As I press to publish the next portion in the “My Time to Deal With It!” Series, I am encountering many challenges. The magnitude of these challenges has increased in weight and severity. It’s been a Fight to Focus. The level of study and prayer that propelled and sustained me this time last year does not appear to be enough. I Fight to Focus during study. I Fight to Focus during my time of prayer. I began to question: if it is such a struggle and the obstacles appear insurmountable, maybe this is not the path the Lord would have me to travel. Maybe I heard Him wrong. Maybe it’s not the season for what He is speaking to me and showing me. My saying yes to God’s will for my life has not made me exempt from the process of life. I still feel pain. Even while hurting, I press to stay on target, I Fight to Focus. During the pain and turmoil, I find myself fighting depression, I Fight to Focus. While edifying, encouraging, praying for, and leading others I find myself becoming tempted to just plain quit, I Fight to Focus! Recently, in the midst of my personal struggle, the Spirit led me to the Garden of Gethsemane and the occurrences thereafter. In the garden, Jesus asked if this cup could pass from Him. Knowing what He was about to face, I wonder if His human side began to ponder: “Is there any other way we can accomplish this?” “Is this really necessary?” “I don’t deserve this!” After wrestling in prayer, He surrendered to the plan that had been laid out for Him even before He was placed in Mary’s womb. Jesus’ yes did not exempt Him from experiencing betrayal, being beaten, being slapped, being mocked, being pierced in the side, having a crown of thorns pressed on his head, and being crucified. He knew the purpose for His coming to earth. He knew what He would have to endure. Jesus knew that the end result of the lies, beatings, mocking, betrayal, and His death was HIS RESURRECTION! I now realize that these light afflictions (pain, suffering, trouble) are not meant to distract me; but God is draining the dross, the impurities from my life. Anything that looks like flesh must die so that God will be glorified.
The Lord keeps my assignment before me. Yes, “It's time for you to go back: I'm sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt." Exodus 3:10 (MSG)
SO, I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO FOCUS!
For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, refuting arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ Being in readiness to punish every disobedience, when your own submission and obedience are fully secured and complete. “ 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Submitting to His Will,
Tamara D. Pope
@ 2008 by Kingdom Seekers International Ministries, Inc.
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5 comments:
Hi Sister Pope,
I can so sympathize with you in regard to "Fight To Focus." Often times I question God and ask this "Why did I have to have this same sex attraction? Why was I the victim of child molestation? God, why am I still having to deal with this issue, when I thought I was through this and done with this? The Holy Spirit answered me and said, "WHY NOT YOU?"
Sister Pope, I don't want to live the rest of my life having to deal with the issue and sin of homosexuality any longer. I can see the affects it has taken on me and even my own family. This past summer at my family reunion, I saw the spirit of homosexuality (in cousins) and it hit me right in the face. As you said on last Friday and I quote, "It hurt me that I could not help my own child (Dante') deal with his issue because I was still dealing with my issue of lying. At that very moment it clicked! I have not dealt with my own issue and sin of homosexuality. Yes, God has given me the vision to start an organization in Chicago to help those men and women who are struggling with homosexual behavior. Yes, God has given me the heart and the desire to reach out to those who are hurting and don't think there is a way out of this satanic lifestyle. Even while I "Fight To Focus", God is walking me through my deliverance, while I press in my pain, press in my hurt, press in my discomfort, press in my mess and press in my calling. Thank yoiu for sharing such a powerful and poignant lesson of struggle and deliverance.
Love, Zach
My dearest cousin, sister, friend:
The road set before us is surely the one less traveled. I too "fight to focus". How revelant a topic during this season in my life. I struggle to see the things inside me that makes God so confident that I can do His Will. Yet I'm determined not to let the enemy have my mind, my body or my birthright! The thing that is becoming clearer to me is that I'm the one complicating things not Him!
Tam, the most important aspect of this series is "FIGHT". Someone told me just the other day that as long as you are moving God is pleased!
Love You Much!
In my prayers!
Kim
Dear Tamara;
As I read your story, I could not help but think of the Prophet Ezekeil as I read his story the other night, how he too wondered if the Lord had call him to go, for the job seemed so far from making sense.
Just think one of his assignments was to lie on one side for 360 days, And he was really put on the spot when God told him to speak to the dry bones.
Hum, so Be blessed my daughter. And be obedient, I pray for you, you pray for me and watch God change things.
Love yo mother in Zion
Praise God for the sturggle! My sister I too fight to focus. Thanks be to our ominiscient God we have been given exactly what we need to press through these times. I am so excited about your ministry and about what God is doing in and through you. Remember this is indeed a war and those of us who are fully equipped with the armor will reign with Christ! Keep fighting to focus, we all need the benefit of your wisdom. I love you much!
Yolanda
yolandafields.blogspot.com
Praise God for the fight! There is a glorious future promised and a peaceful presence available through the grace of our Lord and Savior. I too feel like the fight has intensified and that I'm often too weak to endure. However, I am reminded that this is a warfare and the weapons are not natural. So, on we fight my sister and in fighting we discover the sufficiency of His Grace and all encompassing power of His Love. I am encouraged by your words, transparency and humility.
Together we stand!
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. I Peter 5:9
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