Looking for a particular post or topic?
Search here:
Archive
- December 2024 7
- November 2024 8
- October 2024 9
- September 2024 9
- August 2024 9
- July 2024 7
- June 2024 8
- May 2024 9
- April 2024 9
- March 2024 8
- February 2024 9
- January 2024 9
- December 2023 6
- November 2023 9
- October 2023 9
- September 2023 7
- August 2023 9
- July 2023 8
- June 2023 9
- May 2023 5
- April 2023 6
- March 2023 5
- February 2023 9
- January 2023 10
- December 2022 7
- November 2022 11
- October 2022 12
- September 2022 9
- August 2022 13
- July 2022 7
- June 2022 1
- April 2022 3
- March 2022 4
- February 2022 4
- January 2022 1
- December 2021 3
- November 2021 4
- September 2021 2
- August 2021 1
- July 2021 3
- June 2021 4
- May 2021 1
- April 2021 2
- March 2021 1
- February 2021 2
- January 2021 7
- December 2020 3
- November 2020 4
- October 2020 4
- September 2020 6
- August 2020 5
- July 2020 3
- June 2020 6
- May 2020 8
- April 2020 7
- March 2020 1
- February 2020 2
- January 2020 6
- December 2019 2
- November 2019 3
- October 2019 1
- September 2019 2
- August 2019 6
- July 2019 5
- June 2019 7
- May 2019 10
- April 2019 9
- March 2019 13
- February 2019 17
- January 2019 20
- December 2018 17
- November 2018 21
- October 2018 22
- September 2018 14
- August 2018 22
- July 2018 22
- June 2018 21
- May 2018 11
- April 2018 20
- March 2018 21
- February 2018 20
- January 2018 27
- December 2017 10
- November 2017 21
- October 2017 22
- September 2017 19
- August 2017 23
- July 2017 21
- June 2017 19
- May 2017 20
- April 2017 20
- March 2017 18
- February 2017 19
- January 2017 17
- December 2016 18
- November 2016 17
- October 2016 17
- September 2016 18
- August 2016 17
- July 2016 15
- June 2016 13
- May 2016 17
- April 2016 16
- March 2016 18
- February 2016 18
- January 2016 20
- December 2015 16
- November 2015 19
- October 2015 21
- September 2015 19
- August 2015 20
- July 2015 21
- June 2015 20
- May 2015 17
- April 2015 20
- March 2015 20
- February 2015 18
- January 2015 21
- December 2014 12
- November 2014 16
- October 2014 19
- September 2014 21
- August 2014 19
- July 2014 18
- June 2014 19
- May 2014 22
- April 2014 16
- March 2014 12
- February 2014 17
- January 2014 19
- December 2013 14
- November 2013 17
- October 2013 13
- September 2013 17
- August 2013 16
- July 2013 11
- June 2013 17
- May 2013 16
- April 2013 8
- March 2013 17
- February 2013 16
- January 2013 22
- December 2012 13
- November 2012 14
- October 2012 17
- September 2012 15
- August 2012 16
- July 2012 16
- June 2012 14
- May 2012 16
- April 2012 14
- March 2012 19
- February 2012 16
- January 2012 19
- December 2011 7
- November 2011 16
- October 2011 16
- September 2011 16
- August 2011 18
- July 2011 17
- June 2011 13
- May 2011 16
- April 2011 15
- March 2011 18
- February 2011 12
- January 2011 14
- December 2010 10
- November 2010 11
- October 2010 16
- September 2010 16
- August 2010 8
- July 2010 14
- June 2010 7
- May 2010 17
- April 2010 13
- March 2010 15
- February 2010 15
- January 2010 19
- December 2009 12
- November 2009 13
- October 2009 12
- September 2009 20
- August 2009 15
- July 2009 14
- June 2009 9
- May 2009 6
- April 2009 15
- March 2009 4
- February 2009 10
- January 2009 16
- December 2008 7
- November 2008 13
- October 2008 10
- September 2008 19
- August 2008 17
- July 2008 7
- January 1999 2
Hollow Hallelujahs
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. - Ephesians 6:12
Have you ever felt like you're fighting a losing battle? I certainly have. There are days when I wake up, and before my feet even hit the floor, I can sense the spiritual oppression weighing heavily upon me. It's as if a thick fog has settled over my soul, obscuring the light of God's love and leaving me feeling lost and alone.
I find myself in this very predicament of late. Despite years of walking with the Lord, I suddenly feel miles away from Him. Doubts have crept in like unwelcome guests, setting up camp in my mind and refusing to leave. My prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, and I wonder if they even reach God’s ears.
Resting, Not Resigning
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not always the best at taking my own advice. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I have a hard time saying no to new projects or opportunities. But recently, I found myself in a place where I just couldn't keep going at the same pace. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and I knew I needed to take a step back and focus on my own spiritual and emotional health.
So, I did what any sensible person would do. I declared that I would continue in my regular roles as a church pianist, Bible study teacher, promotional designer, etc., However, I was taking a break from any new projects or commitments until I felt more like myself again. And that's when the criticism started rolling in.
Looking Up When Life Weighs You Down
One of my favorite things to do here in Wales is visit old castles. There’s just something about the history and architecture that fascinates me. But as much as I love exploring these ancient structures, I always end up with a pain in my neck the next day.
When you're walking around a castle, you're constantly looking up. You're admiring the tall towers, the intricate carvings, and the beautiful stained glass windows. But, after a while, all that looking up can take a toll on your neck (especially if you already have neck issues).
Life can be the same way. We want to be positive and keep looking up, but sometimes, circumstances causes such a pain in the neck that we find our gaze slipping down to the depths of despair. Our “eyes fail with looking upward.”