The battle gets stronger.
If you think that the battles you face will just get easier in time, think again.
If you are a person who is growing in the Lord and beginning to acquire more and more of the Promised Land, you will find that the battle only gets worse.
The more you grow in the Lord, the more useful you are to Him, and the more the enemy will want to destroy you.
If you stay lukewarm and just feel content to sit on the sidelines, you will find that the battle isn't all that bad. But you're also probably pretty miserable, having a taste of what God has for you, yet never possessing it for yourself.
It starts off when you decide you want to get serious for the Lord. And so you begin to take a stand against areas in your life that aren't pleasing to the Lord. That can be a battle for sure!
But as you begin to grow in the Lord, you find that God is able to use you, and you eventually begin to develop your own ministry of sorts. It may be getting the coffee ready for Sunday Morning, it may be cleaning the church, it may be having a group meet in your home. And you'll find that as soon as you step out to be used by the Lord, you will face opposition. But if you learn to stick it out and fight, you will find that you can handle the opposition.
You find that you want to be used more, so you open yourself up to more opportunities to minister to others. Perhaps you start meeting with a small group to pray for each other. Perhaps you start going out to the local coffee shop to share Jesus with others. Perhaps you start teaching a Sunday School class. For those of you who have taken these kinds of steps, you are aware that the opposition has suddenly stepped up three fold.
I think that years ago I may have actually entertained the idea of wanting to be just like Billy Graham. I no longer have such dreams. Don't get me wrong, I'll be whatever God wants me to be, but I'm learning that if I'm feeling the kind of pressure I am in my position as it is now, I'm not real envious of people like Billy Graham or Ray Comfort. The battles that they face must be so intense. In fact I feel very sorry for them. I pray for them.
Don't be surprised when you step out and you face more opposition.
It's normal.
Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 cjb)What struggles or battles have you faced in your walk with God? What have you done to get through these situations?
True 
Lifetime
Comments (14)
I can relate to this, growing up Jewish and becoming a Christian about a year ago. At first my family was furious when they found out, but even though they're starting to accept it now, a lot of my friends aren't. Some were angry and stopped speaking to me. I wear a messianic seal of Jerusalem necklace and sometimes that gets me dirty looks, but it's an opportunity to share my testimony with people.
It is pretty sad when you look at life as a "battle" instead of something to enjoy and be happy. The only "battle" that there is is in your own mind which has been polluted by a mind virus which has been carefully designed to control and manipulate the mentally weak robots of society.
Very very sad when you have been deceived into thinking that this life means nothing and that there are imaginary ghosts out to "get you". I use to think like this before I started to think. Christian conspiratorial thinking is paranoia to the extreme.
Independent nonconformist critical thinking is much harder then having your idea's formed automatically for you, however, it is far more rewarding in the long run and brings far far more joy then simply running with the crowd, no matter how small or so called "persecuted" that crowd is. The only "persecution" is what we bring upon ourselves by the way we think.
I remember starting up a Christian blog on facebook about my experiances as a Christian and the things I've learnt over the past three years, and having to battle with my family to keep it there. I had over 50 subscribers in a week period but didn't experiance any growth after that, but it keep me busy for about a month. I ended up closing it when I started to face personal struggles as a Christian, but I definately know what you're talking about. My family ended up caving by the way, I think it was because my dad was behind me 100% and knew why I had to write.
A truth you spoke indeed and how quickly it was confirmed.... posted by a one who is not a believer, who hunts like a adder in the path with a venomous mouth. Having no other purpose but to injury those having the testimony of Jesus Christ, who will not escape the judgment of their wicked works in the great and dreadful day of the Lord, when every knee will bow and confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Bless are those who are persecuted for His names sake, for their end is peace and unspeakable joy. My prayer is with you, brother, may the Lord bless and keep you always from the enemy. The Lord is rich in mercy for those who fear Him, fear no man or women, that no snare come to you. Many are our enemies, forgive the ignorant and let peace rule in your heart.
I think that "lukewarm" state you spoke of is a battle in itself. In this North American culture, it's very easy to get caught up in routine and the acts of worship rather than the heart of it. I find myself having to fight to keep from slipping into stagnant waters. Re-evaluation of the reasons behind acts and the passion that spurs them helps.
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish - I think it's very true that life isn't a battle, but there are battles in life. It is certainly a gift to enjoy and be happy about. And independent thought is important. We have to wrestle with the questions of belief and life ourselves, otherwise, our faith is not our own. But there's much to be said for gleaning from the experience of others as well.
@treasureseeker - I Love You too Girlfriend!
@pensively@xanga - You seem to be smarter then most and a hell of a lot less conspiratorial. Good for you.
I have been through experiences that have driven my friends to suicide, extreme aging or permanent medication. A good number of my friends are dead, a few in mental institutions and others are just worthless hopeless pieces of dung and look like they are very old.
Yet I am now much healthier and stronger (mentally & physically) then when I was 19 years old. My pics prove that! Yet ALL the Christians who were in my class when I went to Christian school, and also the Christians who are my age who went to the various churches I attended also look like they are old and most have health problems and most are completely out of shape.
Yet none of these Christians have slept with over a handful of people. Yet I have had the honor of sleeping with close to 200 people and have never caught anything that was permanent. I am completely disease free. Yet all of those Christians are all the same, boring and predictable with no stories to tell.
This dogmatically proves that Christian doctrine sounds good and makes you feel fluffy but it does not work and cannot make you successful. Nietzsche brilliantly pointed out that religion is the "opiate of the masses" and he also proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that any benefit that comes from religion is only temporary and is no different then the man (or woman) who goes to the pub to escape the problems of life.
But the wiser I get the less battles I have and even greater fun do I experience, and looking back from experience I now know most of the battles I have had was because I lacked information. You can only go so far with the christian religion without eventually beating the same drum over and over and over and over and over.
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish - It was Karl Marx who said "religion is the opiate of the masses."
@transvestite_rabbit@xanga - Thank you for pointing that out. I sure hate to agree with Marx but I am stuck on this one. Thank you. Your a very smart rabbit!
Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha who lived approximately 3000 years ago said it perfectly.
"Though one may conquer a thousand times a thousand in battle, yet he indeed is the noblest victor who conquers himself."
It's wise that before we try to convert others to our beliefs we know for sure that we are enlightened. Otherwise we are like people who, speaking bad English claim we can teach others proper English. The words, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" are not void of meaning.
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
2.At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
(Refrain)
3.Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
(Refrain)
4.Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.
(Refrain)
5.Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing.
(Refrain)
@tau_1@xanga - Faithful and mighty, How glorious is the army of the living God and of His Kingdom there is no end! Amen.
Thankyou, thankyou... THANKYOU !
Seriously, I couldn't relate to anything more... this blog is the story of my life over the last few months...