{"id":12123,"date":"2013-05-27T00:01:50","date_gmt":"2013-05-27T04:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=12123"},"modified":"2013-05-26T09:58:44","modified_gmt":"2013-05-26T13:58:44","slug":"girls-with-swords-chapter-10-sword-of-light-pgs-153-156","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/05\/27\/girls-with-swords-chapter-10-sword-of-light-pgs-153-156\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls With Swords: Chapter 10 \u2013 \u201cSword of Light\u201d (pgs 153-156)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever turned the wrong way on a One Way<\/em> <\/span>street?\u00a0 I have.\u00a0 It was unintentional, scary, and very dangerous.\u00a0 However, I have turned the wrong way on a one way street on purpose, too, as a means to an end.\u00a0 I took a shortcut to get me to where I needed to be or turned in the direction I wanted to go.\u00a0 Was I wrong when I was going the wrong way?\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 Whether I found myself on the wrong road intentionally or unintentionally…I was still going the wrong way.<\/p>\n

If you have ever done this at night, you are very familiar with the sea of headlights coming at your lone car in the opposite direction.\u00a0 What a panicky feeling.\u00a0 No bueno<\/em>.\u00a0 It is very possible that you are on the right road and EVERYONE else is going the wrong way, but not likely.\u00a0 The laws and rules of the road are there for a purpose—safety.<\/p>\n

In this world, there are two ways to look at this illustration. \u00a0 If you are a Christ-follower, you should be headed the same direction as other followers—after Christ.\u00a0 We will all move in the same direction as we follow the Leader.\u00a0 If you find yourself going the opposite direction of other believers, you are probably headed in the wrong direction.\u00a0 Ask for help; we are all in this together.<\/p>\n

The other way to look at this is, as a Christ-follower, we will be going against the traffic and in an opposite direction from the world.\u00a0 If we find ourselves acting and saying things that make us indistinguishable from the ones around us, then our headlights are blending in to the mass of other headlights.\u00a0 That one car on the road going in the opposite direction is attempting to shine the Light for others to see and your headlight is one of the obstacles needing to be avoided or removed on the road to Jesus.<\/p>\n

Lisa uses the light illustration to say this, \u201cThis means that now we can\u2019t see the whole picture.\u00a0 Yet there has never been a more desperate need for us to perceive or discern what we do see accurately<\/em><\/strong>\u201d (p. 153).\u00a0 Because there is more than what meets the eye, \u201cwe need the sword of light and discernment\u201d<\/em><\/strong> to see what our eyes are missing in the Big Picture.<\/p>\n

I have to share with all of you….\u00a0 This book study has illuminated every topic<\/span> we have studied together in my family.\u00a0 As we learned about the reason for swords, there\u00a0was an application in my family.\u00a0 As we learned about being a hero, there was the opportunity to be a hero in my family.\u00a0 As we recognized the battleground, my family became a battleground.\u00a0 Part Two addressed ‘Becoming a Warrior’ and ‘Forging a Sword’ and I became renewed to defend my family, protect them from the enemy, and guide them to the right path.\u00a0 This section, ‘Armed,’ truly has been an application of what we are learning. \u00a0I am noticing the brambles, vines and serpents.\u00a0 \u00a0I find that I am getting weary in one way and empowered in another.\u00a0 The struggle saddens me for the ones on the wrong road, but overjoyed that God loves them enough to turn them around and point them in the right direction.<\/p>\n

Do not give up!\u00a0 If we do not recognize the Light, the darkness will<\/em> overtake us and the ones we love.\u00a0 Paul\u2019s letter to Timothy spoke volumes to me this week:<\/p>\n

“<\/span>You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>For people will love only themselves and their money.\u00a0 They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful.\u00a0 They will consider nothing sacred.\u00a0 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control.\u00a0 They will be cruel and hate what is good.\u00a0 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.\u00a0 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.\u00a0 Stay away from people like that!“<\/span><\/span><\/b>\u00a0 2 Timothy 3:1-5, NLT<\/i><\/p>\n

Young Timothy needed to know that there would be difficult times, people would only love themselves and their money, \u00a0they will be boastful and proud, disrespectful to God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, foul-mouthed and cruel.\u00a0 Why did Paul pass this knowledge on to Timothy?\u00a0 Why not let Timothy find this out on his own?\u00a0 Paul cared for Timothy.\u00a0 Paul cared for the common purpose they both shared.\u00a0 Paul and Timothy were on the road to following Jesus and the shared knowledge gave Timothy a light to keep him on the right road.\u00a0 Timothy didn\u2019t have to blaze a new road, he just had to maneuver the road he was already on.<\/p>\n

Timothy needed to recognize the serpents, briars, and stubborn roots that could trip him up along the way.\u00a0 Did you notice the main issues with the people Timothy would encounter while he ministered?\u00a0 Selfishness, boastfulness and pride, disobedience to God and their parents\u2026and UNGRATEFUL?\u00a0 These are not issues brought about by circumstances of where you live, but about where your HEART<\/span> is.\u00a0 People have a heart problem and only the Good Physician can heal them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like Timothy, we need to be aware of what can trip us up.\u00a0 We have to be on our guard and give careful attention to God\u2019s Word to be able to recognize dangerous areas.\u00a0 We need to have a healthy respect for these dangers, but know that God is in control and has made a way for us to successfully navigate this road of life.\u00a0 \u201c<\/em>The Word of God is the lamp that lights our paths while it judges our actions as surely as it discerns our hearts.\u00a0 Without the light of God\u2019s Word, we would all be running around in the dark, afraid of what we cannot see<\/em><\/strong>\u201d (p. 155).<\/p>\n

Lisa says something else that was very prevalent in my home this week, \u201cWithout the insight of God\u2019s Word, it is easy to mistake an enemy for a friend and someone\u2019s past for their future, because the shadow realm distorts our perspective.\u00a0 But when the light is brought to a situation, you see what is actually before you<\/strong><\/em>\u201d (p. 155).<\/p>\n

Friends, practice looking into the Light.\u00a0 Let the Word become instinctive in your life.\u00a0 I pray that your discernment sensors are sensitive and accurate.\u00a0 When your spirit tells you something is a danger, take note.\u00a0 It\u2019s important.\u00a0 Teach those around you how to recognize the hurtful areas so they can lift their sword and learn to use it.\u00a0 Let\u2019s all learn to be \u201cIn the Light\u201d:<\/p>\n