It is too easy to miss the thing before you.    The distractions of life are many.  There are heartaches, financial concerns, family crises, physical issues and much, much more.  In fact, without a higher plain, the mind clamps onto unresolved issues like a hungry leech.    Soldier of The Cross, when you crossed The Line, you made a life decision to agree with God. That means that His Word is more real than the way that you feel.    There is a Place to go.  There is One who  is not affected by any of these things.  That same One is also your High Tower and your Fortress.  If He said He would address the matter, He will.  Why then are you so determined to fight the battle within the confines of your mind?    You must attend to the thing that is before you.  It may be a physical need of someone who is a shut-in or it may be that someone needs to eat.  Or laugh.  Or perhaps an encouraging call is needed.    Where is the bottom line? You must decide.    Where is faith?    Life is shorter than short.  Eternity is forever.

   Some Christians are looking for a feeling of power.    If  the Promises are true, why is that Believers often feel defeated, squished and hopeless?  Because they have not put their weight on the Word and Sovereignty of God.    Soldier of The Cross, the most important thing is, you must agree with God.  That means when the door is slammed in your face and there is absolutely nothing you can do, you take Him at His Word and agree that He is in control.     This protects you from regret, self-doubt, worry or fear.    You have a Lord who is committed to your best.  He has said it and it is true.    He is in control.    Look up and move on!

     Do you really believe God loves you?    Have you ever talked with Him about it?  Told  Him you know it is true?  Told Him you are glad?  If the Creator of the universe loves you as He says He does, it is a stunning thing.    Yes, His Love is received by faith, but it becomes an experience of Love when two or three are gathered together in His Name.  It is an experience of Love when How Own are willing to love without condition.  It is an experience of love when His way is chosen over  the alternative.    How vast His love must be.  The Bible tells us that it is personal.  God did not send His Son to die for the sins of a generic and impersonal globe.  He named each person and  He died and rose again for each person.  You are the target of that love.    It is easy to sing about it, read the verses about it and even preach about it.  Receiving it and experiencing it will bring in a new taste of Heaven.

   You were created to live and operate in a dimension of His Peace.    He touched you and there is no turning back.  Why is that?  Because the pleasure and delight of His Presence far surpasses anything else.     The Prince of Peace wants to lead you into the life for which you were created.  Worry, fear, guilt and anxiety are part of the world we live in.  It is not possible to avoid them altogether, but as the apostle Paul says, there is always a Way of Escape.    Soldier of The Cross, the danger signal is an absence of peace.  It is not difficult to know when  the soul is attempting to unknot itself.    Can you say you have peace?    Here is what The Word says: _____________ Memorize: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" Romans 5:1 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Psalms 119:165 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28 "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:6 "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalms 34:7

     One's life is the summation of a one's thoughts.   God's Word has much to say about attitude and thought.  The problem comes when the swirl is such, that there is no awareness of what the  mind is doing.    We have specific instruction.  We are to fill our minds with His Word.  In Philippians 4:8, Paul says:                       Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever                     things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things                     are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.    This verse indicates that the Soldier of The Cross can and must exercise choice when it comes to the thought life.  This should be a matter of significant concern, to the extent that it is taken to prayer and becomes a deliberate focus.    The first step is to tell the Lord that you take this seriously and that you are available to obey in this area.  He is quick to respond and He will lead you a step at a time.    There are no points of arrival and I doubt that anyone has been able to live every minute in control of every thought.   Nevertheless, He said that we should do this    By prayer and by faith, so we shall.

   Life in Christ means looking away from all that would distract.    Soldier?  What distracts you?  Is it a need for security?  Is it a need for human love?  Is  it a need for a good reputation?  Do you need to know all your children are perfect?    What is the issue?  What does God's Word say?    Equally important, what do you say in response?    The issue is, are you a Soldier of  The Cross?  Have you told Him He can do anything with your life?  Do you mean it?  Can He be trusted?  Is His Word true?    Soldier, whatever stands before you, agree with God.    Look up and  move on!

   Soldier of The Cross, why do you follow and serve Him?    What is the real reason?  Because He touched you.     There Is no religious belief in the entire universe that can compare with the touch of the Lord.  Once it is real, there is no turning back.    Only you know what has happened.  Only you know if there has been a real change.  Only you know if there is a sense that God is listening to you.    Soldier,  did you mean it?     Is there anything else?

   What does it mean to walk by faith?    It is simple.  God is right, and anything that contradicts Him is wrong.   There is no wiggle room and there is no argument.  It means agreement with God.    Because He said so.    Soldier of the Cross, anything else is guaranteed failure.  If  He is real, that is the bottom line.  Everything is simplified.   Who has a problem with that?

   What does it mean to be a Soldier of The Cross?    It means that you agree with God.  You agree with His Word - the Bible.  It means that you have decided that He is worth more than anything else, and that you will take up The Cross and f0llow Him.    It means that when He asks in Romans 12, that it is reasonable to be a Living Sacrifice, and that your body and your faculties belong to Him,  that you agree with Him.      It means that you have been touched by Him and there is no turning back.  It means that you have considered and chosen your priorities.     It means that you have fallen in love and there is no turning back.   After all, is there anything else?

   For those who follow and serve the Lord, real Love is by faith.    There is such a tendency to think of Love as an emotion, but we know from I Corinthians 13 and the whole of God's Word that Love is more than strong feeling.  Often the experience of Love follows the obedience that makes Love possible.    If  Love does  not take account of an evil done to it, or if it does  not  ever get puffed up, it has to be supernatural.    Certainly we have the precious experience of human love.  When we walk in obedience to the word of God, there is a Love that is the result of refusing ungodly thought. Refusing gossip.  Refusing to keep score.  Putting others first.    No one ever arrives - not until heaven will we be perfect.  There is no one who has it "all together." But there is One who gave Himself for us, and His Design is for us to walk in the Light and, to Love to the extent that we experience "rivers of living water. . ."    Have a ready smile.  Be aware of your countenance.  Do not engage in conversations that you know are unwise. Be ready with a word of encouragement. Even if you don't feel like it. Govern your thoughts.    It isn't fake.  It is obedience.