Currently in our world today, there is still of lot of persecution.   I believe that most of us, blogging here, are enjoying our freedoms,  to not only believe what we choose to believe but more importanty we can do it openly and without fear that we will be made a public display and tortured.   We can write our thoughts and feelings and even quote scriptures freely.  We can go to a library and choose a book to read of our choice.  I am very grateful to all those who have served or are currently serving in any military to protect these freedoms. 

This week's assignment is taking a deeper look into our spiritual lives and the warfare that we are individually facing.  I'd like everyone to seriously think and then blog about a situation in your life where you know that the enemy is attacking you and challenging your spiritual growth.  What area in your life are you feeling burdened or challenged?  The purpose of the assignment is to use this as a tool to arm ourselves better for this battle not to make you uncomfortable.  If this is too personal for you, share an area in your life that you have perservered in a spirtual battle or share your feelings on freedoms in general.

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This one is hard for me to narrow down! I think my  biggest challenge, of late, is the realization of how truly selfish I am. I thought that I was so mature, so well rounded spiritually and selfless! After all, I had successfully mothered and homeschooled 3 children, moved 19 times in less than13 years, been through 3 miscarriages and supported my husband in starting his own business--and kept my hope in the Lord and my spirits joyful, most of that time. I have learned a lot through the years about dying to my own selfish desires and about not putting the physical world on too high of a pedastal. However, the last 10 months of parenting these twin girls combined with some difficulties in other areas of our lives has made my ugly, sinful nature pop out all over the place...a sort of backsliding from the earlier victories I've achieved. I have been praying that God will actually help me grow in this area...because lately I've felt I was only failing the class, so to speak. I've come to realize that when we are battling in some area it is not necessarily to be eschewed. We need to embrace each battle with our full selves and realize that circumstance is not our enemy and neither are people. Our true enemies are only our own old nature and satan, who tries to use our sinful selves against us. I feel that I must win this battle if I am ever to savor more fully the sweetness of the cross...sweet surrender... freedom...

...but guess what! God knows that on my own I am incapable of victory! This was never meant to be a battle that would prove me a victor in the end. It was meant to be a battle that would prove God a victor in the end! He is always faithful. I will continue to strive toward that goal of dying to self but I will do so knowing that God has placed within my reach every tool/weapon that I need to succeed. Instead of wishing I could escape this part of my life I will embrace it with gusto, using the sword of the spirit. I will win and will someday recognize some beautiful new fruit in my life because of Him!