no longer one, but many

over the years i've made it a personl goal to surround myself with wise, Godly, biblically strong women. i don't want to be a lone ranger in this life. and as a matter of fact, it's not even biblical. i know for some of us, the accountability and/or the vulnerability is more than we are willing to committ to. i know. i understand. i used to be really prideful, trying to do things on my own, but god gave me a vision of strength in numbers and he's brought it to fruition by providing some amazing women in my life. i believe you cannot do life alone but you better be sure that who you do life with is on the same path. look at who you surround yourself with and you can see yourself.

SO, those that i'm closest to, that i go to for advice and direction, are people that i know, know the word of god and will always instruct me according to it. one of those people is a friend from college. she's a doer of the word. she fights the enemy on her knees and i trust her because of that. no, she's not perfect, both of us would tell you that :O) but she looks to the lord for wisdom and that is a pearl for sure.

so when i'm in the trenches and i need strategy to be victorious, she's absolutely one of the first on my list. i was talking with her the other day and i asked her what she does when she's really batteling a war for her thoughts. she reminded me that the first thing she does is begin to praise. to worship god. she said there is no better defense than to speak out praise and worship of our creator. it puts things in perspective and it drives away the enemy. then once her mind is where it should be, she begins to rebuke the enemy and speak out the truth against whatever the lie is he's telling her.

i loved this because it's all about strategy. get your heart and mind alligned, working together instead of against each other, and then once you've accomplished that, get out your amunition and begin to fight. it will work every time. the sword of truth is the only offensive weapon god gave us. everything else about the armor of god is defensive (ephesians 6:10-20.) the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the breatplate of righteousness are all to protect. they have a specific purpose of covering our most vulnerable assets (emotions,thoughts) but they do not go forward, out toward the enemy. so i encourage you to dig into your old testament. in psalms, isaiah, & jeremiah, there are beautiful verses written by the prophets, king david, and solomon, stirring the heart from deep with in. reminding us that god is in control, he's the only creator, he gives and takes away, there is none like him, he knew us before our creation, and he loves and adores us. so when you take these words and begin to make them your own, praising him out loud, i believe all of creation joins in, like a symphony, proclaiming the name of the almighty. your burdens will lift and you will remember who you are and the power god's given us through his son.

if you are unsure how to get started i'll help you.

isaiah 40:28-29

"have you not known? have you not heard? the everlasting god, the lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, neither fainst nor is weary. his understanding is unsearchable, he gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might he increases strength!"

thank you lord because i am weak and nothing with out you. i need my might strengthened. i praise you because there is none like you. you are omniscient and all powerful. no battle is too great, no valley too low, you are the author of every good thing and the enemy has no power over my life! i rebuke the enemy in the name of jesus, by the authority given me through the shed blood of my savior. i commit my spirit to you God and give you complete control over my thoughts, emotions, and all my activities. this day is yours, do as you will.