Day 4/5: The Last Days

I have never been more tired, more exhausted, more hungry, more sore...in my whole life. I have never been more grateful, more humbled, more faithful, more strong in my whole life. There were many weaknesses that kept me from completing a full week of this challenge and that kept me from being able to do every part of it. They showed in my complaining and on the days I wanted to give up. But, some of those weaknesses have been made strong and have been replaced with gratitude in my heart for the things that I have. I have never been more grateful for a bed to sleep in, a warm shower, food when I need and want it, access to music and media. My week has been exhausting, but I will never regret this week. For who can regret being grateful? Who can regret a chance to exercise faith?

I never would have gotten through this week without the Lord. He blessed me with so much strength this week. On the nights I wanted to cry, because I was emotional from lack of sleep, He made my floor just a little more comfortable and I was able to get through the night with a few hours of sleep. He gave me strength to resist temptation when food was in my pantry, when I could turn the nozzle to warm in the shower, when I could get into my bed and under my covers. I was able to resist, because I knew it would be worth it. And it was. He gave me knowledge this week. Even though I was tired and exhausted, He helped me on tests He knew I was stressing about. I was able to focus in school and I never fell behind on my work. Not only did He give me knowledge, but He gave me wisdom. I had words of wisdom for both myself and those around me. I hope I was able to make at least a small difference in someone's life this week.

Tonight I will never be more grateful to sleep in my bed. I will never be more grateful to take a warm shower and be able to eat breakfast in the morning. I will never be more grateful to turn the radio on in my car, to update my Facebook, and all of those small things in life that seemed so much more important just a few days ago and now seem so pointless. I will not think of them as a need or a want, but as a chance to share my testimony and to be a witness of our Father in Heaven.

There is a war that we all face in our lives between ourselves and the adversary and we need help in that war. We need strength and we need protection.

THE ARMOR OF GOD
Ephesians 6: 10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the WHOLE armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the WHOLE armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Gird your loins with truth, swear the breastplate of righteousness, shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, take the shield of faith, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of truth which is the word of God. The armour of God is our protection and we can't leave any part of us unprotected, to be wounded by the adversary.

HELP FOR THE WAR
Ephesians 2:4-8
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love where with he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are save;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:19-20
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

Ephesians 3:3-6
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in the other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

Ephesians 4:11-15
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

Ephesians 5:19-20
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Ephesian 5:29, 31-33
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

All of these point to so many different things we are blessed with to overcome trial and affliction, but almost every scripture mentions Christ, the Lord. He is our main help. We can not overcome beat the adversary without Christ in our lives. He will be the one fighting beside us.

For those of you facing a trial that you feel won't ever end, it will and I can promise you that. I know trial is hard and it seems like it will never be over. I also know it is hard to convince you that it won't last forever, I was there once. But don't be discouraged, never give up. Giving up is giving into the adversary. Give you burdens to Christ and He will make them light. We were promised that our trials will only be a short while. Something great always follows and I am a witness of that. We all will get to a point in our lives where we love our trials. Maybe not in the moment, but we get to the point that we know they won't last forever and we wait for the day that they are so that we can rejoice in the person they have made us. Remember, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Christ said this, but we have to remember that there were people who loved Christ. Those who love Christ will love you. You are never alone. A trial only means that you are being prepared for something even greater than you can imagine.

Thank you for this challenge Brother Taggart.