Drawing the Line

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." -Matthew 18:18 "You... shall... not... PASS!!!" - Gandolf, The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Rings A pastor came into town to speak at our church for our annual summer conference. He told a story in which he was having a conversation with God, and God asked him a question. "Bob," (not his real name), "Why do you think you get attacked by the enemy?" he said. The pastor replied, "Well, Lord, it's because I'm you're servant and I've got a mark on my back! I'm a threat to the kingdom of darkness." God said, "No, it's because you let him attack you." There is a famous moment in The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gandolf stands in the gap on behalf of his friends. Here we see an important principle. Gandolf knew that if he did not stand against the beast Balrog the fellowship would not be able to continue on to fulfill their mission. So he drew the line - and appears to have lost his life in the process. As Christians, we are called to draw the line against the enemy in our lives. While we may not have to die in the process, we will be changed as a result. There is something to be said for upholding God's promises on the earth. Is there an area in your life where you need to draw the line in faith? Is it provision, restored relationships, health, or a dream you want to see fulfilled? Is it overcoming something for you or on behalf of someone else through prayer, like an addiction, a belief, thought pattern, or attitude? Draw the line for what you will or will not accept in your life. When you make that stand that's within God's plan for your life, God will be standing with you. Related resource: Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud & John Townsend

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