Check Your Position

Are you in a season of assault?

I wonder if you are feeling under attack… either spiritually or emotionally… and are weary from the fight.  Maybe you’ve been in battle for a while now and you’re ready to be done with it.

You’re exhausted.

You feel hopeless.

God gave me a powerful visual as I walked up to the front to speak at a woman’s retreat last spring.

To be honest, I was tired from some struggles and challenges in my own life. 

I was facing issues that required a lot of… me. 

My spirit was weary.

But God.

He knew exactly what I needed in that moment.

Sitting on the podium was a cross.  And I heard God whisper “Carey, when you are beaten down by life’s struggles, check your position.  The safest place to be is standing behind the power of the cross.  Where are you?”

Great question.

The truth is that sometimes I’m so ready for the battle that I charge ahead, taking all those arrows from the Enemy right in the chest.  Rather than stand behind Jesus when times get tough, I deal with life by stepping out from His covering.

I decide to do it my way.

No wonder I find myself exhausted at times.

When we are feeling weary and bruised and overwhelmed, it can be an indication that we’re not in the right position.  Chances are, we’ve strayed from His protection.

The Bible tells us that Christ gives us the strength to do all things, but so often we want the solution without including Him in the problem. We think we can do it better.  Our plans seem like good ones.

The result is a loss in… hope.

You see, the moment we step out from His divine protection (do it our way) the Enemy’s arrows pierce us… wounding us deeply.  They inflict serious damage to our motivation… our self-esteem… our ability to trust… and our perspective.

And unless we remove those arrows quickly, the infections of anger and bitterness and unforgiveness and fear will fester.  They will destroy us.

Are you standing behind the cross? Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I let my identity be defined by what others think of me?
• Am I always defending myself?
• Do I easily forgive offenses?
• Am I full of hope, even in hard times?
• Is my perspective an eternal one?

Profound work was done on that cross… and because of it we’re covered by His blood.  Thanks to Christ’s selfless act, we have the ability to find protection from all that life throws at us.

So when you find yourself worn down and disillusioned, check your position with regard to the cross.

Are you behind it, allowing Christ to extinguish those flaming arrows?

Or are you out from its protection, allowing those arrows a direct hit?

Protect yourself from the Enemy, because his weapon is aimed in your exact direction.

Check your position.

Friends… where are you?

REALITY CHECK:

“God is our place of safety. He gives us strength. He is always there to help us in times of trouble.”  (Psalm 46:1  NIRV)

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©2012 careyscotttalks.com

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