Life can get to be overwhelming sometimes. No matter where I go, or who I talk to, someone is fighting some kind of battle these days. It’s easy to think that we are the only one going through a difficult time, but the truth of the matter is that no one is immune to problems in this life. From a distance, it may look like that friend or neighbor has it all together and that their life is perfect, when your own life has taken a turn for the worse and you don’t know if you will come through this trial or not. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

Usually, during these times when we get our eyes off of Jesus and start looking around and comparing our own lives to others, we can start to withdraw and start to feel alone. I truly believe isolation is a tool of the enemy. If he can get you to feel alone and that no one cares or understands, he has you right where he wants you. This is when you need to dig into the word of God all the more and learn how to put on God’s strength as a garment and put on the full armor of God.

If you find yourself in this place, it’s important to recognize that you are not alone. Reach out to others. Surround yourself with the love of family and friends and help someone else who is going through a difficult time also. One thing I have observed is that the people who become hateful and hard to live with need loved all the more. Let’s face it! This can be a cold and cruel world. People are used to seeing angry people every day; angry drivers, rude sales clerks, grumpy husbands, downright mean teenagers; And no, our families are not immune to difficult times either. These are the times that we need to put on love and go the extra mile. Smile at that angry waitress, hug our husband, say an encouraging word to our neighbor, or put a note in our teenager’s backpack, telling them how special they are!

When you decide to not allow your own feelings to dictate your actions, your life will take a turn for the better. People are hurting these days and God has called you to be that one to pour his healing balm of Gilead into their deepest wounds. He will use you to bless that one person today if you will let him. Go ahead and pay it forward and just watch how God will work in your own life. He promises to work all things together for your good. Jesus said that in this world we would have problems, but I love the last part of what He said, “But cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” No matter what you are going through, you will come through this! Your circumstances may be telling you that it is hopeless, but never forget, that GOD IS STILL GOD!

Love is our greatest weapon in fighting anything that we will ever face in this life!

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I think that sometimes we get so busy throwing out our requests to God, like he is the owner of a candy shop, that it’s easy to forget that we are talking to the Almighty God, the Creator of the entire universe. One thing that we need these days is a healthy dose of the fear of God!

This morning, God’s word spoke to me once again as I was reading in Ezekiel about the exiles in Babylon. God’s judgement was heavy when he punished Israel for their deplorable sins and wickedness. They were worshiping false gods and idols. There was every form of sexual sin, and abomination, blatantly flaunted at God, as they shook their fists at Him, in mockery. Despite God sending his prophets to warn them time and time again, they were headstrong and bent on fulfilling their own evil lusts and desires, and they would not hearken to God’s warnings. He kept giving them chance after chance to make amends, but to no avail.

One thing I know about my God, He is true to his word and He is not a man that He should lie. He sent heavy punishment on the exiles in Babylon. His mighty arm was stretched out against them. One phrase that I see reiterated throughout the bible that God says to His people, “Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Contemplating all of this, I wonder today, if we are any different than the exiles in Jerusalem. We are all guilty at times of idols in our life. They might not resemble the statues that the Israelites worshiped, but ours can be in different forms, like our cell phones, the internet, television and so many more. While all of these things aren’t bad in themselves, they can become idols if we put them before God.

This morning as I read my bible and prayed, God really got my attention. I felt his presence so real and tangible that I could just reach out and touch him. I knew that I was standing on “HOLY GROUND.” It stopped me dead in my tracks and made me want to bow down in worship to him and offer up my praise in the highest form. There are not enough words to describe the magnificence of my God. He’s not asking for material gifts. He wants my heart. He wants to be first place in everything I do.

All of his thoughts are good about me. I know that he loves me so much that he was willing to die in my place and shed his own blood to make retribution for my sins so that I could come into that place of complete communion with him. Without it, there is no other way. It’s a choice that only you can make for yourself, but once you do, you are covered by His blood, and have all the access to come boldly before Him and make your requests known. What an awesome promise!

Yes, He is a mighty God, the King of the entire universe. We are standing on Holy Ground, and as powerful as He is, He is equally loving. No one can fathom His love. It’s limitless. He has removed our sins as far as the east is to the west. Now, we have access to His mighty power. He is on our side and no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

Now, I am not only standing on Holy Ground. I am kneeling on Holy Ground in awe and thanks to the mighty God of the entire universe, my heavenly Father, Who not only gives me victory in this life, but in the next!

Exodus 3:5

Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”