Fight the Good Fight

This year ushers in many new beginnings for us.  Jack begins Prep this year with me as his teacher.  I am in the midst of publishing Sam's Heart.  Don is working and waiting on God to direct his path for the year.  Will he  be working at Boeing or will he be studying in Melbourne?  Perhaps doing a bit of both.

Sam is growing up fast and faces many challenges, the biggest at the moment being weight gain. Will you please pray for him to eat?  He seems to have very little interest in food at times.  God certainly gives him strength because I know it doesn't come from his food.  How can a little boy live on three cups of milk, a quarter of a piece of toast, some chocolate, some corn kernels and handful of fruit loops each day? He runs around continually and takes like a fish to water in the pool.   ANY suggestions on getting him to eat would be much appreciated.

As always when we are walking the path God has us on, we come under attack from the enemy.  For me of late is has been worry.  It comes as little thoughts or words that pop into your head. 

 How are we going to pay the bills this month?  How will you get Jack to sit long enough to learn anything at school?  No-one is even looking at buying your home?  Perhaps you should lower the price.  You do want to get to Melbourne don't you?  You are setting up a web page for a book that no one is going to read.  You are trying to hard.  You are just trying to make yourself into something.  You aren't really doing this for God's glory.

I got a point last night where I was T-I-R-E-D.  Tired of the constant barrage of negative thoughts.  Tired of feeling less than what God says I am.  Tired of feeling angry, confused and lonely and trying to cover that up with a happy face.  Last night I shared my burden with both Don and then we prayed.  Don led because I felt so worn out and unworthy.  Last night I slept soundly for the first time in a week.  I had been fighting the good fight through the week but I have to admit I was battle weary.  I had been rebuking the thoughts with scripture but still the barrage came.  I saw a picture of myself hanging with white knuckles onto the hem of Jesus' tunic. 

After my refreshing rest last night I received new revelation that the battle was over for now.  I felt peace and the thoughts have ceased.  I learned an important lesson though.  Ask for help! God has placed people around us to hold us up, and fight with us.  We were never meant to be alone but are a part of a much greater body with Jesus as the head.

Always be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love.  Make every effort to keep yourself united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. (Ephesians 4:2-4)