Today is already a very happy birthday for me. It is actually already the best and most happy birthday I have ever had. Before I can tell you how awesome this day is already, I must tell you about the month-long battle that has been raging in my mind.

Everybody is Going Through Something!

First, I know that we are all at war. We are all going through something because Jesus Himself tells us that in this world we will have tribulation.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Jesus is not causing us these troubles and afflictions whatever they may be for you. Jesus just doesn’t want us to be deceived by denial. Before we can tackle any problem, we first have to acknowledge that there is a problem.

What’s the Problem?

I don’t want to get too specific with what my problems have been because that is not what is very beneficial. The problem for humanity is that we live in a fallen world. We have an enemy who is constantly seeking someone to devour!

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8

The Good News!

The good news is that we have a Conqueror who has already defeated our foe and has made us more than conquerors! And we CAN trust Him!

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Romans 8:37

God is Love

God created everything that has ever been created. He created man in His image. In the image of God He created them male and female. He said that everything He created was good until he created Adam and Eve, and then He said that it was very good. Even the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was good! God didn’t say, “It is good except for that one tree!” God did lovingly warn Adam not to eat of that one tree because he would surely die.

Even Lucifer was Good.

Lucifer was sent to earth to minister to the people that God created a little lower than Himself but above the angels.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

Lucifer was jealous. He had been number one under God until the beginning of time as we know it. Then God made mankind!

Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!

Psalm 8:5 NASB20

Elohim

I quoted Psalm 8:5 from NASB20 because KJV translated “Elohim” as angels in this one verse. Elohim is translated as “God” everywhere else in the Bible. You can click on “God” highlighted in blue to go to the KJV and see below the verse that it was actually “Elohim.”

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Hebrews 2:7

The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:5 but actually says “lower than the angels,” but then in verse 8, he clarifies that this is for the time being or as a result of the fall. “But now we see not yet.”

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Hebrews 2:8

That is why Jesus also had to be made a little lower than the angels to keep man’s end of the covenant so that God could finally restore man to his original intended position before the fall. Hallelujah! Here we are now in the New Covenant aka “The New Testament!” Yay!

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:9

Happy Birthday???

“So what does this have to do with your having a happy birthday?” You might ask. Absolutely everything. We have to know that we have an enemy that rebellion against God created!

Man’s rebellion?

Lucifer’s rebellion?

Yes and yes.

Keep Yourself

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

1 John 5:18

In the post, The Lord is Gracious, I realized and shared how we can keep ourselves in constant communion with our Lord and the benefit of it. Communion is a wonderful corporate discipline that many church congregations practice. It is very beneficial. In addition to corporate commuion we should individually be in constant “intimate coversation” with Jesus.

Struggles

I won’t go into the details of my struggles, but I will tell you that the enemy attacks us and those closest to us in our minds. We have much instruction in the Bible about our thinking because it is very important. I have been at war holding every thought captive to Christ: If it doesn’t line up with the Word of God it doesn’t get to stay in my thoughts. This takes practice and of course diligence in knowing the Scriptures.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14

Fighting

So I have been fighting doubt, shame, condemnation, etc. for over a month. I am only able to persevere and overcome these attacks because of the ammunition or weapons I load myself up with. I place myself in a position to hear God by listening to Him all the time. Fellowship and discipleship are so important because we are arming ourselves with the knowledge and wisdom of God. We must also be diligent to choose who and what we allow to speak into our lives.

Yesterday, I was reading John 14-16. I “heard” Jesus say that what He commands is that we love each other as He has loved us. He also said that whatever we ask the Father in His name is done for us because that glorifies the Father. These two things were repeated three times each through these few chapters. I have been learning more about praying (asking the Father)! If you have been reading my new Prayer Journal page, you may have been learning and praying more with me too.

Finally, My Happy Birthday

As I was waking up this morning, I was dreaming that I was telling someone, “I’ll ask my Father.” My answer to their response was, “Yes, I can ask my Father, and He will give me anything I ask for. It is done.” I said these things with absolute confidence! It was amazing! Smiling as I completely woke up, I heard, “You do know that everything you have asked for, I have already done?” With the same exact confidence I had just dreamed about, I said, “Yes!”

At that very moment, I felt the warmth of my awesome, incredible, gorgeous husband of over 24 years! I am more madly in love with this man than I was even yesterday or when we first met! We are absolutely having a mad passionate love affair. I know that may be too much information, but I’m just saying that is what God does to a marriage! That is His will for marriage because marriage is supposed to represent our mad passionate love affair with God!

The Love of God

I immediately started thanking God for my husband and our wonderful marriage. Do you know what God said to me? “Happy birthday!”

Realizing that the God who created the galaxies, the ocean, waterfalls, animals, and everything good and perfect, just told me “happy birthday,” I said, “Thank You, thank You, thank You, Father!”

And then do you know what God said to me? He said, “I love you, Starla!” I know this okay. By listening to Carrie Pickett’s teaching, Unraveled, I have been intentionally meditating on the love of God. I have been praying for a greater revelation of His love for me and the whole world.

Again, to “hear” the One who created everything that has ever been created tell you “happy birthday” and then, “I love you, Your Name Here” is maybe the most incredible experience ever!!! Guys, I wouldn’t have heard any of this if I were not “by reason of use having my senses exercised!”

Ah, Perfection!

I am not a super duper! I don’t look in the mirror every morning and say, “Ah, perfection!” Sometimes I say, “Oh my God, what were you thinking???” Hahaha! I do look into the perfect mirror, God’s Word, to find out more about Jesus and what He says about me and you!

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

We Might Be Made

We are the determining factor here! You get to choose to believe that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I know that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus because He says so! We walk by faith and not by sight. The just shall live by faith. Sight tells me that I cheated on my Bible college exam just last week! Sight tells me that I failed the people I love, respect, and honor the most, and I failed them miserably! But, faith tells me that I am holy just as He is holy. Hallelujah!

Choose to Walk by Faith!

It is your choice. You get to choose to get in communion with Jesus, find out what He says about you and the whole world, and to “only believe” what He says. That doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge the facts. This sister is a work in progress for sure. I am walking this thing out with fear and trembling. Discipleship takes perseverence, determination, and discipline. But the rewards are indescribable!!!

Be Filled

Get filled with the Spirit and enjoy the fruit of self-control. My mind requires constant renewing by the washing of the Word, and don’t even get me started about this corruptible flesh! But my little born-again spirit, made in the image of God, is a new creation in Christ Jesus! it is also sealed with the Holy Spirit and cannot be corrupted. Every human being on the planet has a spirit inside of them that is just waiting to come alive in Christ Jesus! And there are Christians who have been taught about salvation from sin but haven’t been taught about the full benefits package that Jesus calls life and that more abundant.

You Will Want To:

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

• Learn about salvation
• What is life eternal?
• Disciple and be discipled! Iron sharpens Iron.
• Read the Bible so that you can know His voice all the time!
• Rest in His grace and peace.
• Pray together
• Learn more about prayer