Praise you, Lord God, that in your gracious goodness, you unfailingly guide and direct, provide for and protect us. Praise you for the completeness of your character, the perfection of your personality, the graciousness of your goodness, and the firmness of your faithfulness.

Thank you that you lead us through difficulties, darkness and disappointments, using each to chasten, mature, deepen and develop us. You are wise beyond words, knowing exactly what is right, always doing what is best, and working out what is wonderful, no matter how it may appear to us.

I praise you, Lord, that whatever comes today, I can thank you for it. Confidence in you is never misplaced, praise is always appropriate, trust is always right.

To you now I lift my heart and soul in praise, for you are worthy of it in your perfect power, wonderful wisdom, lavish love, great goodness and flawless faith, in your strong sternness and touching tenderness. Every quality needed is there in the exact amount and in perfect balance: mercy triumphs over justice, forgiveness conquers condemnation, love covers a multitude of sins.

Today help  me to live in the light of these Truths and to love you by obeying you.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Christian, Part 3

A continuation of how one man keeps on and uses the armor of Ephesians 6:10-18

On the way home from work Walter sat quietly on the train looking out the window, polishing his sword by meditating on the passage he’d been memorizing. A billboard swept into view, featuring a semi-clad girl. Although Walter quickly looked away, he’d already been hit with a dart of lust and was taken down.

He immediately sprang up and pulled the dart out with confession: “Look at what I just thought, Lord. I agree with you that it is totally selfish, destructive, and caustic to my soul. It is pleasing to Satan and grievous to you. I repent and ask your forgiveness, especially for grieving you, you who love me so much.”

Then he went on the offensive and in the powerful name of Jesus withdrew any ground he’d given to the enemy in this attack, asking God to fill him again with the Spirit.

Just in case any more such attacks came on the way home, he kept his shield of faith up by thanking God for all that had happened during the day–and he decided not to stare out the window any more.

When he came in the door at home, the kids were arguing and his exasperated wife welcomed him with, “Well, I’m glad you’re finally home. See if you can do something with these three fighters!”

Walter skillfully got his shield up as the dart of anger flew at him, followed by one of self-justification. “I was hoping for a better reception and some peaceful interaction, Lord–but I thank you for the chance to fulfill the role you have for me in serving and protecting my wife, and of helping my 3 boys learn to follow you!” Both darts hit the shield and were extinguished.

But then the dragon of selfishness took a swipe at him and almost knocked the shield out of Walter’s hand. He quickly came around with his sword, “I praise you, Lord, that I can keep my eyes on you; I confess my desire to do my own thing here and have some ‘well deserved relaxation’ before supper, but as your disciple I’m called to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. I thank you for the chance to obey you in this moment.” This sent the dragon squealing in retreat.

Walter strode to the kids and scooped two of them up in his arms. “Hi Dad,” they shouted. “Can we go to the park for a while before supper?”

“Sure!” Walter replied. “Get you shoes and coats on.”

The three little bodies scurried to the hall while Walter went to the kitchen and gave his wife a hug. “Hard day, huh?”

“Sure was! I wish I had a quiet and easy life like yours!”

Walter smiled as he deftly raised up his shield with his left hand to quench the flaming arrow of competitiveness, wanting to tell her how hard his day had been. Resting his right hand on his sword, he thought, “If you only knew!” He kissed his wife gently and turned to take the kids to the park.

Picture from internet

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Christian, Part 1 The story of how one man keeps on and uses the armor of Ephesians 6:10-18

Walter ran up the last few steps and walked swiftly to the door. He didn’t want to be late for work and unnecessarily bring any negative attention to himself from the boss.

Suddenly he stopped. “Wait! I don’t have my helmet of salvation on! I’m looking for security from others and their opinions, not God.” He put on the helmet with a quick prayer, “Lord I confess I’m walking in the fear of men and repent! Help me to rest in you and your approval.”

He took a deep breath, opened the door and entered the office. Sure enough, there was the boss waiting for him; but instead of dread or a sinking feeling, Walter now had his helmet on and rested in the truth of who he was–a Child of God, a Prince whose real work was joining God in His great plans.

“Ah, Walter,” said the boss, towering over his diminutive employee. “How’s it going with the coding on that new project? It’s really important that we make our deadline on this one!”

Walter calmly adjusted his glasses and blinked up at his boss. “It’s going well. In fact, I’m ahead of schedule and have the whole thing mapped out. I should be done by the end of the week.”

“Great!” replied his boss, smiling. “Keep up the good work.” Walter nodded and headed to his cubical where he hung his coat over his chair and got down to work.

Walter was well into his coding when something caught his attention. At first, he thought maybe he’d imagined it, but no, there it was again: a movement in the back of his mind. He reached for his sword and shield and swung around just in time to face his foe, the dragon of jealousy.

The hot flames of the dragon’s breath swept over him, reminding him of how he’d been passed over for that promotion he’d wanted and a less experienced guy had gotten it–but Walter kept up his shield, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, warding off the flames, “Thank you, Lord, that I didn’t get that promotion because you have something better for me; thank you for your care and protection in all.”

He brought his sword up, slashing with skill at the dragon’s vulnerable areas: “You, Lord, are sovereign, and if getting that promotion had been good for me, you would have given it. I can praise you for not allowing me to have it, for your Word says, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.’”

The dragon drew back and stumbled off into the brush. Walter leaned on his sword, panting. He wiped the soot from the dragon’s flames off his face, reminding himself, “My soul finds rest in God alone. He only is my rock and my salvation.”

More to come

Psalm 22:19 “But you, O LORD, be not far off;”

[You, Heavenly Father, only turned away from Jesus as long as was necessary; when His suffering was complete, you turned back and raised Him from the dead, gloriously defeating all your foes.

And because you, Lord Jesus, were willing to be abandoned on the cross while becoming sin for us, you can faithfully say to us, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5 ESV). Praise be to you, Lord God, that you are always near, always ready to help in grace, wisdom and power.]

“O my Strength, come quickly to help me.”

[You, Heavenly Father came with power to help, defeating death by raising Christ. And you are my strength, Lord Jesus, the Source of all good, the Provider of powerful protection, my righteous rock and faithful fortress.

Praise you that you give us help at the right time and in the right way. And praise you that while waiting, we can be worshiping, trusting and thanking you before any answer comes–because you, Lord, are gloriously faithful!]  Help me to rest in this truth today.

This next section of Psalm 22 is a series of amazing prophetic declarations, describing what would happen to Jesus 1000 years after it was written; it details the happenings of a crucifixion long before that cruel method of execution was devised. Truly God knows all that will come and reveals to us what we need to know.

Psalm 22:12,13 “Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.”

[Satan and his forces, using the unbelieving rulers of Israel and the powerful Gentile Roman forces, sought to devour Christ, seemingly defeating Him with death.]

Psalm 22:14, 15 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.”

[Here is the clear prophetic description of Christ’s crucifixion, with bones out of joint, with extreme thirst, with His heart melting from anguish and grief, ending with His death and burial.

What a wonder for us, Lord God to see how you, living outside of time, can describe what doesn’t yet exist in such precise detail. Your knowledge is deep, detailed, wonderful and marvelous, showing us the greatness of your character, the might of your wisdom and the grace of your revelation!]

Psalm 22:16 “Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me,”

[The gentile Romans empowered by the faithless Jewish rulers brought Him to execution.]

“they have pierced my hands and my feet.”

[In crucifying you, they did exactly this.]

Psalm 22:17 “I can count all my bones;

[your bones stuck out as you were stretched and pulled on the cross.]

“people stare and gloat over me.”

[ “the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One'” (Luke 22:35).]

Psalm 22:18 “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”

[And the soldiers did exactly that 1000 years later, casting lots for Jesus’ garment. The detail of prediction here is astounding.

Praise you, Lord, for your desire to share this with us, to show us how your knowledge and wisdom are limitless, always at work, waiting for the right time, bringing what is best to pass, passing all the way on the  road of suffering.

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