Ever meet someone that becomes a kindred friend after only one conversation? Kelly Balarie is one of those friends to me. Kelly had every reason to steer far clear of my book launch for Breaking the Fear Cycle for she released her own book on fear called Fear Fighting just one year ago. But Kelly quickly proved to me what true ministry in book writing looks like: it looks like the church. One body, many parts and there is room for us all. Kelly prayed sweet prayers over me as I wrestled with my book release and it is with great joy that I share this post with you to celebrate her new book called Battle Ready. Comment after the post with your own story of #ItsABattle to enter in to win a free copy!
Guest Post by my dear Sister Kelly Balarie:
So much has hit me recently. Cancer, leaks, flooded houses, and traumas keep coming. Just as one friend overcomes something, it seems another gets cancer. Just as someone needs prayer, I get hit by a huge personal life-problem. Grr… a rain cloud has set in over my house. And an enemy is on the loose. #It’sABattle
He’s ready to attack. Even worse, he is alive and well. This enemy comes to steal God’s truth, kill good intentions and destroy what God loves, without apology. He’s relentless. He stops at no one, and nothing. He salivates at the thought of biting us and doesn’t care if we’re on our last leg. #IamTired
With all this darkness, I keep focusing on the darkness. Does the same ever happen to you? #Battle
Do you keep re-hashing problem situations?
Do you agonize over what could have been?
Do you fret because you wish there was another way?
Do you play out all the different options in your head?
Darkness breeds darkness – until, light snuffs it out.
Yet, God says we’ve been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. (Col. 1:13) So what’s the deal?
How do we get out of this endless trap? Friends, here, we must pull out a battle tactic, from our arsenal of Battle Ready tools.
Here goes…
Battle Ready Tactic #103 (aka. light versus darkness):
Darkness, in itself, does not lead to light. To reach the light, you have to walk past darkness to see the light.
The How-Tos of this Tactic: Think of God. Think of His attributes. Think of His Word. Think of His ways. Give thanks. This moves us from dungeon-dwelling to light-bright living. It illuminates the desires, will and ways of God. It moves us out of the place of stuck-ness, to God’s better thing.
Let’s put this into action by dwelling on these six verses:
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (John 4:4)
Translation: Christ in you trumps the enemy warfare around you.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Translation: The devil runs from those submitted to godliness.
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” (Luke 10:19)
Translation: Tread on the enemy, because God has given us power to do so. Nothing will injure you. Actively tread, so you don’t feel tread.
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.” (1 John 5:18)
Translation: As you shed your sinning, God effectively keeps the enemy from doing the harming.
“The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life.” (Ps. 121:7)
Translation: The God who sees you, keeps you.
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thess. 3:3)
Translation: Part of God’s faithfulness is his protection from the evil one’s attacks in your life.
Do you feel a shift? I do. Where it felt like the enemy was winning, I now see: God is greater, more powerful, more able, more firm, and more forever. I don’t have to be wavered by what I see because God is greater than anything surrounding me.
The same goes for you. You are not in the dark. The enemy hasn’t snuffed out your light. Your situation is not too much of a fright for God. Your days aren’t numbered and doomed. Nope. God has a purpose and plan for your life. He has wisdom and unsearchable things to teach you. He has light He wants to shed on some of your most difficult situations.
Take hope. Take this tactic and use it for life change. In fact, gain a whole bunch of other tactics, biblical wisdom and insights to seize new habits, to change your thoughts and then your life in the book Battle Ready. Confront what is coming against you so that it doesn’t take you down.
About Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt & Live Victoriously
“The best time to be strengthened against the Enemy’s tactics of doubt, disappointment, and devastation is before he makes his first move toward us. We all desperately need the biblical guidance and preparation found in Battle Ready!”
Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
Battle Ready is a hands-on scriptural plan that teaches you twelve easy-to-implement, confidence-building mind-sets designed to transform your thoughts and, therefore, your life. You’ll gain practical wisdom, like how to
· make new habits stick in just five steps
· disarm the seven most common attacks that plague women
· exchange self-limiting thoughts for purpose-driven, love-releasing thoughts
· implement thirty-second mind-lifters that deliver peace
· create boundaries so you live life full of what matters
Buy Battle Ready here: https://amzn.to/2l5qQrw
To get Battle Ready freebies – printables, devotional reminders, a customizable daily Battle Plan and the “Find Your Battle Style” quiz, visit: www.iambattleready.com
To order the companion Battle Ready Daily Prayer Journal that will help you practically change your thoughts, then your life, visit:
Kelly Balarie, an author and national speaker, is on a mission to encourage others not to give up. Through times of extreme testing, Kelly believes there is hope for every woman, every battle and in every circumstance. She shares this hope on her blog, Purposeful Faith, and on many writing publications such as Relevant, Crosswalk, and Today’s Christian Woman. Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, 700 Club Interactive, Moody Radio and other television and radio broadcasts. When Kelly is not writing, she is chilling at the beach with her husband, a latte, and 2-toddlers who rightfully demand she build them awesome castles.