S R D: The Traveler's Guide

As a youth I found myself pretty much on a continual spiritual roller coaster, wanting to please the Lord one minute, then getting lost in doing my own thing. The battle got worse in college and the stakes were higher. A total surrender to the Lord Jesus in 1965 did so much to push me off the fence. Shortly thereafter Norma and I were called into the ministry. The struggles I encountered after the life-changing surrender in college were never that severe, yet I saw how others were fighting the same inner war to enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised. Bible college was tremendous and I can never discount the incredible blessing it was, yet my inner itching took me toward the deeper life, the life hid in Christ.Crucified with Him. The Lord took my path through excellent teaching on faith, deliverance, praise, inner healing, all of which were so valuable in counseling people as a pastor over 40 some years. It was in the late 1980's that my spiritual trek came together in written form, first with "Winning the Inner War," and then "The Crucified Life." During these times of searching for every bit of help the Lord had hidden away in His treasure chest, the Bible, I was S - R - D The Traveler's Guide impressed with a very significant truth. Somehow the positive and negative aspects of our faith had to be combined, but in a way that prevented a negative attitude, while swiftly dealing with our adversary. We must praise the Lord in and for all things - the Word teaches that - but while we are so employed, the rascal from hell can dismantle things and derail our best efforts if we don't fight the fight of faith. The armor of the Christian was given for a reason. No fighting leads to captivity. Yes Jesus won the great battle, but we must do the "mop-up" work of taking the territory around us. How do we fight the foe yet remain positive? Enter James 4:7,8. While putting together my first workbook for counseling, these two verses of James said it all. We must submit all to the Savior - just like I did in 1965 - for it alone opens the door to the Father's reserves. The quick, decisive "dealing with the devil" that James offers, gives little time for the foe to distract us and lead us on wild chases. Jesus would cast out demons with a word, not many, no, just a word. The Master would run off the accuser with His authority, the same authority He gave the church. James was asking us to do the same thing. And to prevent a negative fog from settling over us, he tells us to draw near to God that God would draw near to us. Simple, fast, efficient.So I share with you this very simple truth from as many different angles as I can, hoping that you take the simplicity and employ it and discover your very own arsenal, fit for your lifestyle in serving our King. Nothing new, but perhaps stated in a fresh way to invite you to maximize your time with the Lord while minimizing your time spent in warfare.