Life and Peace...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

And to those visiting, I say welcome!

Susie Larson here...

I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. Well, it's time to announce the winner for October. Drum roll please...

And the winner is...Carolyn Crust! Congratulations, Carolyn! Email me at: info@susielarson.com and claim your prize. Just a quick reminder, you have to make the connection and claim your prize before I announce next month's winner! 

Now on to my topic...

When my son Luke was in sixth grade, he attended a youth retreat and had a terrible experience. A bully held him under water. Luke used to struggle with terrible asthma, so much so, he couldn't even go on carnival rides because he couldn't get a deep enough breath to handle them.

Imagine Luke's absolute terror when without warning, he was shoved under water. He didn't have a moment's notice to inhale even a partial breath. 

His chest tightened up and his throat wrenched. He locked his jaw trying desperately not to open his mouth. He reached up through the water and clawed the arm of the one holding him under.

The boy felt the deep scratch and pulled his arm back. Luke exploded out of the water and gasped for breath. The bully shoved Luke for scratching his arm. 

This is what the enemy does to us. He shoves us under water and makes us feel as though we are at his mercy. When we respond in a way that's not pretty, he accuses us for it.

He seduces, then accuses. 

Lately I've been battling angst on several levels. I'm concerned about many things: the state of our country; the state of many Believers; the impact of the church; my capacity for smallness; and that I would be able to discern God's highest and best plan for me in the midst of it all. And every single day, I hand those concerns back to God and ask Him to carry them for me.

But sometimes I spout my frustrations first. Or I get angry. Or I have a less-than-charitable thought. Ugh. I hate my humanity. 

I long so-very-much to be righteous and to walk in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ Jesus, that when I do misstep in even the slightest way, the enemy is there to remind me of my wrong-ness. And unfortunately, I'm all too quick to agree with him. 

The other morning during my prayer time, God revealed a profound truth to me. One that I already knew, but not on a deep enough level, obviously. 

Here's the passage that sparked my interest:

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is LIFE and PEACE (Romans 8:6).

When the enemy's accusations and taunts come in a like a flood, and threaten to drown you - and you become more aware than ever of your own weaknesses and missteps as a result - it's all too easy to focus on, dwell on, and mull over the deeds of the flesh (because that's just what the devil wants you to do). 

This is not to negate our call to holiness. Not at all.

In fact that's what maturing is all about. As we learn to handle opposition and trials with holiness, integrity, and perspective, we can know that we are gaining ground in this walk of faith.

But we are not perfect. Not just yet. 

We are going to mess up once in a while. And when we do, guess who is there to remind us of past mistakes and taunt us about potential future ones? The devil himself, that's who!

His aim is to 'set our minds on the flesh.' Now I know the primary meaning behind the verse above refers to those who devise evil plans in their minds and those who allow their thoughts to dwell on sinful things.

BUT, to take the enemy's bait and allow our thoughts to go towards our own wretchedness and stay there...or towards our own fears, and stay there...or towards someone else's flaws, and stay there...is to set our minds on the deeds and the issues of the flesh - which, according to the verse above, only leads to death (death of perspective, relationship, peace, joy, life, health, etc., etc.).

To me, it's the difference between eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and eating from the tree of life (See Genesis 2:9).

To notice and dwell on sin and shortcomings, be it your own or someone else's, brings death. To pride yourself in an acute ability to dissect someone else's shortcomings, is, evil and pharisaical, and, well, it breeds death.

But to set your mind on the Spirit, well that brings LIFE!

Does this mean we never acknowledge the truth about our sin, and other's sin? Not at all!

But the truth about such things must always be linked with love. In other words, "If I can clearly see how wretched I am and how wretched you are and my only response is angst, judgement, self-loathing, or self righteousness... well then I'm nothing but a noise maker; one that brings ruin and not life and peace to the situations God has entrusted to me. But, if in my discerning, I bow to my knees and pray for God's mercy to fall upon us both, well then, I'm bringing a little bit of Heaven to earth."

God calls us to perfection and He's the One who perfects us, layer by layer, in His own due time. Yes, we must respond. We must choose rightly. And every once in a while we are going to react - or we are going to come out swinging when we shouldn't. Yet, wonders upon wonders, God has already made provision for us. Praise Him!

God calls us to perfection because He can. He's perfect. And gifts upon all gifts, He loves us!

The devil on the other hand, doesn't get to ask us for perfection. He doesn't get to remind us of our imperfection. He is perfect at nothing except at being a miserable, lying, cheating, schemer. And he's not even good at that because he does the same thing over and over again.

So when you are in the fire or under attack, and you have a 'human moment' where you handle things in a way that's beneath you, don't listen to the enemy's taunts. Don't set your mind on the things you should have done. Right away, set your mind on what God has already done for you and what He intends to do through you. It's good stuff. :)

I'm a decent swimmer and a fairly strong athlete for a forty-something year old woman, but once when I was at the wave pool, I got caught in the undercurrent and was sucked to the bottom of the pool.

I was stuck face down on the pool floor and I could not move. My chest burned for air and I thought I was going to drown right there. 

With everything in me I mustered the strength to pull my knees in and push my feet against the bottom of the pool. I pushed so hard that my body shot up and I broke through to the blessed and beautiful air I was meant to breathe!

This is a picture for you and me. We were created by God. We were made for life and peace. Just like our bodies were made for oxygen. We are not designed to be held under water.

So, the next time the enemy pushes you under water, muster what you have, put your feet on the Rock and push past the 'deeds of the flesh' until you're breathing in the air of righteousness! 

I know this is a long post, I apologize. This just feels like an important message for some of you today.

In closing, here's a great poem that was written some time ago by W.M. Tomkins:

Reach my blessed Savior first

Take Him from God's esteem

Prove Jesus bears one spot of sin

Then tell me I'm unclean! 

Dear Friends, there's no spot on Him, which means, if you're a Christ-follower, then there's no spot on you!

There is now, therefore, NO condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1).

Until next week~

This even applies to others who are bothering you or 

Comments

[Rebecca]

This is so good! And your right, this was for me:) The Lord spoke so clearly Romans 8 during my fast this summer. I haven't stopped reading it since then. It's amazing how much you can get out of one chapter in the bible. I'm studying Nancy DeMoss's Seeking Him in my bible study. We are on obedience, wouldn't you know it:) Oh the Lord is so good to us!

I have a couple verses that came to mind when I was reading your post. The first one is, Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." The second verse is in 1 Corinthians 2:16 For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. How cool is that??Praise the name of Jesus, He is my rock, He is my fortress in whom shall I fear? Praise the name of Jesus!

Bless you Susie~~

[kimberlee]

This is amazing, powerful. Thank you so much for sharing this at such a time as what I'm dealing with! That scripture is armor I need to fight Satan and my battle. Thank you for your encouragement.

[Connie Husby]

Susie, you hit the nail on the head...I've been through so much stress in tha last two months it's almost unbelievable. Trust me, our Lord know from all the prayers on my behalf. I think I need to rent a friend...just kidding. God is pulling me up out of the water, blessing me with compassion beyond my wildest dreams and little by little I'm emerging as a new person in Christ. I'm not saying I'm healthy yet, but coming up from possibly having to have open heart surgery to mis-diagnosis...com'on I know it was God healing me...Yes, I still have other health issues, but I will be doggone if I'm going to allow the enemy to win the battle of my mind. God continues to be faithful, and I'm becoming more obedient with hope of many blessings falling out of heaven's window just for Connie Jean, God's treasure.

[Emily]

How true that is when you set your mind on the flesh you die. I have felt like that for quite a while now. Bitterness, anger and pain have taken over my life. But God in all his tender mercies has been speaking to my heart. I heard you on the radio program Family Life Today and you were talking about taking every thought captive. And I realized I had not been practicing that but letting all these other thoughts come into my mind and therefore my mind was set on death-not God who is Life and Peace. So thank-you Susie for letting God work in your life-so you can touch others in their lives!

[Kelly F]

Dear Susie,

Greetings from Ohio!

Some thoughts and words of mine have been ugly I confess.

I've been drawn to Phillipians. Ch 3:12 Paul says, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." I AM HIS!!

Hugging you through prayer,Kelly Fdaughter, granddaughter and friend of veterans of the U.S.A.

[Helen Martin]

I was a little distracted on Wednesday. I re-read this post today--really read it, I should say--I appreciated it's depth and relevance to me.

Thank you for giving me the jewels I have to dig a little for, too.

Pray for us, please, for our IJM fundraiser tomorrow evening! Matching funds in NOVEMBER. God's timing sure is a lot of fun!

[Kyra]

Susie,

I want to thank you for your powerful talk you gave at Hearts at Home this weekend. Many parts of your message were reaffirming what God has shared with me this past year. It was the encouragement I needed to continue onward and forward in overcoming some fears and not to give up because God has something mighty in store for me.

Know I will be praying for you and your family.

[Linda]

A great way to look at a familiar scripture. When I struggle with focusing on death, it robs me of today and God's plans for tomorrow. Shrouded in doubt that God is at work, it keeps me from moving forward. The battle I face is stagnation. I want to move forward and focus on life. God wants to do something with me and through me. I can't be on open and ready unless I'm focused on Him and focused on Life.

[Kathy S]

Wow, yes. The pit-dwelling I have done in the past is just because of wrong-focus. All I could see was my failure. Poor pitiful me...

But, He has brought me out into a spacious place. To look UP instead of OVER or IN is to be free indeed!

Most of us women need to read this post once a month! I love your analogy of the trees in the garden. Right on. I will keep this in my heart to use for ministering to other women.

I have used your son's story of healing of his leg several times as well. I love that one!

[anna J]

hmmm--"mess up once in a while," you say . . . i'm afraid these days i feel i mess up countless times each day, as my work with a school-full of boarding children, with its 24/7 responsibilities demands every ounce of my small measure of patience. ah well, we must believe that God knows our weaknesses and has us where we are in His divine providence!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Rebecca,

I'm glad you're doing Nancy's study. Be sure to post what you've learned. We'd all like to know. I love your passionate and consistent pursuit of God. Bless you, my friend.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kimberly,

I am so thankful to know that God spoke to you through this post.May you raise up your shield of faith and stand strong in the Lord.Victory is YOURS!

[Susie Larson]

Way to stand firm in your faith, Connie!

I know it's been a relentless battle and I'm so thankful for the ways God has come through for you.May the miracle of health be yours (and mine)! Blessings~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Emily,

I so appreciate your honesty AND your teachability. I am excited for you! As you fight for a renewed mind, and relentlessly guard your thought-life, your WHOLE life will be transformed. Even in hard times we have more than enough. It's a beautiful thing. :)

[Susie Larson]

Kelly,

You speak for all of us...that's why we have new mercies waiting for us each morning (because we need them). We're not what we will be; we're not who we used to be; we're someone God loves; we're someone He is transforming into His likeness. One step at a time. One day at a time. Blessed transformation. ;)

[Susie Larson]

Dear Helen,

How did your fundraiser go?

Great, I hope!

Blessings~

[Susie Larson]

Kyra,

Thanks so much for your note and for your words about the Hearts conference. I love that event. I'm glad your soul was encouraged. :)I really do understand the issue of fear; it was something that marked my life for so very long. May you continue to fight the good fight of faith so that you can lay hold of everything God has for you!Blessings, my friend!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Linda,

Very well put! I like how you wrote, "When I focus on death it robs me of today and of God's plans for tomorrow..."

May we set our minds on things ABOVE!

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings to you~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kathy,

I love what you wrote, "To look UP...is to be free indeed!"

We often don't realize just what a difference our perspective makes. And we have the choice.

Oh, and just a side note: my son was healed from a serious back injury. I still think about it on a very regular basis. It was an absolute miracle. Praise!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Anna,

You work at a boarding school? Oh my goodness! May the Lord give you a fresh dose of strength and perspective with each new day!Blessings to you!