spirit. God’s looking for people who will find the courage to rise above all the negative and pursue the positive.

Through my recovery, I have gotten closer to God than ever before. He has taken me to new heights that I did not even know existed!!

I cherish His closeness. I cherish those experiences! I know I still have a ways to go in the "loving part of Him" and probably always will until the end. But, knowing that God is with me through my pain and struggles is what is encouraging me to keep on keeping on. Pressing on to my victory. My freedom!

Whatever you may be facing or experiencing in your life right now, I want to encourage you to stay positive and refuse to give up! God is with you, and He’ll help you make spiritual progress—strengthening and encouraging you to keep on keeping on during rough times. It's easy to quit, but it takes faith to press on to victory.