What did Jesus tell his disciples (Matthew 26:41)? Why?
“Watch and pray – to avoid falling into temptation”
Seriously, do you recognize your temptation trouble spots? “Yes” What are they?
“Too much gaming, especially after midnight, but in the daytime and evening as well; too much TV – more that I want to watch than I have free time to watch; no desire to stop, either.”
What did Jesus say He did for Peter in Luke 22:31-32 to protect Peter from the Enemy?
“He prayed”
Ephesians 6:18 says the armor of God is completed with… “constant prayer”
What does Ecclesiastes 4:12 suggest about the power of relationships?
“Each member is stronger through their unity.”
Remember what Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood? He said it was her “faith” that made her whole (Mark 5:34)
What does 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tell us our weapons accomplish?
“demolish arguments; demolish strongholds and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
But what does Ephesians 6:16 say our best defensive weapon is?
“the shield of faith”
When the lion roars, “God doesn’t listen to you,” I say Psalm 145:18-19
“My God is near, fills my desires, hears my cry and saves me.”
When the lion roars, “You have no value or purpose,” I say Isaiah 43:1-2
“He created me, formed me, redeemed me, and summoned me. I am His.”
When the lion roars, “Your problem is unfixable,” I say Jeremiah 32:17
“Nothing is too difficult for God.
(♪ Ah, Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens…)”
When the lion roars, “You are abandoned,” I say Romans 8:31
“God is for me, who can be against me?”
►When the lion roars, “You’re a loser,” I say Romans 8:37
“‘In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.’”
When the lion roars, “You’ve blown it. God can’t accept you,” I say Romans 8:38-39
“I know that NOTHING can separate me from Jesus and His love.”
When the lion roars, “Nobody cares about you,” I say 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“God comforts me in all my troubles, so I may comfort others.”
►When the lion roars, “You have no willpower,” I say 2 Timothy 1:7
“God has given me a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.”
Dearest Rachel –
The whole idea behind this particular study book is the premise that each of us has a ‘thought closet,’ where we keep certain mental concepts about ourselves and our place in the grand scheme of things. I never knew about this particular study that you participated in, but you had told me more than once about the tape recorder in one’s mind, an analogy that Dr. Phil is known to use from time to time. However, unlike the good doctors interpretation, where these thoughts make up of sort of soundtrack to guide you through life (oftentimes astray, unfortunately), the concept of the ‘thought closet’ suggests beliefs about ourselves that are rarely at top of mind, but we own nevertheless.
The final page of this particular day’s homework goes over various ensembles, if one were to extend the analogy, that would be occasioned by whatever attack might be directed at you by the Enemy. I am going to guess that the two you emphasized with large circles in front of your answers were ideas that you felt yourself particularly susceptible to. I’m surprised by (and sympathetic toward) the fact that you thought of yourself as a loser with enough regularity to highlight, but given what you mentioned as your main temptation, not so much by your concern about your apparent lack of willpower. And, to be fair, for all that we each have been given a spirit of self-discipline, you’ve admitted many times throughout what notes and other writings you’d left behind that you were aware that you generally preferred not to exercise it.
I don’t know if I should make excuses for you, but I do comprehend the desire to have as much fun in the limited time allowed to yourself; indeed, seeing as to how little time you ended up with, it’s understandable you cram as much into it as you could. I’m just sorry you didn’t have more time; perhaps now you have the chance to get some rest from it all, though.
There’s not much more for me to add to your commentary, save perhaps for mentioning my own current struggles with what seems to be an impossible situation (or maybe, I’m hoping for the solution that I want rather than what He wants, so it looks increasingly less likely that I’ll see my desired outcome come to fruition). There is some solace in the fact that nothing is too difficult for God (and I know the song and tune that you’re referencing when you put that musical notation in your response); the question is, whether it can be enough for me, or at least for now.
To that end, honey, wish me luck; I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 