THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: DEC. 16, 2025

On Saturday mornings I meet with 4 men who are wanting to find freedom within the category of sexual purity. We are using a curriculum I’m sure I’ve mentioned previously. It is called Every Man a Pure Warrior. There are 3 lessons in it out of 17 addressing Spiritual Warfare. When we began the first of the three lessons, 2 of the men said they felt like they were battling demon possession. One of them is nearing 50 and the other is in his early 70’s. They wanted specific help with this. I asked our overseeing pastor of this ministry to be part of last Saturday’s session. In it we worked through the differences between: demon possession, demon oppression and demon obsession. It became very apparent the men were battling oppression.

As I was having my morning devotions today I read in my devotional a quote that I couldn’t let go. It says, “Every lock responds to a key that unlocks it.” and “Every trace of Light begins a grace.” These two quotes hit me forcefully. Then, as I was reading my Bible, (I’m in Hebrews 10), verse 20 say, “This is the fresh, new, life-giving way which Christ has opened up for us by tearing the curtain–his human body–to let us into the holy presence of God.” (TLB)

Tying this info above with the Armor of God, His Spirit was wanting me to see that God’s Armor for us provides the keys to unlock the locks trapping us in whatever bondage grips us. What one needs to do is take a look at this and see what steps I am to take to find the key to do the unlocking? An example: In 1 Corinthians 10:13 I’m told that God will provide a way of escape from a temptation. This is a truth with the first Armor of God. This is a key. When I use it a trace of Light begins to show God’s Grace just as the quote above states.

We work so hard to battle temptation with our own self-will (flesh, our human body). Christ has torn this curtain for us (our own flesh) and His Word provides all of the steps we need to take to find the full Light of redemption if we spend the time seeking this truth rather than battling in our flesh which only loses again. Spiritual warfare is fought in SPIRIT not our flesh. We need to find the spiritual keys–God’s Word.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: DEC. 4, 2025

The last time I wrote an entry to my journey I talked about my timing vs God’s timing. Also, my way vs God’s way. This lesson taught me a great deal about things I needed to know in order to be a better warrior in God’s army.

I know that living for God fully committed to His Kingdom work is a daily assignment with self-discipline tied to it. It is also important to continue learning what it is to live by God’s Spirit rather than our flesh’s discipline. Since I wrote the last entry I’ve begun to place a post-it note in my journal that says surrender so that each day as I write I remember to surrender my will and my mind to God’s Holy Spirit so He will direct my path rather than me. Along with this, I put on the Helmet of Salvation (part of the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18). In doing this daily I have found myself far more conscious of God’s Spirit guiding/leading me in my day.

Tonight I am teaching the Celebrate Recovery lesson #6. It is entitled ACTION. The focus of the lesson is our need to take daily action on our keeping Jesus as our LORD during the day/each day. The 5th lesson was TURN. It’s focus was to turn our lives over to God by accepting Christ into our lives. Now, tonight, the focus is daily living with Jesus Christ as our Lord as well as our Savior. For Jesus to be Lord, it takes the daily commitment/surrender. I am instantly reminded in our Serenity Prayer where it tells us to “,,,live one day at a time”. Jesus can only be Lord of our lives if we consciously commit each day we enter to HIm. I am much more awake to this truth today than I’ve ever been before.

Thank You Jesus for relentless kindness in teaching us how to best live for you!