Video Bible Lesson - Prepared for Betrayal by Dr. Charles Stanley

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

4/30/2020

Prepared for Betrayal

Dr. Charles Stanley

Luke 22:1-13

We’ve all experienced or witnessed betrayal at some point. And no example in the Bible illustrates the pain, guilt, and shame caused by that sin more clearly than the story of Judas.

Chosen as one of the twelve, Judas was privileged. John 12:6 says that he was even granted the responsibility of maintaining the disciples’ money box. But that same verse reveals an important truth about Judas—he was a thief.

John indicates greed was Judas’ weakness. After Mary had anointed the Lord’s feet, Judas complained, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” (v. 5). The following verse, however, clarifies that he wanted the money only for himself. One can safely assume that if Judas had reached the point of stealing cash from Jesus’ supply, then his greed had gone unchecked for some time. That hidden sin was all Satan needed to interfere with his life. And once the Enemy stepped in, the disciple began “seeking a good opportunity” to betray Jesus (Luke 22:6).

First Peter 5:8 says the Devil is like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” And in Judas, Satan found a willing victim. If we’re honest with ourselves, each of us has a natural tendency toward sin.

Daily communion with God keeps hidden sins from becoming greater problems. Left unchecked, the “roaring lion” will also come after us, no matter what our weakness may be. Ask the Lord to reveal any sins you need to confess. Deal with them today—don’t let sin lead you down the path of Judas.

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

7 Ways Satan Is at Work in COVID19 and How He Tries to Bring Defeat:

7 Ways Satan Is at Work in COVID19 and How He Tries to Bring Defeat:

1. He works to consume us in doubt, fear and worry. He tries to deceive us into thinking we’re all alone. 

He is crafty. He is a schemer. He is cunning and evil. He can never be trusted. He is a master manipulator; don’t fall for his schemes. 

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1)

“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.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)

Satan is a thief. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He will try his best to rob us of all joy, peace, security, and purpose. He works hard to destroy our families, lives, and all that we hold dear.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

2. He tries to steal, kill, and destroy all that we hold dear. He’s the master of destruction.

3. He tempts us to rely on ourselves and our own strength to get us through. He disguises himself as an angel of light. 

Satan will do anything to try to lure us away from truth, away from God. He knows our weaknesses and will try to tempt us in our greatest times of struggle. He wants us to fall for his traps and he’ll take any opportunity to kick us while we’re down. He is deceptively cunning and can make himself appear beautiful and alluring. He attempts to make sin look good and evil enticing.

“The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:3-4)

“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

4. He is the author of confusion. He breeds distrust and paranoia.

He is a deceiver. He will seek to bring confusion and lead many astray, he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is a liar and works hard to make us doubt God’s truth. From the beginning of time, he has hissed lies our way, twisting God’s word to bring doubt and disbelief. 

“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” (Revelation 12:9)

“…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

5. He tries to lead us into a downward spiral of depression and despair.

He is our adversary. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. His attacks are ruthless. He searches for the weakest, most vulnerable victims to devour.

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8)

6. He causes sickness and disease.

He is Beelzebub, otherwise known as the lord of the flies, the prince of demons. Like flies gravitate to decay and death, he lords over what brings death. He is ruthless and evil and is intent on bringing great suffering and destruction. 

“But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:24-26)

He is one who hinders. He is a stumbling block. He will do anything to try and prevent the name of Jesus Christ from being proclaimed and His truth from being shared. He will try every trick possible to throw roadblocks in our path and to stop us from being fruitful. He loves to stir up trouble and rumors. If he can divide us through disunity, he knows he has already won part of the battle.

“For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23)

7. He works hard to bring disunity and strife. He wants nothing more than to break

 up the body of Christ.

Remember:

We have a choice of who we listen to and what we believe. Recognize who is at the root of fear and worry. Push past his lies; step over his traps.

God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to live free from the entanglement of sin. He gives us the power to live strong. He gives wisdom and discernment to make the right choices. He gives joy deep inside. He offers the assurance, that no matter what we face, He is with us.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

A Fresh Touch with God

A Fresh Touch with God
Streams of the Desert

And the ill favored and lean-fleshed kine did Eat up the seven well favored and fat kin…and the thin, ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears (Gen. 41:4,7).

There is a warning for us in that dream, just as it stands: It is possible for the best years of our life, the best experiences, the best victories won, the best service rendered, to be swallowed up by times of failure, defeat, dishonor, uselessness in the kingdom. Some men's lives of rare promise and rare achievement have ended so. It is awful to think of, but it is true. Yet it is never necessary.

S. D. Gordon has said that the only assurance of safety against this tragedy is "fresh touch with God," daily, hourly. The blessed, fruitful, victorious experiences of yesterday are not only of no value to me today, but they will actually be eaten up or reversed by today's failures, unless they serve as incentives to still better, richer experiences today.

"Fresh touch with God," by abiding in Christ, alone will keep the lean kine and the ill favored grain out of my life.
--Messages for the Morning Watch

The Church What Is It All About.....Dr. Charles Stanley

The Church What Is It All About

Dr. Charles Stanley

Colossians 1:18-24

Church buildings are plentiful in our country. Locating one may be easy, but wisely deciding which to join involves more effort. God's Word gives us some specific instructions in this matter.

First, let's explore the original biblical meaning of the word "church." The term ecclesia meant a group of people who are called out of the world's system by God's grace for the purpose of assembling to worship and serve Christ. Ephesians 5:29-30 further specifies that believers are the body and Jesus is the head of such a fellowship. Under His leadership, we can enjoy the unity and purpose that He intended.

God's design for this sacred gathering involves worship, instruction, encouragement, evangelism, and ministry to those in need, both within the fellowship and outside its walls. A healthy, vibrant congregation is possible only when members rely fully on the Holy Spirit's guidance. The work of the church is to be done in His power, in humble, prayerful submission to the Lord.

To help you determine whether a church is following the design laid out in Scripture, here are some important questions to ask: Do they believe God's Word is infallible and inerrant? Is the church disciplining her people? Does the fellowship have some kind of missionary or evangelistic program?

Joining a congregation is an important decision, as a fellowship of believers is one tool God uses to mature and encourage His children. Those three questions can be helpful in discerning God's will. Listen for His Spirit to warn or direct as you prayerfully investigate your options.

From Desperation to Transformation.....🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

From Desperation to Transformation
STEPHEN ARTERBURN

Lee en español

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2a (NLT)

Years ago, my friend Pastor Chuck called me to ask if I could meet with a young woman who’d been a crack addict and was now suicidal and asking for help. Twenty minutes later, a weak and fragile woman with a very strong vocabulary of four-letter words began spewing her anger and bitterness at me.

She was a model, and photographers provided the drug to add life and action to her photo shoots. She’d recently stopped using crack, but the longer she went without the drug, the deeper into depression she sank. At her darkest moment, she was going to kill herself, but instead she went to Pastor Chuck’s church for help.

We talked for over an hour, and I did not feel very helpful.

As she prepared to walk out, I reached for something that had just arrived in my office the day before. It was a new Bible that helps provide God’s truth for those involved in recovery from alcohol, drugs and other problems that require a growth plan. I hated to part with my copy, but this young woman needed something more than my feeble words to help her be transformed.

I handed her the Bible, opened it to the book of John and said, “I don’t think my words have been too helpful, but I know these words can transform your life. If you would start with the book of John, it can lead you to the life you once had and more.” Those were the best words I could come up with to encourage her to read that Bible and discover the recovery program inside. As she left, I prayed and wondered what would become of this desperate woman.

Six months later, I was back at the same church when a young woman came walking up the center aisle carrying a Bible so tattered it looked like it had gone through a washing machine.

It was the same woman who’d shown up in my office when she was suicidal. She now had a much brighter face and carried her very well-worn copy of the Scriptures. I was stunned and asked, “What happened to you?”

She replied, “I stopped believing the lies of Satan and started believing the truth of Jesus Christ, and my life has been transformed.” She told me how she started a ministry helping young women not to make the same mistakes she had made. Her life had truly been transformed by the truths of Jesus Christ. As dramatic as her transformation was, it is available to us all.

We don’t have to be addicted to something or be suicidal to need transformation. The promise of profound transformation is found in Romans 12:2: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (NLT).

It sounds so easy and simple. Just change the way you think, and you will not only be transformed, but you’ll also learn to know God’s good and pleasing and perfect will for your life.

However, I’m all too aware that few things are as difficult as changing the way we think. I am stubborn in my resolve to figure everything out myself and tell no one of my struggle. I do anything under my own power to try to make my life better. But transformation comes when we stop trying so hard and completely surrender to the ultimate power greater than ourselves, the Lord God Almighty.

God still longs for us to humble ourselves before Him and fill our minds with His life-transforming truth. And then, He rewards us when we do what it tells us to do, and He reminds us that when we can’t, we need to find support from others to succeed. When we’re willing to do whatever it takes to be transformed, we experience hope for a new life.

Dear Jesus, I want to become my true self — the person You created me to be. Give me discernment to recognize when I have picked up worldly thinking, and help me replace those thoughts with Your thoughts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Colossians 3:10, “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (NLT)

Deconstructing David

Deconstructing David 
by Ryan Duncan

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7

The first time I read the story of King David, it was from a small, animated Bible my parents had bought me as a boy. As I flipped through the pages of that little book, I can remember looking on David as something of a superhero. Think about it: he defeated Goliath with nothing but a sling and five stones. After that, he became King of Israel, replacing Saul, who had done a pretty terrible job to begin with. He was referred to as a man after God’s own heart, and nothing could touch him.

After a while, I began to see the life of David as more of a fairytale. I still believed it to be true, but a part of me resented God for showing David so much favor. Why had his life been so perfect when the rest of us had to struggle? Why did God allow so many people to suffer pain, but always seem to step up for David? It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I stumbled onto this psalm written by David:

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.” – Psalms 69

Now that I’m older I realize David’s life wasn’t perfect; in a lot of ways it was actually pretty lousy. He was hounded by Saul for years, he lost loved ones to sickness and war, and he even committed some pretty serious sins. Being a man after God’s own heart didn’t mean David would be shielded from harm, and being a Christian doesn’t guarantee us prosperity. The thing that made David a great man, and the thing that makes our lives as Christians meaningful, was that he never turned away from God. We will all experience trials and tribulations in our lives, but by trusting God we can overcome them.

That is how we become people after God’s own heart, and in the end, that’s all God really wants.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Take a moment to look past your troubles and consider what can bring you closer to God.

Further Reading: Psalm 69

The Danger of Legalism

The Danger of Legalism
By Joe McKeever

“Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem saying, ‘Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?’ …And He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?'” (Matthew 15:1-3).

Historians tell us the Pharisees started off well, as revivalists in a way, calling the nation back to faithfulness. Eventually, however, their insistence on righteousness settled down into a code of laws and rules. They went from being encouragers to harassers, from lovers of God to bullies and legalists.

The legalist is someone who says, “I know the Lord didn’t say this, but He would have if He’d thought of it!”

The legalist is smarter than God. He helps the Lord by completing His Word, by filling in the gaps where the Lord clearly forgot to say something, explain something, or require a thing.

The legalist drives the rest of God’s people nuts. He is forever finding rules we overlooked, requirements we clearly missed on purpose, and laws the rest of us should be keeping. He insists his way is the only one and can play the more-righteous-than-thou card when we do not agree with him.

The legalist claims to love the Word more than you. Typically, he takes a single saying of Scripture and builds an entire system around it, then demands that everyone else obey it. If you refuse, you don’t love the Lord, are in rebellion against God, and unworthy to be a leader or teacher of this church.

There is something about legalism that is attractive to a lot of people. It reduces the Christian faith to a list of rules. No more of this “search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). No more of this “The sacrifices of the Lord are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). It’s rules. Laws. Regulations. Requirements. Demands

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were the gold standard of legalists. But their descendants are many, vocal, and ever-present.

In all its manifestations, legalism violates a dozen principles of righteous discipleship: the sovereignty of Almighty God, the proper interpretation of Scripture, obedience to the Holy Spirit, love for people, the prominence of the gospel message, and many others.

A Prayer for Guidance

A Prayer for GuidanceBy Kristine Brown

“And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.” - 2 Samuel 7:20-21 (ESV)

King David spent years in battle, fighting enemies one after another. Not to mention running for his life from the former king, Saul. However, at this time God had given David a break from conflict. He enjoyed much-needed rest in his palace.

Then he got a brilliant idea.

David felt guilty living in luxury while the ark of God “dwelled in a tent.” (See 2 Samuel 7:1-2.) He resolved to do something about it. He was the king, after all. Who better to build a house for the ark of the Lord?

David shared his plan with Nathan the prophet. Since God was with David, Nathan encouraged him to go ahead. There was just one small problem: God didn’t tell David to do it.

That night, God spoke to Nathan with an urgent message for David. God had a different plan for the ark of the covenant, and He needed David to step out of the way. Even though David’s desire came from his best intentions, this job belonged to someone else. And through his mistake, God taught David a valuable lesson.

Sometimes, making a decision solely based on our good intentions interrupts God’s perfect plan.

David took the correction as an opportunity for growing closer to his Lord. And with the heart of a servant, David thanked Him for it. This is God’s desire for us too.

In His firm yet gentle way, God teaches us to trust. And when we allow the Lord to guide our decisions, we find unmatched fulfillment. So let’s agree to seek His instruction today. We can race ahead wanting to serve, but let’s also listen for the times He says, “Stop.”

Then, like David, we can thank our loving Father for the training. After all, He’s the best Coach ever.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of Your plans, and help me know when to stop and listen for Your direction. Your ways are perfect, Lord. Thank You for offering gentle grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Video Bible Lesson - The “Better” Life is Already Yours by KAREN EHMAN

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

4/28/2020

The “Better” Life is Already Yours

KAREN EHMAN

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 (CSB)
Recently, I traveled to visit our adult daughter who’d just purchased her first home, an adorable mid-century brick ranch. After a week of unpacking boxes, cleaning cupboards and organizing closets, I packed one more item — my carry-on bag — and headed back to the airport to return home.
After an hour-and-a-half flight, the aircraft touched down. And as always, when opening the overhead compartment to retrieve my carry-on bag, I scrutinized it very carefully to be sure I was grabbing the correct one. Since many travelers have a basic black suitcase on wheels, it is easy to retrieve the wrong one.
I popped open the bin and laughed at what I saw. One savvy traveler had used white paint to write two simple words on the bottom of his suitcase: “Not yours!” And it worked. No one grabbed his luggage mistakenly.
God used that humorous incident to speak to my heart that day. At that time in my life, I was wrestling with feelings of envy toward a few people in my circle of friends. My unique shade of green greed had established an ugly root in my heart, causing me to focus on what I lacked, rather than on the blessings I did have.
Spying the words, “Not yours!” on that suitcase was the wake-up my wandering mind needed. I needed to stop envying the lives God had given others and be satisfied with the one He has given me.
Today’s key verse makes this bold statement about our lives: “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). While we might not have _________ (fill in the blank with your own area of envy), we do have all we need to live a life of godliness.
All humans who turn their lives over to God have equal access to Him. We all can study His Word, connect with Him through prayer, and discover a fulfilling life serving Him on earth. His unfailing love toward each of us is vast, without partiality and never-ending.
Sure … you might not have the financial stability of your friend, but you do have all you need to live a life of godliness as you grow in your knowledge of God.
Perhaps you did not experience an “ideal upbringing” like that woman in your Bible study, but you do have all you need to live a life of godliness as you grow in your knowledge of God. (And odds are, it wasn’t always ideal for her either. But that’s another story.)
You might not be as fit and fabulous-looking as the friend whose post you just saw in your feed, but you do have all you need to live a life of godliness as you grow in your knowledge of God.
Your children may not be as well-behaved, your husband not as attentive or your mother-in-law as sweet as the next gal’s, but you do have all you need to live a life of godliness as you grow in your knowledge of God.
So, the next time you find yourself envious, wanting to grab what someone else has, remind yourself, “Not yours!” Instead, focus your mind on God, thanking Him for the many blessings — no matter how simple — He has gifted to you.
We can choose to be content rather than waste energy wishing we resided in someone else’s circumstances. Let’s spend our time pursuing godliness as we deepen our walk with Jesus. Maybe we don’t have what someone else does, but we do have the Lord, and He is enough.
Father, I want to learn to be content despite my circumstances. Help me keep my eyes on You rather than on others who seem to have a better life than I do. You are all I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (CSB)
Proverbs 14:30, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Never Let Go

Never Let Go
Streams in the Desert

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are (James 5:17).

Thank God for that! He got under a juniper tree, as you and I have often done; he complained and murmured, as we have often done; was unbelieving, as we have often been. But that was not the case when he really got into touch with God. Though "a man subject to like passions as we are," "he prayed praying."  It is sublime in the original--not "earnestly," but "he prayed in prayer." He kept on praying. What is the lesson here? You must keep praying.

Come up on the top of Carmel, and see that remarkable parable of Faith and Sight. It was not the descent of the fire that now was necessary, but the descent of the flood; and the man that can command the fire can command the flood by the same means and methods. We are told that he bowed himself to the ground with his face between his knees; that is, shutting out all sights and sounds. He was putting himself in a position where, beneath his mantle, he could neither see nor hear what was going forward.

He said to his servant, "Go and take an observation." He went and came back, and said--how sublimely brief! one  word--"Nothing!"

What do we do under such circumstances?

We say, "It is just as I expected!" and we give up praying. Did Elijah? No, he said, "Go again." His servant again came back and said, "Nothing!" "Go again." "Nothing!"

By and by he came back, and said, "There is a little cloud like a man's hand." A man's hand had been raised in supplication, and presently down came the rain; and Ahab had not time to get back to the gate of Samaria with all his fast steeds. This is a parable of Faith and Sight--faith shutting itself up with God; sight taking observations and seeing nothing; faith going right on, and "praying in prayer," with utterly hopeless reports from sight.

Do you know how to pray that way, how to pray prevailingly? Let sight give as discouraging reports as it may, but pay no attention to these. The living God is still in the heavens and even to delay is part of His goodness.  
--Arthur T. Pierson

Each of three boys gave a definition of faith which is an illustration of the tenacity of faith. The first boy said, "It is taking hold of Christ"; the second, "Keeping hold"; and the third, "Not letting go."

Praying the Promises of God.....Dr. Charles Stanley

Praying the Promises of God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 40:8

Jesus made it clear that we would endure hardship in this life. But God gave His children amazing tools to keep trials from overwhelming us. For instance, He placed His Spirit inside each believer to guide and empower. In addition, He gave us prayer so we could not only communicate and stay connected with our Father but also bring Him our requests.

Today I want to focus on yet another one of His marvelous gifts: the Bible. Scripture is the actual Word of God Almighty. It is truth. It never changes. It enables us in all circumstances, so we have a sure foundation on which to base our lives and decisions.

There are thousands of promises in the Bible--countless assurances that we can rely on with perfect confidence. God wants us to learn them so we won't miss out on blessings He wants to give. And wise believers will turn His promises into prayers and the cries of their hearts.

Let me give you an example that relates to difficult decisions. Psalms 32:8 states, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." We can pray God's words back to Him, saying that we believe He will teach us and reveal His path, while remaining by our side as our caregiver through the entire situation.

When hardships arise, we need a solid foundation on which to stand. Otherwise, our emotions could easily lead us astray through faulty thinking. God is faithful and unchanging, so we can trust in His promises, which enable us to rest confidently and act boldly

When It’s Hard to Share Intimate Struggles

When It’s Hard to Share Intimate Struggles
KRISTEN CLARK

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NLT) 

She walked a little closer and then hesitated. She looked as though she’d changed her mind and was going to turn around. Before she had a chance to leave, I made eye contact with her and gave her a warm and reassuring smile. This was all it took to let her know I cared.

With her eyes now filled with tears and mascara running down her face, I pulled her into a great big hug. The two of us stood there for several minutes as she sobbed. Whatever was going on inside her mind had obviously been kept under lock and key for quite some time.

The moment of truth had finally come for Katie.

Over the next hour, Katie shared her story of struggle and shame. Years and years of pain were finally coming to the surface. For the first time ever, she confessed her multi-year battle with porn. As soon as Katie brought this secret into the light, she felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. This was no longer her battle to fight alone. She now had reinforcements.

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

• Devotionals
• Faith
• Family
• Church
• News & Culture
• More
• Subscribe

<< Encouragement for Today

When It’s Hard to Share Intimate Struggles - Encouragement for Today - April 29, 2020

• 2020Apr 29
• COMMENTS0

April 29, 2020

When It’s Hard to Share Intimate Struggles
KRISTEN CLARK

Lee en español

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NLT) 

She walked a little closer and then hesitated. She looked as though she’d changed her mind and was going to turn around. Before she had a chance to leave, I made eye contact with her and gave her a warm and reassuring smile. This was all it took to let her know I cared.

With her eyes now filled with tears and mascara running down her face, I pulled her into a great big hug. The two of us stood there for several minutes as she sobbed. Whatever was going on inside her mind had obviously been kept under lock and key for quite some time.

The moment of truth had finally come for Katie.

Over the next hour, Katie shared her story of struggle and shame. Years and years of pain were finally coming to the surface. For the first time ever, she confessed her multi-year battle with porn. As soon as Katie brought this secret into the light, she felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. This was no longer her battle to fight alone. She now had reinforcements.

Katie and I spent some amazing time together that day. We prayed, cried and created a serious battle plan that would help her walk in grace, forgiveness and victory from that moment forward. After Katie wiped the final tears from her eyes, I looked at her and gently asked why she had waited so many years to share about her battle with porn. Her answer was simple — and yet deeply saddening.

She said, “I always felt like lust was a guy problem, not a girl problem. I assumed I was the only girl who struggled with porn, so I kept it a deep, dark secret. It wasn’t until I heard you share about your secret struggles that I finally felt free to share about my sexual struggles. Today was the first time I realized I wasn’t the only girl who struggled with lust.”

Over the years, I’ve heard from hundreds of women like Katie who’ve bravely reached out for help. I often ask why they kept silent.

Their response is almost always the same: “I felt like I was the only woman who struggled. There was no way I was going to share about my struggles when I felt like nobody else could relate.”

Each one of these women concluded they were the only one — the only female in the world who struggled with lust. Instead of opening up and sharing about their issues, many of them felt they must walk the journey alone. How could they possibly open up and share, if nobody else could relate?

We live in a day and age when shallow relationships abound. Dating relationships, marriages, friendships and even family relationships often stay on a surface level.

Despite how many of us crave to know and be known on a deeper level, we can find it extremely difficult to actually attain that level of intimacy. We want to go deeper, but we’re often afraid or unsure of exactly how to make it happen.

Yet, we’ve also had to deal with real struggles in this area of life. What are we to do?

Galatians Chapter 6 reminds us of the importance of encouraging one another when we’re struggling with sin: “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2, NLT).

Changing the narrative about how so many of us struggle, particularly with lust, will be hugely helpful for Christ-centered women. With more people talking about this as a human problem (not just a guy problem), my hope is that more women will be honest about their struggles. As sexually broken women, we’re all in this together. We’re all in need of help, encouragement and hope. Let’s rise to the challenge to be there for one another.

Lord, thank You for designing me for intimacy, and thanks for allowing us all to be honest about the issues we’re facing. We genuinely want victory through the power of Christ. Help us share each other’s burdens as we fight this battle together. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Colossians 3:12-13a, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another.” (NIV)