obstacle

so my mentor was encouraging me to join this series of workshops: training for community developers (a.k.a. church planters). and although i have no concrete plans for church planting, i thought it would be interesting and useful to go to these workshops. plus the pastor that was teaching the workshops is a really good speaker.

i missed the first session; tonight was the second. so i set out on the 40 minute drive to towers baptist church and arrived there just-in-time ("JIT" or just-in-time is a well-known logistics term). no one was there. i called my mentor, and he told me that i was at the wrong place. in fact, the session was being held about 10 minutes from my apartment.

at that moment i was both discouraged and angry at the same time. discouraged at the fact that if i went, i would arrive late (i was already nervous because i had missed the first session and i didn't know alot of the people going). i was angry at myself because it was such a stupid mistake. what a waste of time, not to mention gas. i pondered whether i should go at all.

then i remembered what a pastor had told me, "you know you're following God's will when you encounter obstacles." the evil one, obviously, will try to throw anything and everything at you to prevent you from following God. now note the difference between an obstacle and a barrier (or closed door). a barrier prevents you from going forward. it is a closed door, and often God uses a barrier to stop you from doing something. an obstacle is a nuisance in your way, it slows you from getting to your destination. but it is something that you can get over or around. satan often puts obstacles in our way, and tries to convince us that the obstacles are in fact barriers from God. be careful. do not let your guard down, do not agree with satan when he lies to you.

once God revealed satan's method of attack, i knew how to defend myself. "no weapon formed against me shall prosper!" that's what it says in God's word. and God's word is my sword. so i spoke aloud God's word and used it to attack satan and defeated the anger and discouragement i felt. this is spiritual warfare - this battle i won.

i had an awesome evening. the workshop was absolutely eye-opening, inspiring, and practical - especially in regards to the small group i'm leading. i've been praying for weeks now that God would give me wisdom in leading the small group. THIS IS THE ANSWER TO MY PRAYER. no wonder satan tried to stop me from going. praise God for His faithfulness!!!

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
~Isaiah 54:17~