What Will It Take To Keep You Home?...43 Days to go

Brothers,

As we enter the homestretch, let's prepare for an all-out offensive designed especially for you by the enemy of your soul. This attack will have one purpose...to keep you from arriving in Canton in 43 short days. What tactic will be successful against you?

We know that since the dawn of time, the enemy has used one of three tactics to derail those hungry for God:
(1 John 2:16)
1. The Lust of the Flesh
2. The Lust of the Eyes
3. The Pride of Life

Perhaps it will be a physical ailment that the enemy will use to keep you at home. Let us press on in our prayers for each other and lift up the health of each of our members. Do not let any irritation or physical weakness distract and deter you from your goal.

Perhaps the enemy will arrange a family emergency to keep you home. Husband/wife conflicts are his specialty. Let us lift up each other's spouses, and pray for a hedge of protection around our loved ones at this crucial time.

Perhaps the enemy will lure you into a secret sin that will convince you that it will be too painful to fake it through three intense days of seeking God and hearing His word. Brothers, do NOT let this keep you from Canton. Let us lift up one another in prayer in this specific area. Let's keep short accounts with God and stay transparent, prayed up and immersed in His Word. Do NOT let a failure in this area be the reason you miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Think of the pain and regret you will suffer, knowing that you have forfeited the showers of blessing that we are trusting God to bring.

Perhaps you are already sensing a nagging fear that something "unusual" or "uncomfortable" will occur in Canton, something that you cannot easily explain away or ignore. Something outside of your "normal" Christian experience. You may sense a growing fear that your life may be forever changed by this event. In the same way that God has been showing up for centuries to accomplish His will through His chosen people, are you afraid that this could be a fork in the road, one that will change the very path of the rest of your life? Recognize this as your flesh resisting the work of the Spirit in preparing your heart to receive the Word of God. When we stubbornly cling to the old, comfortable life, we forfeit the incredible opportunity to be involved in the war of the ages...the spiritual battle in heavenly places that will transform everything in our lives. Dangerous? Yes, but we were built and are being equipped by the Spirit of God for this very purpose. Let's prepare our hearts and resist every attempt by our selfish flesh to distract us from the eternal implications of this fight.

I am trusting each of you to hold me accountable and uplifted in your prayers. I am committed to do the same for each of you.

May the Holy Spirit do His work to prepare us for the days ahead!

Your brother, Steve