Restore us, O LORD God

“For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.”

“Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.”

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Psalms 85:1   LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.  You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.  You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.  Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!  Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?  Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?  Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.

Jeremiah 31:18     I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.

Lamentations 5:21    Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored!

Micah 7:18    Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Acts 13:39     and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Colossians 2:13     And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Isaiah 54:7     For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.  In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.

Psalms 78:38     Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.

How do you know if God is angry with you?  How do you know if you are being disciplined?  How do you know if you are right with God? How do you know if your life is on the straight and narrow path of God?   There are many examples in scripture that speak of generations of people who lived in a way that was apart from God.  There was a choice made in their life to neglect Him and His statutes.  This choice, I have to think, was not all at once but was the result of many small steps on a path that did not honor, serve, follow, or obey God.   Taking many small steps or fewer large ones in the wrong direction on the wrong path will always end up further and further away from God.  Soon you are lost and forget what the path of God for your life looked liked.  The light on His path for your life becomes totally dimmed, if not dark and deserted.  Everyday we battle our sinful desires that want to direct our heart, mind and soul.  Neglecting Him and being complacent in service and obedience to Him is what Satan desires and uses to light a path away from God.  The only way to win this battle is to stay in His word, desiring to stay close to Him, and wanting to be led by Him.  Do not wait until you are totally lost before turning back to Him.  Call out and seek to be rescued and restored.  Seek Him and He will be found.  Humbly serve Him and He will guide you.

Thankful – God will supply all our needs

“Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?”

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

“Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered”

Psalms 84:4  Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!  Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.  As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.  They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!  Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!  For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! 

Philippians 4:19     And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 34:9     Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Proverbs 2:7     he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Proverbs 28:6    Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Have you ever thought of what it is that hinders walking with God?  Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, greed, and pride all lead down a path of ever wanting and never finding.  These are all temporary satisfactions that have no end and will never satisfy the heart, soul and mind.  Satisfaction the world offers is tied to that which cannot satisfy the heart and soul.  Searching for satisfaction outside of God is like chasing the wind – (never caught – only a temporary sensory feeling – always changing direction). Those who desire and seek God choose to be humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Him.  Their eyes are on Him and eternity promised.  Holiness, purity, genuine love, kindness, faith, hope, generosity, obedience, service, and humbleness replace complacency, neglect, lust, greed, and worldly satisfaction.  Their hope is in the Lord.  Their trust is in the Lord.  Their strength is in Him.  Their peace is in Him. Their want is to honor Him.  Their desire is to serve, follow and obey Him. Their wisdom and food for life this side of eternity is found in His word and promises.

Delight in God

“Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.”

“Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God”

I will create a new heaven and new earth. The former things will no longer be remembered nor come to mind.”

Psalms 84:1     How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!  My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.  Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

Psalms 36:8    They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

Psalms 27:4    One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Psalms 122:1    I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

Revelation 21:2    And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:22    And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.  And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

1 Kings 22:19    And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left;

A dwelling place with God.  A Holy place where those who are called by Him and choose to honor, follow, and obey Him,  knowing their delights this side of eternity are but a shadow of what what it is to be like in eternity.  What are these delights?  In the midst of trials and troubles – a peace of mind that passes all understanding, in times of confusion – a clarity of understanding,  in times of a broken heart –  comfort of His ever loving arms wrapped around you, in times of weakness – being able to withstand knowing His power and might, in times of darkness – having the light of His word, in times of despair – finding hope and refuge in Him, in times of blessings – knowing they are from God’s own hand. Our response to what we face everyday is a direct reflection of our heart, mind and soul and our in relationship to Him.  We grow continually in our understanding of Him when we submit to humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying Him.  Our delights change from things this world has to offer to those that honor God.  Spending time in His word with heart, mind and soul desire to know and serve Him is not only daily good for our walk with Him but allows us to delight in Him and His sovereignty.

They know

“But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.”

“the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”

Psalms 83:18  that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalms 9:16    The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.  

1 Kings 18:37    Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

2 Kings 19:19    So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.”

Jeremiah 16:21    “Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.”

Ezekiel 30:19     Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Ezekiel 38:23    So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Isaiah 42:8    I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Daniel 4:25     that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

“I am the Lord”, “I will make Myself known”, “I will show My greatness and holiness”, “I will execute judgment”, “I will make them know My power and might,” are all actions God has taken to turn the hearts of man from themselves to Him alone.  When God is our refuge, strength, and hope we rely on His holiness, greatness, power, might, grace, mercy and love.  The safest place of refuge is in Him alone.  The safest path to be on is the one on which He is leading you.  The strongest you will ever be is when you rely on His strength.  The most courageous actions you will ever take are those directed and guided by Him.  When we rely on, cling to, and trust in Him we find peace that passes all understanding, strength we did not have, hope beyond our circumstances, light in the darkness, and wisdom beyond our understanding.

My Friend and Brother, Choi

I want to share an update from a dear friend Choi, who has established a ministry for READING GOD’S WORD.  Read how Choi is being led by God. and his is faithfulness.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Praise the Lord! We give thanks to our God for a powerful spirit filled one month intensive Bible Reading camp which concluded last Nov.2, 2017. We also thank you for your prayers .
There were 9 students who succesfully finished the course.
We would like to share our experiences during the camp:There are three things that we taught them :
1st: How to read the Bible…
2nd:How to memorize
3rd: How to pray.

Reading the Bible , finishing the Old Testament 2x and the New Testament 5x brought about healing among the students both physical and spiritual.
At first they noticed that they cannot read loudly and felt weak, vomits and poor concentration but after a while they felt better , noticed by a change of radiance or glow in their faces.

Let me discuss how to guide candidates on how to read the Bible. There are 3 stages.
Firs stage: just read the whole Bible and understand story telling ex. who is Abraham, Jacob etc.
Second stage: find out Jesus in the scriptures. Ex. type, portrait, shadows of Jesus . (Jn 5:39; Lk 24:44)
Third stage: connecting our faith and spiritual life.The word is God and is Spirit and the word is life.(2 Cor.3:5-6, Jn 6:63)

How to memorize:
It is very important to prepare a notebook where you write the verses.
1. Read loudly the verses several times say 5x
Then close eyes to memorize . You memorize by line. Apply same method until the whole paragraph is memorized.
2.Repeat and repeat and repeat everyday.
Now we challenge by level. Level 1 is 100 verses, Level 2 at 200, 3 at 300 so on and so forth.

Repeatition will bring miracles.For one month the candidates were able to memorize over 400 verses! Reciting the verses loudly brings healing to your inner being. . Then you find out your true identity and now communicate in your spirit. All your 5 senses are involved and awakened.

How to Pray:
Every morning devotion from 5-7 am , we confess our personal sins and our ancestral sins. We read 5 chapters of psalms and a chapter of proverbs.
We also pray for His kingdom and righteousness, Israel, Phil government and Christians, for Mindanao, we also pray for the Bible Reading International academy , the alumni and their ministries , and personal prayers.

Finally , where does the Holy Spirit guide this ministry ? We recognize that the Holy Spirit guide the Bible Reading ministry to schools and jail . Now the alumni have opened in 20 schools and 2 jail ministries.
Right after the graduation and commissioning ceremony last Nov 2, we went to Maragusan to dedicate the Bible Reading center and proceeded the following day to Saranggani for the youth memorization camp attended by more or less 60 youths and they memorized 50 verses in one day.

Out of Darkness

“And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?”

Psalms 82:4  Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Psalms 53:3  They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

Romans 1:28     And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done

Proverbs 1:29  Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,  would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

Proverbs 4:19   The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Ecclesiastes 2:14    The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

1 John 2:11    But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Proverbs 2:5  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,  guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;  for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;  discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,  delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,  who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

How sad would it be for God to leave a person to their own devices. Imagine God offering a place of refuge, peace, hope, and strength  with eternal life upon death. He communicated resurrection to a place that He has created for those who are called by Him.  The fact is, all have been called but few listen and take the offer of His gift of life.  A void in their heart that at one time was open to know God but over time it became hard and a choice was made to have nothing to do with Him.   Choosing to believe the liar of this world rather than the Creator.  We  never know when a person’s heart, mind and soul have fully hardened to God so our responsibility is to continually speak hope of Christ into their life.  Bring a reflection of His light into the darkness that surrounds us.   All of us were once lost and without hope, living as though there was no eternal consequences.  Someone, being led by God, spoke Christ to us and God softened our heart and opened our ears to hear the need and forgiveness of our sin. Stay in His word, look and listen for opportunities to be used by Him to bring hope to the lost.

Walk in My ways

“Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

““As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.”

Psalms 81:11  “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.   Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!  I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.  Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.  But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Zechariah 7:11   But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.

Jeremiah 7:23     But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’  But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

Psalms 106:12    Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.  But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

2 Thessalonians 2:9     The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,

Isaiah 30:1     “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

Note the choices being made in these scriptures and they all have eternal consequences: “they have forsaken me,” – “we will not listen to you.” – “my people did not listen to my voice” – “would not submit to me” – “follow their own counsels.” -“they refused to pay attention” -“turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears ” -“they did not obey or incline their ear” – “went backward and not forward.” – “they soon forgot his works” – “they did not wait for his counsel” – “they refused to love the truth ” – “who carry out a plan, but not mine”.   We need to be mindful of our sinful nature and it’s inherent desire to be all about self and self accomplishments.  Walking down the path of life we make choices.  If we choose to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey God the path we follow is God directed.  If we choose to be complacent and neglect His word we are soon finding ourselves unable to discern His leading and are blind to the path of destruction we are on.  Spend time in His word.  Learn to hear His whispers of leading.  Choose to follow and obey Him.

Trials and Trouble

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Psalms 81:7  In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah

Psalms 50:15     and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalms 91:14     “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  

Exodus 2:23    During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.

Exodus 14:10    When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.  

Exodus 14:30     Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 20:18    Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off  and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”  Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”  The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

James 1:12     Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Troubles and trials come to all man.  None of us are immune to this.  We like to think it is not going to come into our life but it does.  So, when it comes how do we do? How do we respond?  Do we have a place of refuge, hope, and comfort to where we can run and find peace and KNOW without a doubt we are protected?  I am sure if we knew the hour at which it was to come we would prepare for it.  Yet the moment is unknown and never is.  The response can very.  Some may shrink back in despair.  Others may get mad, try to handle it on their own, or blame others, become vindictive, and retaliate.  We have seen many of these responses and some of them we have even had ourselves. I think the response is closely related to how close we are to God.  If we are living complacent to humbly serving Him, and if we are neglecting reading His word, and if our desire is more self centered than honoring, following and obeying Him there is a good chance we will find very little peace, hope, and refuge.  Yet if we purpose and desire to stay close to Him, humbly bow to His sovereign hand, acknowledge He is in control and will protect, comfort and lead us through the valley of the shadow of death our response will have a totally different beginning and journey through it.  Stay in His word.  Study it.  stay close to Him in prayer.  Commit each day to Him.  Ask Him to guide your path in a way that honors Him.  Ask Him to open your ears to hear His whispers.  Seek to follow and obey Him.  Trials and troubles will surely be part of our live this side of eternity.  Let them find you in His ever loving arms of comfort, refuge, peace, hope, strength, and love.

 

Restore Us

“Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

Psalms 80:4  O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.

Isaiah 58:2     Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.  ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.

Isaiah 58:6     “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

There is a way that seems right to man but in the end it is only self seeking and is far from God.  A heart and mind that is complacent and neglects the word of God will soon find themselves far from God and not knowing it.  They become blind and deaf to the leading of the Holy Spirit and become influenced by their culture and own sinful desires.  Complacency and neglect the size of a grain of sand soon becomes a mountain with a very slippery slope away from God.  We need to be mindful of this and take firm stance with commitment to remain in His word.  Our purpose on this world it to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey God.  Following Christ and being born again is not the end game.  It is the beginning with eternal consequences. Neglecting His word leaves us open to manifest our own sinful desires and become blind to that which is our purpose.  Stay in His word, desire His leading, and commit to humbly serving Him on paths that honor and glorify Him.

The internal fight

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”

John 13:21  After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Joh 13:27  Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

John 13:2    During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

John 13:18     I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me

Luke 22:21    But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

Acts 1:16    “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.  For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

1 John 2:19    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

James 1:13   Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

 

Note  “the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live” and “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” and “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” and “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” and “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” There is a common thread to this and it is our sinful nature.  It lurks deep within and wanting to manifest itself above God and His plan and purpose for our life.  We need to be mindful of this and the battle that exists between our sinful nature and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our life.  Knowing this ought to make us run to God and seek His word with all of our heart mind and soul.  I think we become confused and falsely cling to the idea that once we have been born again all is good and our sinful nature is gone.  It is not.  Lust, hate, pride, coveting, rumoring, hoarding, keeping, divisiveness, self-seeking…….. all reside within and are threats to our walk with God.  Putting on the full armor of God requires us to stay in His word, pray, and seek to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey.  Only then will we be prepared for this internal fight for our soul.