"ABBA's Dance Partner" - 04/11/16 - I Samuel 13-14

"There wasn't a blacksmith to be found anywhere in Israel.
The Philistines made sure of that—"Lest those Hebrews start making swords and spears."
That meant that the Israelites had to go down among the Philistines to keep their farm tools—plowshares and mattocks, axes and sickles—sharp and in good repair. They charged a silver coin for the plowshares and mattocks, and half that for the rest.
So when the battle of Micmash was joined,
there wasn't a sword or spear to be found anywhere in Israel—except for Saul and his son Jonathan; they were both well-armed."(13:19-23)



How stupid to put themselves into this position - and even with their enemies.  People they were in war with.  Out of all the gifts and talents God gave the Israelites, did none of them not know how to sharpen their farm tools?  Or did they not want to?

Oh yes, here I am with the art of self-righteousness.  But wait!  Is that a board in my eye?
Again?

How many times have I allowed myself to stray away from Him to satisfy "self" wants?  When there is something "self" wants to do, knowing it is "dancing with the devil" and flirt with it anyway? 

Being a good steward of all He has entrusted me with is a full time job.  To listen and follow His lead in all areas of living.  To be at the ready for all Divine Appointments He has set up for me.  To be at the ready in this spiritual war going on all about us.  

His Word a couple of days ago, convicted me once more about the accumulation of stuff. It used to be hard for me to resist a good bargain.  Ending up bringing it home knowing I didn't "need" it and let it accumulate with all the other "stuff".  Each good bargain quickly becomes  mundane.  No matter what it is, it needs attended to - either with dusting, cleaning, storing,  Bargains add up and can put a strain on your budget. Bargains can quickly overtake your whole of life.

He has helped me recognize, an unneeded bargain isn't a bargain - it's a burden. 

In my journey through the Daniel Fast, He has opened my eyes to how I used to abuse the gift of food.  There were too many sweets,  too big of helpings - too many unhealthy choices.  I consumed it  when not hungry, all the while seeing it went straight to my belly and hips.  Knowing it was playing havoc in my arteries, adding extra weight which is hard on my joints and bones.  My unhealthy and emotional eating habits were robbing me of a healthy life - a life of movement with ease - of time here on earth - of years with my Curt, kids and grandchildren.

Dancing to any other music but His, will always add physical and mental stress.

satan and "self" are the kings of rose colored glasses.  They can take the ugliest sin and make it look beautiful.  Enticing us to flirt with it.  To relax our guard.  To do the two-step a little farther from God.  To refocus our hearts, souls and mind. 

To ensnare us until we are found without weapons in this spiritual war. 

This is why it is essential to be in His Word each and every day.  To chew on it throughout the day - to have it become a part of you.  Inside and Out.  Only then are we able to see sin for what it really is.

 Ugly in the worst sense. 
















Intimacy with our ABBA opens our eyes to the fact:
Sin is not who you want for your dance partner during the steps of this and eternal life.

^"Finally, be strong in The Lord and in His mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then,
with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from The Gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of The Spirit,
which is The Word of God.

And pray in The Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
 
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all The Lord’s people."
(Ephesians 6:10-18)