JANUARY 26

‘What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.’ James 4: 1-2

As a child I was, and still am, a pacifist by nature. I can soak up immeasurable amounts of ‘verbals’ without feeling the need to lash out, unlike my classmate Michael. He had what is called a short fuse. Someone would just have to look at him the wrong way or use the wrong tone of voice and he would be primed for a fight. He lived his life like a coiled snake ready to spring into action and fight or even bite all comers. It was on one such occasion when ready to run onto the games field that Michael got into a fight. I don’t even know what it was about but being smart I just walked the other way and seemingly out of the way. This was until I heard someone scream my name. That was the last thing I remember hearing as the next thing I recall was looking up at a crowd of worried faces. I had been hit by a house brick Michael had thrown at the other boy when the fight separated. Michael sprinted up to the crowd pushed the boys to the side and grabbed me by the collar shouting “Why did you get in the way?” Not the response I was expecting but I don’t recall feeling anger, more frustration. That night after a hospital visit and 3 stitches over my left eye, I remember praying with my mother for Michael that he gets his anger problem under control and thanksgiving for saving my sight.

35 years later I am sitting talking to Michael at a parents evening. His son isn’t doing as well as he could be. After getting education business out of the way, Michael asked me, “Do you still go to church?”

‘Of course’ I responded.

“Remember to pray for me.” He said as he left his chair and walked off with his son. It reminded me of this WhatsApp I was sent.

"An Eagle does not fight a snake on the ground, it picks it up high up the air, thereby changing the fighting ground, then releases it back to the ground. A snake has no stamina, no power, no balance in the air. It is useless, weak and vulnerable unlike on the ground where it is deadly, wise and powerful."

 
So, as a child of God, take your fight to the spiritual realm where God takes charge. Don't fight your challenges in the physical realm; change grounds like an eagle. You will be assured of a clean uncontested victory. Pray and let God take control... the battle belongs to the Lord and you have been strengthened for the battle.

Our song today, “Take it to the Lord in prayer” by Nolan Williams.  Click on the picture to listen.

     Housekeeping details for you

     The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.

     A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here