Wednesday, March 31, 2010

So what's the battle plan?

(Below are Nicole's thoughts on Chapter 13, The Heart of a Warrior, of The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. Please know that what we all learn from a study is usually different. Therefore, we encourage you to share your thoughts and what you've learned in the comments section below each post. We're sure you'll lift someone's spirit.)

Are you a Warrior? According to Wikipedia, the word "Warrior" is defined as follows: A warrior is a person experienced in or capable of engaging in combat or warfare. Are you a Warrior? If you are, you need a battle plan.

Brief re-cap of The Heart of a Warrior
In this chapter, our Dream Coach introduces us to our many different Giants that we face today. The most popular, Unbelief. He also explains to us the reason for our Giants. On page 143, Bruce Wilkinson writes "Giants are the primary opportunity to make God's power and goodness known to a doubting world. And when He chooses to defeat a Giant through a miracle-that is, an event that cannot be explained in any way other than "God did that!"-He receives all the glory." Our Dream Coach reminds us that a risk of faith will take us towards our dreams and most importantly the biggest Giant we will ever face is Unbelief. He then tells of a time he made a list of over twenty five miracles in the Bible to help him conquer his Giant of Unbelief. He encourages us to pick up our stones and to be Warriors.

I want to share with you the one thing that impacted me the most in this chapter. Yes, the entire chapter was incredible and did wonders to help equip me for my battles. However, there is one part of this chapter that I feel like God keeps bringing to my attention and I'd like to share it with you.

"Then I suggested we stop thinking about the Giant and start listing aloud the miracles of the Bible. By the time we had named twenty-five, our Giant had shrunk dramatically and our faith had grown greatly." - Bruce Wilkinson page 144-145

So, let's do it. Let's make a list. A list of miracles throughout the Bible. Let's conquer our Giants through believing instead of letting our Giant of Unbelief trample upon us. In no particular order, I'll start the list.

1. Creation. God created us! (Genesis 1)
2. Parting of the Red sea. (Exodus 14)
3. Jesus healing a child with Epilepsy. (Matthew 17:14-18)
4. Jesus feeding 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44)
5. Miracles of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings; 2 Kings)
6. Jesus heals a man who was born blind (John 9:1-16)
7. God speaking through a burning bush to Moses (Exodus 3:1-21)
8. Jesus heals a man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45)
9. The birth of Jesus Christ. (Luke 2: 1-20)
10. The death of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 27:50-53)
11. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Romans 28:1-10)
12. Ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12)
13. Joshua and his battle of Jericho (Joshua 2; 5:13-15; 6:1-27)
14. Jonah and the whale (Jonah)
15. Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14)
16. The great miracle fish catch (Luke 5)
17. Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41)
18. Jesus heals a bleeding woman (Mark 5:21)
19. Jesus heals a paralyzed man (Matthew 9)
20. The Flood (Genesis 6-9)

These are all miracles in the Bible and there are so many more. If God can do all of these things on this list, I believe He can help us defeat our Giants today! Our God is so awesome and so strong. Stronger than any Giant we shall ever meet.

This list, it's our battle plan. We need to make our list as long as possible. The longer our list, the stronger our battle plan. When we feel like our Giants are towering above us and we can't find our stones, we need to read this list and even pick up our Bibles and read the scriptures in the Bible. God is with us today as He was with Moses back in the day. We have the same power over our Giants today as David did way back when. When we feel like autism is swallowing us up whole, we need to remember Jonah and the whale. We need to remember that God is with us and is helping us every step of the way. Yes, we are Warriors. No doubt about it. Now we have our battle plan so let's go take down some Giants of Autism!

Bible Verses
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold with you my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6

But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said "Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:22

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

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