Below is content from today's podcast.  It is part of a series on spiritual weapons of warfare.  If asked about weapons of warfare, some people give a blank stare, some say it is making reference to the armor of God.  However, the armor is not the weapons, it's the armor.  Some say our weapon is the WORD of God which is true, but more so on terms of where all the weapons are found.  It's plural, not one weapon, but weapons with an "s". 

​God has given us a powerful arsenal of weaponry.  All without blood and gore.  The blood has already been let by Him.  No He has other weapons we are to use and they lead to life, power, healing, and intimacy with Him.  In 2 Chronicles chapter 20 alone, I found 30 weapons of warfare!

Do you think you could name 10 weapons of warfare off the top of your head?  Stop right now and try to name 10 spiritual weapons of warfare that are mighty in God for the destruction of strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

Talking of spiritual weapons of warfare and destruction of strongholds can feel very elusive or like a high-minded philosophical discussion on spiritual matters far beyond our understanding.  But this is not to be the case.  If you take the time to understand what the LORD is saying, you'll find very practical insights to apply within that lead to freedom and deep healing.  Of course this is not to be done alone, but with the help of and in the presence of our safe and Holy friend, Jesus.  His friendship is a powerful weapon of warfare to destroy fortified places within us... 

For more, this is where I'll transition you to today's podcast content.  Read below the line for its content, or to participate by listening and engaging in the interactive prayer exercises, please visit the podcast page to tune into the entire series.   You can find Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download on Apple Podcasts, Google podcasts, Iheart radio, Spreaker, Spotify and more.  Follow the program on your podcast provider to be notified of new episodes!  (Note:  The number of listens daily for the podcast started in May continues to grow.  We in the ministry are so excited for this holy work of inspiring people to pray!  To donate because you believe in our mission, and so we can reach more, please click on the donate button in the column to the right!   God bless your generosity!)
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PODCAST EPISODE 150- SPIRITUAL WEAPON #6- FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD
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Today we are meditating upon the friendship of God.  It’s weapon #6 in this series on praying for
victory over fears and negative counsel of the soul. Why is friendship a weapon? The language of
weapon comes from 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. These supernatural weapons have power to bring down
strongholds. Some strongholds require outside forces. And friendship with God is a magnificent
weapon on these terms.

But first, what is a stronghold? Do you have strongholds? Strongholds are fortified places of safety,
arguments and reasonings on which you rely to stay safe. Is this good or bad? Both, but in terms of
being weapons of warfare to bring down strongholds, they are places that must be torn down. These
negative strongholds are set up in the mind, affecting how you present yourself to others and attempt to control outcomes. It is a state of mind where in conscious and unconscious ways you fortify your soul in ways contrary to God.

Here are some examples: 

1. “No one knows about this thing that I did; and it’s going to stay that way.” But this at the cost of not allowing anyone to truly know you and love you through the weakness and underlying need. Your shame and pain is held in a stronghold of secrecy.
2. Or what about making a vow to yourself? Something like “I was betrayed once, never again.” This at the cost of withholding love, not willing to let your guard down to give selflessly or admit your deep need for love. Your stronghold is one of protecting yourself behind a fortified wall of “never again”.
3. Or how about “I cannot forgive them for doing that to me.”  Your stronghold is a fortified argument of justification.

It takes a lot of energy to hold your ground in these fortified spaces within. You alone are the one fighting to keep others out, and it is a long and lonely battle. It’s a battle you are losing at the expense of peace and power and healing God promises. 

But we are stubborn and resistant in holding our ground! And we think we can compartmentalize these spaces in such a way that doesn’t affect us. For the most part, if we keep people at safe distances, they know little about our strongholds. Yet they do make up subtle nuances of our personality, only becoming blatantly obvious when anyone gets too close. If anyone does get too close, then look out, because you know how to keep people out. And these are places and spaces and thoughts and feelings that God’s word says that are strongholds. “I’m holding on to my shame.” “I won’t let myself get hurt again”. And “I cannot forgive” is completely contrary to God. These are places that must be destroyed.  

And He is the friend, the safe place, the gentle Savior who we can trust to tear down all our arguments and have an open concept design within, a place without walls and barriers within our hearts. He becomes our stronghold and we are set free!

Friendship with God as a weapon is referenced through scripture. But since we are meditating upon 2
Chronicles 20 in this series, related to weapons of warfare, friendship with God is mentioned in verse 7 and is today's weapon.

In verse 7, the king reminds God of the covenant he made with Abraham, whom God called his friend.  We see this language of Abraham being God's friend in verse 7.  And we too have that privilege of being a friend of God! Jesus says in John 15:15, “I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father, I make known to you.” As our friend, Jesus shares his secrets with us! Psalm 25:14 says that the secret friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. It says the Lord confides in those who fear him, he makes his covenant known to them.

The LORD confiding in you and making his covenant known in the deepest recesses of your soul will set you free from strongholds. He will tear down those walls of shame, fear, anger, unforgiveness,
rebellion, hate. 

He wants to confide in you! He wants to reveal the riches of His covenant in ways that set you free, 
heal, redeems, makes new. I was with a friend this week who recounted a recent time that God spoke one word to her that transformed her whole perspective. It was about a stronghold of control. As she continued to share, out came a supernatural outpouring of wisdom and holy counsel of all she learned just from that one word from her holy friend Jesus!  I said, “Wow, you got all of that from just one word from Jesus?” “Yes!” We laughed and marveled at the goodness and power that comes from just one word Jesus speaks to our soul!

So today, do not resist our Holy friend. Consider how your strongholds manifest today. What are you
compartmentalizing? How are you keeping him out, choosing instead to fortify your position? By
arguing with God or others? Are you stuffing your feelings by numbing them say with food, by over-eating? Do you have passive aggressive tendencies? Are you withdrawing or hiding from those closest to you? Jesus can be trusted.

He is safe. You won’t know the truth until you surrender and trust Him. And the simplest way to start is to talk openly and honestly with Him as friend. “Jesus, every time I feel vulnerable or anxious, I am
reaching for food.” “Jesus, I don’t think anyone will ever really love me. So I am keeping busy to avoid intimacy.  Or I am reading romance novels to get what I need or I am watching “x” to feel what I long for. I’m keeping you out of these places.” 

Confide. It’s powerful. Life changing. It will destroy the arguments draining you of life, of power.
Use this quiet time to ask Jesus to tear down strongholds within. “Jesus tear down my strongholds. Ask Jesus, what are my strongholds? Set me free.”

(Note in the podcast, a gentle instrumental plays at the end for a short, but quiet time to pray that prayer above and enjoy His friendship.)  

​Jesus said in John 14:25, we would be reminded of His promises because He would send the Holy Spirit to remind us.   Then He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

He has left his peace with his believers.  We must respond.  We must bring ourselves into His presence for peace.

I woke this morning very troubled.  I confess many of the things going on in this nation have me carrying burdens that cause me concern.  It's stealing my peace.  I instinctively know that when I am restless in this way, I need Jesus to calm me.  This morning I read Psalm 94 verse 18 and it expressed what I was feeling.  I felt as though I was slipping.  The psalmist captured what I couldn't put words to.  My emotions were feeling like they were in a continual state of slipping.  Typically slipping only lasts a split second and then you are either on the ground or you've stabilized.  But to have a lingering feeling of being in the state of slipping is very uncomfortable.  I needed to bring myself into His presence for him to make that uncomfortable feeling go away.  I needed His peace.

Jesus is always concerned about any state of heart trouble we are in.  He cares about your anxieties and wants to allay our fears.  He has always known and still knows that the message of the world will steal our peace, creating anxiety and trouble within.  So He has sent His helper, the Advocate, to calm, soothe, and still us, to remind us of the supernatural peace that Christ gives. 

Today let’s work with the Holy Spirit and pray into the peace Christ has left us. 

Let's pray...   GO THROUGH EACH BULLET POINT SLOWLY.  DON'T RUSH YOURSELF.  (note- if you want to be led in an audio version of this, please go to the Podcast tab above and listen to episode 135- Agreeing with Jesus' promise for peace)

• Read God's word- Psalm 94:18- If I say, “My foot is slipping,”  Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
• Stop and consider.  Do you feel this way?  Tell God if you feel like you are slipping.
• Read out loud- Psalm 94:19- When anxiety overwhelms me, your consolations delight my soul.  (Consolations are his comforts, his countenance, his life shared with you through the Holy Spirit in you.)
• Respond by asking-  "Calm me LORD.  Soothe and still me within Jesus."  Close your eyes and ask for His comfort.
• Stop and consider- What are you troubled about today?  Close your eyes, and take some deep breaths, think about what is bothering you.
• Now to tell Him what is troubling you within.  (examples - "I'm not sure what is bothering me, but I'm feeling anxious."  Or "I'm worried about ____ [fill in the blank])
• Hear Jesus’ words to you- , “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• Repeat His words OUT LOUD.   “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• Be reminded of Jesus’ words in John 15:7-9  Remain in me and let my words remain in you.  If I remain in you, ask whatever you desire and it shall be done for you.  Remain in my love.
• See Jesus present with you.  Imagine Him saying this to you- My word to remain in you is that I will never leave you or forsake you.  My word to you is that I am with you wherever you go.  My word to you is that I am a Good Shepherd, therefore as you follow Me, you lack nothing.  Remain in me.  My word to you is that no weapon formed against you shall prosper.  My word to you is that I am greater in you than any other force in the world.  No one will snatch you out of my hand.  I forgive you.  I remove your sin.  I make you new.  I count your tears.  I see your sorrow.  I give you a crown of beauty in exchange for your ashes.  I will complete the good work I have begun in you.  Look to me because I am the author of your faith.  I am the finisher of your faith. 
• Now see yourself looking to Jesus, at Jesus.  Reach out your hand for His life to fill you.  (close your eyes and see yourself looking at Jesus.  Bow your head.  Open your hands as an act of humbly receiving.  See him laying His hand on your head and praying for you.  Wait quietly as He prays for you.)
• By faith hear Christ speaking over you, “Peace be still.”
• Agree with the Holy Spirit, repeat Christ’s words to your soul, “Peace be still.”  “Peace be still.”  "Peace be still."  Just keep repeating those words in His presence for as long as you want… 

After you are done, share this exercise with a friend!

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