Open the Door to Victorious Living

Oh, Lord, keep me always aware of your Truths, how to walk in them and apply them to my life.

I’m thinking today of that term "en garde".
It’s funny that I should use those words "en garde" for I have never engaged in the sport of fencing. I know perhaps from books and movies, that it is the
readied stance one takes before the sabers start to clank back and forth in battle.
I might have enjoyed the sport of fencing, but certainly glad that I never had to
use that type of sword to save my, or perhaps, someone else’s life. So, how can we be "on guard" ?
I know that we can get ourselves into needless battles- one of which is with our tongues. I’ve fought many of those senseless battles myself. I know that as I write this, I am thinking about the times in my life when I used that tongue of mine like a saber. Being the movie buff I am, Zorro comes to mind. So many scenes of that masked hero - armed with saber, fighting the enemy- up and down stairways, in and out of rooms, and many times, fending off more than one person.
So, are our tongues to be used in that way?
Swords clicking- mouths engaging in rapid accusations and insults. The man Zorro, carved a single "Z" on something to claim his fame for victory.
I wonder if at the end of the battle of the tongue- Is there victory enough for us to boast?
There’s another scripture that’s been speaking to me lately.
John 10:9- " I AM THE DOOR, By Me, if any man enter in, He shall be saved!"
In so many battles or confrontations in my life, I have unknowingly and knowingly, used my tongue in the wrong way..
I say unknowingly, because the prince of this world- the deceiver, deceived me at the time. Filling my heart with despair and hopelessness, he made me think there was no other way. It was hard for me to get to that "DOOR’ when I was fighting my own battles ‘in the flesh’.
I say "knowingly" because the times in my life, were I was hurt, I felt justified by
wielding that tongue of mine. Payback was needed. No one understood what
I was going through. I had to take care of the matter, and ‘that built up pain and
sorrow’, gave way to more hurt, pain and sorrow.
If Jesus is the DOOR by which we are saved, how do we get to that door? Sometimes, the enemy isn’t others. It’s ourselves. How would the Lord have us to come to His Door?
Couldn’t we walk up the stairway, using a key instead? Not a man made key, but the needed key of forgiveness? Might it not readily open?
I can see that door in my mind. Not like some door in a game show- "Choose Door Number One- Number Two- Number Three! This door that I have
been thinking about of late- Is a massive door, perhaps made of dark oak, with hammered steel hinges. It is a beautiful door and one that looks as if it has been there forever. It can be opened- it longs to be opened, for on the other side of it
stands our Savior. It has been there forever, and cannot be beaten down by the enemies of hate, resentment, anger or unforgiveness.
We have to remember in this life, and it has taken me a few years to see this, that our battles are not in the flesh. We fight spiritual battles, the Bible says so. Christ was, is, and always will be our victor.
He arms us with His Word, yes. His Word is given to us as a sword, but we must use it with love and humility. It was not given to be used as a tool for hurt. When we are in the heat of battle, as Christ would have us, proclaiming His Word, how often does it fall on our own ears? Enter our minds? Our hearts? It is a two-edged sword. It brings truth to our inner beings.
We can forgive because Christ forgives. He forgave us. Simple as that.
"Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven"
"Lord, you bring us true victory in this life, when we allow you to fight our battles.
You’ve told me so many times, "Arm yourself with the word". In doing so, as I was praying for others, I was able to see my own faults in the matter, and many times, the victory was sweet because I not only turned the other cheek, but sought your forgiveness, and ultimately the unforgiven. As you forgave me, the prideful hurt vanished and others were able to see your love in me. I was able to see your love for me in a new and exciting way. I am so thankful for that growth.
Many times we are hurt and unjustifiably so, but even in that, if we pray for that person, love will come in our hearts and actions. Peace will reign in our minds.
Always, keep me in remembrance of these things, please. Feelings tend to lie to us.
We should be able to see these two enemies in our lives- the devil and ourselves, and appropriate your Word in the right ways. Lord, we have to develop the attitude and mind of your precious Son, Jesus Christ, and we can only do that by allowing you to speak to us, and then follow your voice in the circumstance.
You have given us a precious gift in Your Son, and we know that He is standing, willing and waiting to overtake every situation for our good, and of course, for your glory. We also know that in Jesus Christ, eternal life is given to those who believe and claim him to be their Savior.
Again, I know that we don’t have to wait till we die and go to Heaven for that door to open. Christ came to give us life in abundance.
That scripture from John 10 goes on to say that we will go in and out and find pasture. Wow! We have that privilege right now in our lives, to go in and out of that wondrous door, living life to the fullest with you on this earth, until it one day it shuts behind us and we are forever with you on High. How awesome is that! Thank you Father. Thank you Jesus.
Help us now in every circumstance, to apply your truths. "Make us wise beyond our years, so that we can walk daily in peace and joy, trusting in what you are accomplishing for us and others in this life. Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do for us your people. In Christ’s precious name, I pray. Amen".