Be Blessed

I woke this morning with a strong sense of gratefulness and true thanksgiving, it has almost been overwhelming.  I feel as if I'm seeing through new eyes; my kids, my home, my life.

It didn't take long for my mind to wander to some I know, but many whom I don't; those who are battling serious issues in their lives right now and must face the holiday season with heavy hearts.  

As I spent some morning time hanging out with Jesus, my heart went out to those people and families.  Of many, you would never know they are having great difficulty, their faces are determined to show a different reality.  Most, who aren't as good at hiding it, will simply not venture out for fear of revealing their pain and possibly making others uncomfortable.  And unfortunately many don't want to be a burden in their sadness. Oh, if they only knew.

For all of them I found myself interceding in a spiritual warfare to push back the hand of the enemy.  To battle into the enemy's camp, determined to spiritually impact these people's lives.  So many of us in the church simply put our time in, in fairly haphazard ways, it makes us feel so much better.  But, does it really change anything?  What is it we are called to do?  Sit on the sidelines as if we're viewing a tennis match?  Or step into the fray, securely encased in our armor, sword ready with shield in the forefront, ready to battle to the end for our brothers and sisters, even if they don't know that's who they are.  

I fear as a church we are falling far short of the call on our lives.  It is not about showing who we are by being financially prosperous, raising up our kids so they know all the bible stories and can recite scripture by heart without anointing, or to put on our Sunday faces as if our lives are perfect.  We, as the blessed church, need to pick ourselves up off the proverbial floor of self-pity, look around and understand all that we are blessed with; a blessing much larger than merely the physical.  We must pick up that armor rusting over in the corner, take the time needed to polish it to its original luster and begin putting it on, locking each piece in place, securely, being strengthened by Truth.  

Look around.  Choose a battle raging around and step into the warfare. Go beyond your own circumstances and find what you're really made of and let's be thankful for who we really are.  A member of the army of God, capable of working as a fine tuned machine, well oiled and ready for battle.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  Be blessed.