Soldier of The Cross, as a minister of Grace, you must be available to love the offender, the insipid and the repulsive.

Grace is supernatural. It is completely different than tolerance - it is the ability to assume the best, to bear one another's "troublesome moral flaws." (Amplified)

Grace is active. Grace is not equal to the offense - it is always greater. Even in discipline, Grace always reveals Love. Grace is always ministered by faith.

Grace is first the avoidance of false balance, and then it reveals the nature of the One whose Grace so abundantly exceeds our sin.

You were saved by Grace. You get through each day by Grace.

Ask the Lord to reveal this marvelous expression to you. Ask Him aloud.

There are those who resist the Lord even though they absolutely know He is asking for commitment.

That means there is no fear of God.

The most consecrated Soldier of The Cross has no guarantee of perfection. We learn to follow the Lord. We learn to obey. We learn to confess and repent. These privileges come through hardship and choice.

But, there are those who have no fear of God. I have actually heard Christians confess that they know that God requires one thing, but they are choosing another.

There is no other. There is no where else. Will you invest your soul in winning the immediate battle any way you can? Or will you take Him at His Word and wait for Him?

Is there another on whom you can count? Is there another who is perfect? Is there another who created all you see and know about?

Are you under the influence of another person? An unscriptural longing?

Get it right.

Tell Him about it and determine to agree with Him in prayer.

Tell Him aloud. Now.

God's Word says that you should put away anger.

It is one thing to be angry when you are the target of unfairness or when your children are hurt. It is entirely another thing when you take on anger in defense of another person.

When this happens, you have taken on second hand anger. Perspective is lost, and all events, conversations and reports are received by you through a cloud of anger.

That means there is a need to settle the score. Your stance is intensified because you have stepped in to advocate for the wrong you think has been done to another.

If this is the case, it means you did not accurately perceive the situation in the first place. It has penetrated you like a hot splinter and it has festered. It compels conversation and it also compels fault finding of the one at whom you are angry. It has changed your body language. Your thought life veers away from love when you think about the offender.

Soldier of The Cross, anger always wants to justify itself by measuring itself against the offender. There is a soulish anger that all Believers experience, and it is a first reaction. It is not possible to live in this fallen world and totally avoid the experience.. But those who would serve the Master must learn to take the matter to Him and agree with Him concerning the right to hold on to the negative emotion. He has said there is no right, and it must be released.

God's righteous anger is not the same as the anger of the flesh. When Moses struck the Rock, he violated faith.

Those who pray about matters over a period of time are able to see things. They are able to see what is really going on. They are able to see things that are opposed to the Kingdom of Heaven.

The ongoing, faithful prayer about the matter is the thing that inoculates the Believer from arrogance, anger and separation.

Tell the Lord. Tell Him aloud. He is not going to explain it to you and He is not going to weigh the matter before you. Wrong. He will attend to it in His time and according to His will.

And, He will release you.

You must be available to be a minister of Life to all, at all times and under all circumstances. This very availability will protect you from deception and will prevent you from sentimental responses and angry reactions.

Where is the Victory?

In Him. Nowhere else.

There is great relief in the Sovereignty of God.

He is in control of every birth, death, all illness and natural disaster.

He is also in control of each broken plate, the bills and personal violation.

We are not fatalists. We just rest in the teaching of the Word of God that says we set our faces like flint, march into the fray, and let the Lord work out His will.

It allows us to be spent in the name of Jesus, but not burned out. It allows us to do the work and not have to see the result.

It allows us to love unconditionally.

If it were not for the sovereignty of God, everything would be up to us.

Praise God, it is not up to us. Many things do not happen without prayer, but we are not the ones who make them happen.

There is no building without builders, but unless God is doing the building, the builders build in vain.

Soldier of The Cross, we are privileged to press on, work while there is daylight, yet resting all the While.

Underneath are the Sovereign Everlasting Arms.

The Gospel is simple.

Deep, but simple.

When the Lord reveals something, it becomes clear. What was previously hidden becomes not only obvious, but it is in a context.

All the intellectual reasoning in the world can't bring anyone to Christ. Perfect doctrine can't bring anyone to Christ. Trying to be a perfect example guarantees frustration.

The facts are as outlined in the Word of God. All are sinners. All deserve death. Christ died for all. Salvation is free. The gift of salvation must be received. It is personal.

It is the Good News. Jesus Christ is extending His nail-scarred hand to any who will take it.

The Holy Spirit will deliver the message with supernatural penetration. It remains the same through the ages.

No deviation. No compromise. One way.

The Psalmist always agreed with God.

In the Davidic Psalms, David poured out his heart to the Lord. He went to the One who holds the stars in place. He stated his bleak position, his desperate condition and the aggression and darkness of his enemies.

Why are we so encouraged by the Psalms? Why do we turn to this inspired book when we are desperate for consolation?

Because we are reading the words of writers who agreed with God.

Soldier of The Cross, are you off the path today? Have you erred?

He will always receive you and there is always hope. With God, there is no such thing as a dead end. It does not matter how things look. We serve a Lord who is not limited by anything we can name.

Go before Him. Today. Describe to Him the situation. Tell Him you agree with Him, and quote the verses that relate to your situation.

Do it aloud.

Now.

What are you willing to go through for the sake of the Gospel?

Anything? Or do you have limits?

As Soldier of The Cross, you have no rights other than those outlined in God's Word.

You have the right to Sonship. You have the right to an audience before the Throne, anytime, anywhere and for any reason. You have the right to repentance and forgiveness. You have the right to the inheritance you have and the assurance by the Holy Spirit's Seal of Promise.

You do not have the right to earthly security. You do not have the right to a good reputation. You do not have the right to be accepted. You do not have the right to be offended. You do not have the right to have your own way. You do not have the right to be understood.

In fact, the one who has given his life to the Lord has agreed to be a Living Sacrifice and has made the decision to set aside the things that are not of the Cross.

This is a daily decision. In prayer.

Are you alive unto the world? Or are you dead to the world and alive unto Christ?

It is a daily decision.

What is your Bottom Line?

Is it what others think of you? Is it financial security? Is it control over your spouse? Is it the need for a mate? Is it physical health? Is it success?

Soldier of The Cross, all these things must be left behind. After all, what does it mean to be dead to the world and alive unto Christ?

Spiritual maturity means agreeing with God.

Get into the Word.

What is your specific situation? Believe me, you will find the answer in The Word.

He wants you to lean on Him. Wait for Him. Trust in Him.

There is nothing else. There is no one else!

Soldier, look at The One who died for you.

He counted it a privilege to go to The Cross. He bore the shame for your sake.

It was not for a faceless crowd, but it was personal. For you.

And He rose again.

That same resurrection power is yours by faith. Deflect your attention from things that are not godly, and bend your being toward heaven.

You can walk on the water, by faith. You must resist giving your attention to the storm.

You died with Him, and you can live in Resurrection Life and power - by faith.

Learn to look at Him. Learn to take hold of his promises.

It is exciting when all around swirls with darkness, because we can look unto Him who is the Author and finisher of our faith. We can choose to stand on the Promises.

There is Glory for the Soldier of The Cross, when the enemy presses in.

Look up and move on!