Need Help with Spiritual Battle

Chowns · 03-11-2004, 10:56 AM

I have often heard that the closer you are to God the harder the devil tries to attack you to get you away from God.

I think I'm having one of those battles. My faith is usually strong, but depression has kicked in and I need a boost. DH and I are still trying to get our business off the ground and it's looking pretty grim so we are both down about that. And it's tax season and DH handles all that so he's stressed and down about that as well. My job has been crazy lately with lots of OT (good for the pocketbook but no so good for marriage building). I feel like DH and I are drifting apart and this is not a good thing for a spiritual battle either. I don't want our crazy work schedules and business to create resentment.

I have been praying and still not feeling optimistic about this whole mess. On top of that I usually participate in a christian play during Lent and I haven't been there either. I'm trying to say that my crazy schedule is why I haven't been there, but I'm starting to doubt that too.

Any words of wisdom and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for looking in.

~Chris

midniteexpress · 03-11-2004, 12:22 PM

I don't have answers for you but hang in there. Keep praying and talking to your husband. I'll be praying for you.

Stormy77 · 03-11-2004, 04:17 PM

I am so sorry that you are fighting this battle. I will be praying for you. Is there anyway you could get away for the weekend or something? Just you and DH do something together. Talk about everything.

I know how you feel. The devil has really been after me lately. I have been fight depression now how I look and how I'm a failure at getting pg. All I ever wanted was to be a mother and I can't even do that.

What kind of business are you in?

I like to read. It really seems to help me. I check out books from our church library. A public one would help too. Read books about building faith. Stay strong and continue to turn to God. He will always pull you through.

Shay

STORMIEYES73 · 03-11-2004, 08:46 PM

Chowns,
My prayers are in agreement that according to Isaish 54: 17 (KJV) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement that shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
I will be praying with you for the deliverance forever from the spirit of depression & that all will be well with your family.
Peaceful Journeys,
Linda S.

Proudmommaoftwo · 03-11-2004, 09:22 PM

Praying for you and your DH.

Chowns · 03-11-2004, 10:05 PM

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Knowing that I'm not alone in this is very uplifting.

~Shay, DH and I went away for Valentine's weekend. I swear sometimes it's hard to even talk to him. I told him tonight that I miss him and his response was I'm right here. Ugh. Money is tight right now, but I'm working on getting back our weekly bonding nights. We own a used book store. It made me laugh that you said you like to read since we own a store. No shortage of things to read there. However, I have turned to my Bible and have thought of some christian books I bought about a year ago and never read. I think I'll start there. Thanks for the encouragement though!

~Linda S, Thank you for that!! I will definitely write that down and keep it close. Just reading that made me feel better. I guess sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the power God has in our lives when all these life things get us down. Thanks again!

~ Proudmommaoftwo, thank you for the support and prayers.

Peace and blessings to all

~Chris

Stormy77 · 03-12-2004, 11:56 AM

Chowns- God works in strange ways. I had no idea you own a book store. Maybe God wanted you to see what you have right in front of you. I could not make it without my bible and other books.

Men don't understand women. I think most of the time they don't even try.

I hope you are doing better. Stay in God's word and stay strong.

KellyW · 03-15-2004, 11:01 PM

Hello! I'm new to the message boards on this site. I was diagnosed with PCOS in May of 2003. I wanted to respond to your message about being discouraged. One thing that has helped me is knowing and trusting in the Word of God. Thank God, we have a Lord that doesn't operate on feelings like we do. When He says, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved," you can rest on His promise hat He will sustain you when you give your burden to Him. (Psalm 55:22) Don't carry it yourself. Even when you don't feel like praying, pray. That is the time when you most need to pray.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

I recommend you claiming some of God's promises from His Word. The Bible says "The heart is deceitful and desperatley wicked, who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9) We can't trust in our feelings. They change so often. But, we can trust in God. Get a few verses and memorize them, quote them when needed and pray that over them. What a blessing it is that we have His Word and His Promises!! Psalms 27, 62 and 103 are my favorites.

With Love and Prayers,

thing1 · 03-17-2004, 12:08 AM

Wow! Kelly, your words were profound, at least to me! Love the part about not trusting feelings (I'm so defensive, thin skinned) and trusting God.

Great information about feeling discouraged!!!

Thanks for reaching out Chris, I'm going through the same (but different) sort of thing with DH! The "I miss you", "I'm here" part especially.

Chowns · 03-17-2004, 11:41 AM

Thank you again all my cysters for coming to my aid with prayer and inspiration. I am truly blessed to have found this site and the unending support and prayer from my fellow cysters. May the Lord continue to bless and watchover all of us and our families and guide us in His ways.

KellyW ~ Thank you for your inspiration! I realized that I had been going to church and being present there, but I had taken my bible out of my daily living. I am grateful that I have had my cysters and their advice to lean on in this time of tribulation. I have recently discovered a new meaning to Psalm 23 (as you can see by my tag line). I always considered that Psalm to be solely for funerals. Now I understand that it is with daily living that God leads us beside the still waters. He can take all of our burdens if we can just learn to give them up to Him.

Thing1 ~ Thank you for responding. You and DH are in my prayers and thoughts. I know that clear communication is sometimes very hard especially with DH. Please feel free to PM or email me.

Thanks again to all!

~Prayers and Blessings

Chris

KellyW · 03-18-2004, 02:00 PM

Just nice to have be on the board. I don't have much time for the computer, but its been informative and even humbling for me to read posts from others going through some of the same things I am and some even worse. I've been blessed with my PCOS. I know it could be so much worse. I'm not at the point that I truly feel thankful for this. But, I recognize in my flesh I can do nothing, but "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me." (Phil. 4:13) Its humbling to lean on the Lord to get me through days that I otherwise would not get through or feel blessed in. So, when I don't feel thankful or physically well, I try to remind myself that truly God has a purpose for this in my life. (Rom. 8:28) I do try to not operate on my feelings, but my faith. Its difficult at times.

I also think of Paul when he talks about his thorn in the flesh. He believed God gave it to him to keep him from being exalted above measure. It is so easy to get puffed up in ourselves and not give credit or thanks to the Lord for the blessings in our life. But Paul asked the Lord three times to allow this to depart from him and I love Christ's response:

"... My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." 2Cor. 12:9

Anyhow, just things I think about. Well, I've enjoyed meeting you all. Sort of informal meeting, but just the same, and look forward to seeing you all on the message boards.

daculadawg1 · 03-25-2004, 01:10 PM

SATAN WILL TRY TO ATTACK YOU WHEN YOU ARE CLOSE TO GOD, I'VE HAD MY OWN PROBLEMS WITH THAT. I HOPE YOU WILL FEEL BETTER SOON.
I'LL PRAY FOR YA,

LINDA M

Chowns · 03-25-2004, 06:07 PM

Linda M

Thank you for your prayers. I am doing better.

~Chris