The End of Me

When I have reached the end of me. When I am exhausted. When I feel as though I can’t go on any longer, or there is no strength left to go on. When I reach the end of me, then what do I have left to go on? Only God. For it is here that I cry out, “God, overtake for me!” and stepping in God says, “watch and see.” For when I have reached the “end of me,” it is then that God says, “watch and see.”

And it’s as I write this post that I think about something that’s been very personal to me, as I have, for nearly the last year and a half now been in a battle of “epic” proportions (or so it seems) and for those of you who know me you might be wondering, “what kind of battle?” A spiritual battle. And trust me, when any of us set out to live our lives for God and His glory, then the enemy will rear his ugly head and eventually we will find that we are in a battle – so prepare yourself and “get ready.” For this is the kind of battle I have been in, and though a spiritual battle, it is often that we find and should not be suprised that spiritual battles are always waged against us in the flesh.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) And this is what we must constantly remind ourselves of that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood,” but instead we need to arm ourselves continuously with the whole armor of God.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6: 13-18)

For it is when we are in the battle that all around us is the clashing of armor, shields, and swords, as God’s angel armies fight against Satan’s demon hordes! And… “what are they fighting for?” For the good of God to triumph over evil! For the light to shine upon the faces of men! Yes, all around us there is a war. Many fall to the righthand and many to the left as the enemy’s trickery overtakes them and again, the clash of swords! And it’s here exhausted I stagger, having reached the “end of me” that I then hear God’s angel army advancing as it yells out, “Victory! Victory! Victory!” For the battle is the Lord’s! Yes, the battle is the Lord’s!

Are you in the middle of a wasteland?

There are times in our walks that everything seems to be going just fine. We are at ease, our minds at peace. Than there are other times. Times when it is all we can do to force ourselves into His Word or find the time to pray. These are the dry times. The times when we find ourselves in a parched and barren wasteland. We cry out, “I am so thirsty!” yet still, nothing seems to satisfy. We read. We look. But all the things we search for, even when and if we do find them they are still not enough.

Why does God allow this, these times when we find ourselves in the middle of a desert? Here it seems even God is absent and perhaps He is. Will we still trust Him? Will we still believe? Will we still continue to trudge along, yet still so thirsty? Or, will we abandon? Will we turn our attentions? “It is nothing but a mirage,” the Lord says and for a moment we think, yes, we hear Him! “But it looks like a place I can rest, Lord, with pools of water.” And again, “it is only a mirage,” He says.

Will we listen when we are in the middle of a wasteland? Did the Children of Israel when God led them round and round the wilderness for forty years? Did they listen when they were lost? Or did they turn their attentions? Building golden cows to save them?

There is always a reason for the wasteland. Perhaps when it is we find ourselves there that we find what we are really made of. Will we still turn to God? Will we still pledge our allegiance to Him and Him alone? Or, will we like the Children of Israel build our golden cows, allowing nothing but a mirage to snare our wayward hearts and drag us elsewhere?

If you are in the middle of a wasteland, hold on. Keep your eyes and heart steadfast on Him and He alone will lead you out.

Turn it Around!

Whatever it is, “turn it around!” Turn it around and give it to God. Infact, run! run it back to Him. Whatever it is! give it to Him. Feelings of inadequacy, depression, or loss? Or what about anxiety, fears, and frustrations, addictions, situations, and temptations? Turn it around and give it to God, whatever it is. It’s a choice, all of it! There are thoughts and actions that will only lead you down one road and at the end of that road is death. So turn it around and give it to God, whatever it is! Can He not restore you? Can He not be your peace? Can He not fulfill in you every need? He wants to you know? He wants to be our everything. Can He not give us hope? Can He not rescue us? From ourselves or from the sins that so easily ensnare us? Can He not create in us a new heart? A clean heart? Can He not? He can! But only if we let Him. He can! So turn it around and give it to God, whatever it is!

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25).

(I think I write this post with the thought for those who struggle with addictions and habitual sin. If this is you please seek help because it’s out there just waiting for you! There is nothing that you cannot overcome with God’s help and believe me, He wants to help you, all you have to do is ask Him! Try settingcaptivesfree.com)