Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am saved by God.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

My brother's family was excited about moving into their new home. The carpet was down, the curtains were up, the furniture was in. Only a few items remained to be moved. Then in the early morning just before the family was to take up residence a fire broke out, and their priceless pictures were all lost.

     When I arrived at the charred frame, I had expected to see my brother. Instead, he and his family had gone to the homes of two firemen who, to my horror, had lost their lives in the blaze. The deepest desire of all our hearts was, If they could have been saved. Only against such a black backdrop could the significance of salvation be so desperately real.

     Saved...who wouldn't want to be saved? The word saved obviously implies being saved from something. Oh, if all humanity would comprehend what Scripture says they can be saved from: an eternal existence of complete anguish, a destiny of living in darkness. Who wouldn't want deliverance?

     Just think--you were delivered from this dominion of darkness. The Greek word for saved means "to be delivered, to be preserved." This is the eternal benefit resulting from your decision to accept Christ's offer of salvation.

     But the scope of spiritual salvation doesn't extend just to bring saved from the penalty of sin. As a child of God, you are also saved from the power of sin. You are actually "dead to sin" (Romans 6:11). Simply put, you can break free from any sinful habit! And that's not all. One day, in heaven, you will be saved from the very presence of sin.

     For me, however, the most phenomena aspect of salvation is not what we've been saved from, but rather what we've been saved for. God's heart desire is not just to get us out of hell, but to get the Savior into us.

     With His presence in you, you have His power, His wisdom, His forgiveness, His love and His strength. It is His life in you, living His life through you!

     What incredible value! And the amazing fact is that it's a free gift. But it's not cheap. It cost Christ His life. Salvation is a free gift to you and me because Someone else paid for it, and you now can see yourself through God's eyes.

                              ________________His Plan for Me______________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Exodus 15:2 ______________________________________________
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Hebrew 7:25 ______________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... ______________________
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I have confidence because...I am saved by God's grace.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am born again by God

"You must be born again." (John 3:7)

No sentence in Scripture has been subjected to more contemporary cynicism, sarcasm and satire than the impossible sounding. "You must be born again." Born again? Jesus left no other option. He said it is a must! But why?

     In God's original creation, Adam and Eve were made in the "image" of God. Since "God is spirit? (John 4:24), the image was actually God's Spirit alive in them. Their human spirits were indwelled by the Holy Spirit, resulting in a oneness of mind and heart. But when sin came in, the Spirit went out. Oneness was broken. Adam and Eve became spiritually dead. Likewise, all who were born after them were born dead in their sins.

     Upon your physical birth you were born in sin, born lost, born alienated, born an enemy of God, born spiritually dead. What is the only thing a dead person needs? Life! Not sincerity or education, culture or finances or even religion. What you need is life.

     Spiritually, when you accept God's plan of salvation, you go from death to life. You receive Christ's life! As a result, you are given a new nature--His nature. You are given a new spirit--His Spirit.

     The phrase "born again" in Greek literally means "born anew, born from above." This indicates that when the Spirit of God so transforms a life, it can only be described as a dramatic "new birth." Oh, child of God, marvel at the beauty of being born from above!

     The critic says, "Impossible! How can a person be born again?" Yet in nature, God has given us the little caterpillar to unravel this mystery for the whole world to see. This drab and dull creature worms its way through life until it dies to its caterpillar existence. But then the impossible occurs! The death of the caterpillar brings forth the birth of the butterfly. Behold--the miracle of the monarch! A two-inch worm unfolds a four-inch wing span...pallid, pale green is transformed into regal, reddish gold...a former creeping crawler begins as "impossible" migratory trip--nearly 2,000 miles in flight!

     So it is when you are born anew that you can see yourself through God's eyes. The old is gone, the new is alive to soar to heights unknow.

   Now, spread your wings child of God...soar to new heights!

                     _________________His Plan for Me___________________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

2 Corinthians 5:17 __________________________________________
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1 Peter 1:3, 23 _____________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I ... ______________________
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I have confidence because...I am born anew by God.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am chosen by God.

"He chose us in him before the creation of the world."  (Ephesians 1:4)

School was in session, and everything was fine...fine until it was time for teams to be chosen. As the team captains called out the names of their chosen players, the air filled with awkwardness--at least for one timid teenager who was anything but agile. Oh God, I hate being chosen last. Please let somebody want me.

     Have you ever longed to be chosen because you were wanted...because you were desired? Child of God, the Lord chose you "before the creation of the world." He chose you only because He wanted you--not because of your strength, scholarship or skill. We can take no credit or merit in being chosen. Jesus clearly states, "You did not choose me, but I chose you" (John 15:16).

     Many years ago another child faced being chosen. The Lord sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem saying, "I have chosen one of his sons to be king" (I Samuel 16:1). What an unfathomable honor for a family! Yet after Samuel had surveyed Jesse's seven sons, he said, "The Lord has not chosen these...Are these all the sons you have?" (I Samuel 16:10-11). Well, there was David, the youngest. But he was away tending sheep--and certainly not "king material"! At the prophet's insistence, however, the lad was brought in. Immediately, the Lord told Samuel to choose David, "and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power" (I Samuel 16:13).

     In a most crucial battle we see Goliath completely terrorizing Saul's army. However, God uses the young, inexperienced David as the man of the hour. Imagine the Israelites' amazement as they watch "unarmored" David approaching Goliath. Just how could this child be confident of conquest? David knew the simple principle: whatever God chooses for you to do, He will equip you to do. In a moment, David single-handedly slew the nine-foot titan. His secret? He understood the true source of strength, declaring before the confrontation, "The battle is the LORD'S " (I Samuel 17:47).

     What truth for you today! When you face the "Goliaths" in your life, remember this: you have been chosen by the Lord. As you now see yourself through God's eyes, have confidence in the Lord--the battle is the Lord's!

                                     _____________His Plan for Me_____________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

John 15:19 ___________________________________________________
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Romans 8:33 _________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... __________________________
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I have confidence because...I am chosen by God. 

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am hidden with Christ

Day 7

The Nazis wielded terror over all who were not like them in race, religion or rule. During World War II, the primary hate targets were the Jews: their power was stripped, property confiscated, people confined--and killed--in concentration camps. In fact, in Nazi dominated Holland, the Ten Boom family had carefully hidden hundreds of Jews in their "hiding place"--the secret place in their home above their watch shop.

     Then on February 28, 1944, that which was most feared happened--the hiding place was discovered! The Gestapo arrested the Ten Boom family. Their crime? Hiding Jews. Their punishment? Immediate transport to a concentration camp.

     As the two sisters waited in line to be searched, Corrie asked God if He would keep the Bible that was tucked inside her clothing hidden from view. "Dear God...You have given me this precious Book, You have kept it hidden through checkpoints and inspections." The woman in front of Corrie was searched three times. Corrie's beloved sister Betsie, standing behind her, was also searched. Miraculously, the officer never touched Corrie. Her Bible now had a hiding place in a German concentration camp!

     Filth, disease, beatings and rape became a part of their struggle for survival. But as Corrie read the Bible's truths, she knew His Word would keep hatred from her heart. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).

     Is there a hiding place for you? A place of healing for your damaged emotions? When you have been treated harshly, you can be free of hatred. Because He hides His truth in you, you are protected from wrong thoughts and wrong choices. The adversary of your life has no power to trap you...as long as you stay hidden in the shelter of God's wings where you are safe from emotional destruction, hidden from emotional ruin.

     The Ten Boom family had their hiding place only for a while. But as God's child, you are hidden in Christ. Seeing yourself through God's eyes, you can know that you are safe forever!

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort and there I am blest.

                     ____________My Position in Christ____________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Psalm 17:8 ____________________________________________________
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Colossians 3:3 _________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... ___________________________
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I am secure because...I am hidden with Christ.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am baptized with Christ (Daily Devotional)

Day 6

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death." (Romans 6:4)

The little girl had no one with whom she could identify. She wanted to find her family but didn't know how. She searched with all her might.

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high,
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby...

     In 1939 millions of people flocked to see the unveiling of the first motion picture to be filmed both black and white and "living color." The Wizard of Oz featured colors woven throughout the fabric of the story. The motion picture industry would never be the same--this rainbow of colors gave it an exciting new identity.

     In a similar way, one who is baptized in Christ will never be the same. The word baptism is black and white for many people. To others, its image has become a muddy gray...a mixture of misunderstanding. Yet when you correctly understand the meaning of baptizo, the Greek verb for "baptize," you will see a panorama of living color unfold before your very eyes.

     In ancient everyday living, a piece of cloth would be immersed (baptizo) into a dye, a process that resulted in a change of identity. A bland muslin fabric would be transformed into a brilliant blue or radiant red cloth suitable for any number of important uses.

     Do you realize that when you were "buried with Christ through baptism," you acutally received a  change of identity? Although you are still made of the same material, your new identity with Christ permeates the very fabric of your soul.

     Your spiritual baptism takes place the moment you are saved, as you are instantaneously identified with Christ. Later, water baptism takes place as a symbol of what has happened to you.

Your water baptism symbolizes a progression of three pictures:

• Standing in the water represents your old life.
• Being lowered under the water represents death to your old life--the washing away of your sins.
• Being lifted up out of the water represents your new life in Christ.

     You are now baptized into Christ, and you are lifted into a colorful new life...into a new family...into a new identity...you can see yourself through God's eyes.

                            __________My Position in Christ_________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Galatians 3:26-27 _______________________________________________________
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Colossians 2:9-12 _______________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... ___________________________________
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I am secure because...I am now identified with Christ.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am accepted by God. (Daily Devotional)

Day 5

"He hath made us accepted in the beloved [Jesus]." (Ephesians 1:6, KJV)

Many people have a recording in their minds that plays the same song over and over again. The title? "If Only." The air play? Top 10! Not just for weeks, but for years. The most distinguishing feature of this song is its brevity--only one line long. "If only______(you fill in the blank), then I might have pleased my dad." "If only I had been smarter in school...been better in sports...been my brother...been born first...not been born at all!"

     We don't understand why this one line song continues to play after the passing of time. Yet if we were to listen to recordings of some of our earliest childhood experiences, we could see why we are emotionally stuck.

     The child who hears, "You'll never amount to anything," won't feel worth much. The child who hears, "I wish you had never been born," becomes performance based throughout life, trying to prove his importance to everyone in order to gain acceptance. Perhaps the perceived "If it weren't for you, I'd be happy" theme is the most melancholy melody of all. It damages a child of any age.

     Dr. Charles Stanley says that most of us value the acceptance of our parents more than the acceptance of any other individual. He cites businessmen in their 40s, 50s and even 60s who are still seeking their father's acceptance and approval even though their fathers are dead. The little boy inside still cries out, I've got to get my dad to accept me.

     While we all make mistakes, in God's eyes you are no mistake. As a child of God, you are never unacceptable to Him. He says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrew 13:5)

     Jesus understands your innermost feelings when you've been rejected He personally experienced that same kind of rejection from His family. "He came to his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11, KJV) Therefore, who can better empathize with your need for acceptance than your Lord!

     His love and acceptance is not, "Because..." He loves and accepts you, period! When you know you are totally accepted in the beloved and see yourself through God's eyes, you step to a new song of joy and acceptance as you recall this simple but classic materpiece:

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Jesus love me! He will stay close beside me all the way.

                                 ______________My Position in Christ_______________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Psalms 27:10  _________________________________________________________
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Jeremiah 31:3 _________________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... __________________________________
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I am secure because...I am accepted in the beloved.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am called by name by God. (Daily Devotional)

DAY 4

"I have summoned you by name, you are mine."  (Isaiah 43:1)

Have you ever arrived at an airport, train station or special event and found no one was there to welcome you...to call you by name? Have you ever rushed home with anxious anticipation to share exciting news, only to find an empty house and a deafening silence? In the depths of your being you have a need to feel that you are personally known, lovingly cared about and personally called by name.

     Even though it had been several months since I had spoken and sung at a particular Christian retreat, the stinging comments from one significant person had produced acute pain. I was till smarting, as if from a bee sting! When you are stung by a bee, the sting catches you by surprise--the stinger remains, the swelling begins, the skin reddens and the area is sensitive to touch. My heart felt that same painful sensitivity as I planned to fly back to that location. Although mentally I had been preparing myself for the return, I still had a full-blown case of fear--fear that I would be hurt again.

     A week prior to my departure, I mailed a note to someone who had been especially concerned about me during my time of hurt. I didn't ask her to pick me up, but I did include my flight schedule with the deep hope that she would read between the lines and be there upon my arrival.

     As I deplaned, my eyes searched the airport waiting area for a familiar face. I wanted to hear a warm, "Hi, June!" but the silence from a swarming crowd echoed in my ears. Even though I had tried to prepare myself, my heart sank.

     Starting toward the baggage area, I suddenly heard a voice...someone called out my name. Thank You, Lord, she was there! She had been on the observation deck long before the plane had arrived. And now she was calling me by name. Her calling said, "I care about you." Her words acted as a healing balm to soothe my sensitive heart.

     When situations in your life begin to sting, don't assume God has forgotten you. He is still watching over you. As you see yourself through God's eyes, realize that your Lord is always there...He is intimately involved in your life....You are constantly on His mind. He says, "Fear not...I have [called] you by name; you are mine."

"He who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved." --Charles Hadden Spurgeon

                        ____________My Position in Christ_______________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Psalms 139:13-16 ____________________________________________________
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John 10:3  __________________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... _________________________________
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I am secure because...I am called by name by God.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am precious to God (Daily Devotional)

Day 3

"You are precious and honored in my sight, and...I love you." (Isaiah 43:4)

Does anyone care? Do I make a difference in anyone's life? Do I matter at all? When the answers seem bleak, it's important to realize that although few have escaped the painful rocks of rejection, a shipwrecked soul is not at the heart of God's plan for any child of His. When trials seem unending, when heartaches are hitting wave upon wave, if only we could remember, "This too will pass." He says, "You are precious and honored in my sight."

     Do you feel precious to God? Do you consider yourself cherished? Even when you feel you are not, you truly are. Though you've been drenched with defeat, God's love is like the endless tide. Your compassionate Savior wants you to "...know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).

     One of life's most beautiful and costly wonders is born out of pain and irritation--the pearl. When a piece of sand slips through the opening of the oyster's shell, it immediately begins to rub against the soft tissue to produce a hard substance. That hard substance eventually develops into one of the world's exquisite gems--a lovely, luminous pearl. In fact, the greater the irritation the more valuable the pearl!

     Perhaps a "grain of sand" or an excruciating trial is causing you painful irritation right now. Know that God has not abandoned you. He has a purpose in allowing trials to invade your life. God's plan for you is a perfect plan--to produce a pearl of great value. Even in the midst of the strom, you are safe. Your Savior will keep you safe from the storm's destruction.

     "We are safer in the storm God sends us, than in a calm when we are befriended by the world."--Jeremy Taylor

     Because of the trials you suffer, God can produce in you a quality that could not be cultivated in any other way. As you see yourself through God's eyes, know that you are of great value to Him and that He desires the very best for you. He says, "You are precious and honored in My sight, and...I love you."

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Isaiah 43:2 _________________________________________________________________
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Jeremiah 29:11 ______________________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... ________________________________________
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I am secure because...I am precious in the sight of God.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am a child of God,(Daily Devotional)

Day 2

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3:1)

What a tender scene...Jesus with the children! His disciples felt they were a nuisance, yet Jesus recognized their needs and welcomed their nearness. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).

     Perhaps you experienced an unhappy childhood and grew up in a situation where you felt unloved. Such as experience can profoundly affect you life---even as an adult---and can result in a long, continuing search for love and acceptance.

     Perhaps you've felt like a nuisance... unwanted and unwelcomed. It is no small matter that your heavenly Father calls you His child---a loving term of endearment. Dear child of God, you are loved, you are wanted and you do belong. The very "longing to belong" is put there by God Himself. He is moving to create a desire in your heart to know Him as your loving Father.

     You may have heard the phrase, "Everyone is a child of God." While that sounds warm and wonderful, it is simply not true! According to John 1:12, "To all who received him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

     While the Bible teaches that everyone on earth is a creation of God, only those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior become authentic children of God.

     If a child you had never seen strolled into your house, headed for the refrigerator, made a sandwich and plopped down on the sofa, what would you do? How long would you permit this intruder to be comfortable in your home? Not long!

     Yet, if your own child walked in, headed for the refrigerator, made a sandwich and so forth...you probably wouldn't think much about it. Since the child belongs there, he has the right to be comfortable at home. As a part of your family, he has family privileges.

     The same is true for you as a child of God. You are part of His family. He delights to provide for your needs, and as His child, you can look to Him to meet your needs. You can come into His presence at anytime. Seeing yourself through God's eyes, you are welcomed, you are wanted.
     You are "at home" in God's family.

                                    _____________My position in Christ____________



Personalize these verses in your own words:

Romans 8:16 __________________________________________________________
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Ephesians 2:19 _________________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I ... __________________________________
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I am secure because...I am a child of God.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: I am adopted by God (Daily Devotional Guide)

Day 1

"He predestined us to be adopted." (Ephesians 1:5)

Oh, to be secure! Everyone wants it; everyone longs for it. Why? Perhaps security has added significance because we all know the feeling of having the proverbial "rug pulled out from under us" by someone we've trusted. At one time, we had a home in that heart, yet the feeling of rejection sent us into feeling emotionally abandoned.

     Is there a place you can call "home" and not question its future? A place of emotional security? Consider what your heavenly Father has said: "I have adopted you."

     Even though God already has a Son. He choose to adopt you. God does not have to adopt you; He wants you! You are His child...He is your loving Father.

     Thomas Watson expressed it this way: "Since God has a Son of His own, and such a Son, how wonderful God's love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but He did not need sons."

     If you have not had a meaningful relationship with your earthly father, it may be hard for you to fully comprehend a caring, loving heavenly Father. Unlike some earthly fathers, God is always available to you. He will neither leave you nor forsake you--He is with you all the time. He desires to be intimately involved in every aspect of your life. By adopting you, He has chosen you to have full privilege of being His own.

     Many similarities can be seen between God's adoption of us and the legal adoption of a child. An adopted child is not inferior to any other child in the family. An adopted child carries the family name, and his inheritance is secure because he, too, is a legal heir.

     However, there is one difference. The legally adopted child will not receive the same nature as his newly adoptive parents, who have different biological genes and characteristics. Yet, in God's adoption, the child always receives a new nature--the nature of his heavenly Father.

     History tells us that when the New Testament was written, it was understood that an adoption would never be revoked. Do you realize what that means in light of your relationship with God? Once you are selected, you can never be rejected. You will never be emotionally abandoned. You will always have a home in God's heart. Seeing yourself through God's eyes, you are His child forever.

                                          _________My Position in Christ_________

Personalize these verses in your own words:

Romans 8:15 ______________________________________________________________
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Galatians 4:5-7 ____________________________________________________________
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Father, through Your eyes I can see that I... ______________________________________
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I am secure because...I am adopted by God.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: Discovering How God Sees You (Daily Devotional)

"If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will...find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:3-5)

You are about to unearth the most priceless of all hidden treasures. To begin this great discovery, all you need is a pen and your favorite Bible translation. As you bring to the surface the truths of each daily devotion, you will see God's perspective of you from His Word.

     Research has shown that it takes three weeks to form a habit; therefore, as you end this study, you should be in a precious pattern of seeing yourself through God's eyes. The following six steps will be used by the Spirit of God to bring to light that which may be currently hidden from view:

1. Begin each day asking God to reveal your worth...simply because you are His child.
2. Concentrate on the initial statement concerning you and on the corresponding Scripture.
3. Read the practical commentary along with the prayer that the Lord's heavenly view of you would penetrate your heart.
4. Look up the additional Scripture references from your favorite translation. Then personalize and paraphrase them, putting them into your own words.
5. Write a personal prayer completing the phrase---Father, through Your eyes I can see that I...
6. Repeat the printed truth at the bottom of the page. With a grateful heart, acknowledge that indeed God does see you as worthy of confidence and secure in value.

                        __________Introduction___________
An Example
       
Day 32
  

I am given the compassion of Christ.

Personalize these verses in your own words.

Isaiah 49:15   No matter who rejects me, the Lord will never forget me. No matter who is cold toward me, the Lord has compassion for me, even greater than a mother for her child.

Lamentations 3:22-23   God not only loves me, He also has compassion for me. I don't need to be overcome by my trials because God will always love me and be faithful to me.

Father, through Your eyes I can see that I...   will never be without Your love and compassion. I shouldn't base how I feel about myself on how I am being treated by others. Thank You that Your compassion will never fail me.

I am loved because...I have the unfailing compassion of Christ.

                                             _________________Introduction___________________________

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: What is Your Identity?

Every Person born into this world has had difficulty with identity at some time or another. All of us have struggled with our self-image. Many people spend a lifetime manipulating acceptance and attention from others, thinking that they are building an indestructible tower of self-worth. Yet brick by brick, others fail us, and expectations falter. Meanwhile, they miss the vision God truly has of them and the immense value He places on them. However, the steps, we need to have a knowledge of what is meant by IDENTITY.

     Have you ever asked, Who am I? Where am I going? Do you feel you have little purpose or worth? How essential it is for you to arrive at an accurate conclusion to these questions in order to experience the fullest meaning and purpose for your life!

     Realize that your IDENTITY ultimately determines your worth and your destination. In a very sense, if I were to enter a bank, step up to a teller and say, "May I have $100?" the teller would ask for my name and account number. If I could not provide this information and I continued to request money, I would receive nothing but directions to the front door! However, knowing there are resources in my name, regardless of who placed them there, as long as I provide the teller with my name and account number, I can quickly receive the cash requested. My identity definitely determines my worth and my ability to draw upon that reserve.

     Where am I going? How can you answer this question? Some time ago I was flying from Atlanta to Dallas. I arrived at the airport with time to spare before the final boarding call. I made a quick phone call to my mom, using the extra time I thought I had. When I began to board, I was told they had started assigning seats for standby passengers and that I was to check in at the main desk. There was the possibility my seat may have been given to someone else! My heart raced as I approached the agent at the desk and handed him my ticket. Would I be allowed to get home? A silent eternity passed as he scanned a computer screen for the official flight passenger list. He checked for my name, saw it and said with a smile, "Yes, you are on this flight. You may board the plane." You see, my identity was directly linked to the destination of that plane.

     Much more critical is our identity it terms of ultimate worth and eternal destination There are two different "identities" or "families" for all human beings. There are those who are in Adam and those who are in Christ. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (Corinthians 15:21-22). The question is: to which of these two families do you belong? Your personal identification with one of these families will determine your characteristics and your inheritance.

     Our physiological characteristics are determined by our biological families. When I was a freshman in college, my roommate was Josephine Eng from Hong Kong. She had straight black hair, dark brown eyes, a dark complexion, flatten features and a small frame. I had curly blond hair, green eyes, fair complexion, angular features and a large frame. As much as I appreciated Josephine, I could never possess her characteristics. Simply put, I couldn't have Eng characteristics unless I had been born into the Eng family. Likewise, when we were born into the "Adam" family, we inherited characteristics from his family line.

     Since Adam made the choice in the Garden of Eden not to obey God, he and all his descendants are identified with sin. This heart of independence is basic nature that we have all inherited. Psalm 51:5 says, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Consequently, our natural inclination is to sin because we are born into Adam's family.

     However, since God made it possible for us to change families, we are enabled to have a new identity...a new nature! You can be adopted into a family of Christ and become "a child of God." You lose your identity in Adam and receive your identity in Christ. You now have new characteristics. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your old natural sin nature is supernaturally changed for a new divine nature. A consequence of this new identity is a new worth based on the abundant resources placed into your personal account. A second consequence is a new destination throughout eternity where you will forever be secure in the presence of God.

     Precious one, how God desires that you receive all that He provides! The struggle with low self-worth can actually be replaced with godly self-worth when you are in Christ. But in order for you to have the characteristic of Christ, you must be in a different family. Has that change become a reality for you? If not, on the authority of the Word of God you can become a child of God. John 1:12 says, "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

     If you desire this new relationship with God through Christ, you may pray this prayer:

     Lord, I admit that many times I have chosen wrong. I know I've sinned, and I'm asking You to      forgive me for my sins. I now want to become a child of God. I'm asking that Jesus Christ come into my life to be my Savior and Lord. I yield my will to His will. And I thank You for whatever He wants to make of me. In Christ's name I pray. Amen

In fullest humility, you can thank God for His heart's desire to move you into a new family--His family. How extraordinary--every child of God genuinely has a new worth, a new destination and a new identity! Now...begin to see yourself through God's eyes!

Your New Life in Christ

"For as in Adam all die...

In Adam

Old creature                2 Corinthians 5:17

Unrepentant heart        Romans 2:5

Slave to sin                  Romans 6:6

Death                           Romans 6:23

Powerless                    Romans  5:6

Enemies of God           Romans 5:10

Condemned                 Romans 5:6

Slave                           Galatians 4:7

Slave to impurity          Romans 6:19

Poverty                        2 Corinthians 8:9

Accused                       Colossians 1:22

Under law                    Romans 6:14
Under judgment           Romans 5:16

Under a curse               Galatians 3:13

Under wrath                 Ephesians 2:3

In darkness                  Ephesians 5:8

...so in Christ all will be made alive."

In Christ

New creature               2 Corinthians 5:17

New heart                    Ezekiel 36:26

Free from sin               Romans 6:7

Life                              Romans 6:22

Strength                       Philippians 4:13

Reconciled to God       Romans 5:10

No condemnation        Romans 8:1

Son                              Galatians 4:7

Slave to righteousness  Romans 6:19

Riches                          2 Corinthians 8:9

Blameless                     Colossians 1:22

Under grace                  Romans 6:14

Justified                        Romans 5:16

Redeemed from curse   Galatians 3:13

Free from wrath            Romans 5:9

In the light                     Ephesians 5:8 

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plan to prosper you and not to harm you,  plans to give you hope and a future."

Author June Hunt

Check out 'Hope For The Heart's' website, for more information. 

The Wise Woman and the Foolish Woman

This morning, I began to consider Proverbs 14:1 which says, “Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish pluck it down with her hands.” And to reflect on the wise woman verses the foolish woman. This passage contrasts two women who were both “stay-at-home” types. However, only one is praised for her virtue.

The Wise Woman

First, the wise woman will build her home. She will garnish it with the grace of feminine beauty suitable to the admiration of both sexes. She will adorn it with the flowers of fair speech, kindly intuition, and gracious acts of mercy. She may not have much in terms of material possessions, but she is thrifty and builds upon what she already has. Or, if she is wealthy, she gives much of it away for the service of God and to be used to build His kingdom. She adds to the family economy by working “willingly with her hands.” She fixes mementos in her home by making memories out of her speech, which is “the law of kindness.” It is her portrait that is seen when a stray thought returns to her home. Her husband may be grand, or less esteemed in the world’s eyes, but she builds him up in love, respect, and affection, calling him lord. She shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of his house. Her society may be disagreeable or pleasurable, but she does all that she can to benefit the downtrodden and needy. She does not shame, but builds and restores that which is broken within and without. And, to all, she is careful not to show impatience or impolite behavior. The woman who builds her house lays it with her very life, her health, and her strength. She willingly lays down her life so that others around her may flourish. Her pleasure is gained by seeing others edified and cared for.

The Foolish Woman

In opposition, the foolish woman will be the one that pulls down with her hands what she does have. That which she alone has been entrusted with to cultivate, nurture, and beautify, she destroys. With crass words, complaining lips, and a murmuring spirit, she finds discontentment in everything. Her work is to chase vanity and to imitate vain people. Rather than work on her home (her very heart) she lets the thorns of bitterness encapsulate the life pulses of love and tenderness. Mark that woman! And, approach not unto her home to learn her ways. She will continue to sink lower and lower as her foundations crumble. Eventually, she will have nothing left. She who pulls it down, uses others to gratify her own desires. Her pleasure is mounted on the displeasures and discomforts of others.

Let us, as Reforming Women, strive to be those who build up their houses.

Repentance to God and man may be a daily thing as it is with me!

You may always wonder whether you will gain the mastery over your spirit.

You may cry every day “Help me God to do what’s right.”
God sees you and he knows you.

He will comfort you so that you can comfort others. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

A house is not built except one stone at a time.

Even what has been torn down can be rebuilt for service to God!

Let’s get building
the home God has given
each of us to cultivate!

What Are Strongholds?

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

            Today a walled city is mostly outdated, modern warfare has made the walls useless.  Airplanes have taken away any advantage the walls can provide.  However, even before aircraft,  the development of the cannon demonstrated the days of walled cities were limited. Cannons allowed attackers to pulverize walls with artillery, causing the walls to crumble. Artillery also shocked the inhabitants inside the walls, who never faced anything like it before.  The smashing artillery caused a quick surrender of its inhabitants; therefore, the cannon caused the walled stronghold to cease.   

            In history strongholds played a vital role, no army could successfully defeat an opponent and let their stronghold stand within conquered territory.   One of the main objectives of armies were to remove strongholds within conquered territory.  We as the Lord’s army need to take notice, of the objective to remove strongholds. Like conquerors of old, we need to target the spiritual strongholds of our enemy, Satan.

            Mehmett II demonstrated this point in 1453, with the fall of Constantinople.  He hired the famous Hungarian gunsmith Urban to construct cannons whose size was unheard of before.  With these cannons, he was able to pound the walls of Constantinople, also known as ancient Byzantium.  Over a thousand years before Mehmett II, Constantine created Constantinople (Byzantium) as the capital city, of the Eastern Roman Empire in 330. 

            Constantinople was a stronghold, the seat of Byzantine Christianity for more than 1100 years, now it became the seat of Islamic power.  The Muslim ruler changed the name from Constantinople to Istanbul.  From this city, Mehmett II planned to advance his kingdom throughout Europe and the Middle East, establishing world empire, he died before he could succeed.   

            The history of Constantinople allows us to illustrate the meaning of the term “strongholds”, which Paul refers to both directly and indirectly.  

What is a stronghold? 

            Strongholds are an ancient part of human history, as populations of earth multiplied they formed communities called cities. People soon realized living in the open allowed you to become a victim to the fallen nature.  Invading or marauding people would attack unsuspecting or defenseless cities, taking goods and people.

            Putting walls around your settlement, with a gate, gave the inhabitants a source of protection and control, since the walls needed to breached, before contact made.  The better the defense, the more secure the inhabitants.  Soon builders of walled cities realized, walls also make good offense, because it allowed an army a secure base of operations.  An army could rest and relax between offensive campaigns.  The more secure the location, the more effective and powerful the force within.

            A city with strong walls and secure location, usually a hilltop or mountain would be able grow in stature and power enriching its inhabitants.  As the city prospered, it could then begin to exert control on the surrounding cities and villages, which were less secure.  Soon the city would become known as a city-states, examples of these city-states are Babylon, Nineveh, Damascus, Rome, Carthage and others too numerous to list.  Eventually some of these city-states became nations; some would become empires, like Rome and Assyria.  This was a common occurrence throughout the earth, as humanity spread following the days of Noah.  The importance of the walled city would diminish as technology became more pervasive.  Nonetheless, the picture of the walled city or fortress was known as a stronghold. 

            Strongholds were points, which were hard to defeat, because of their design, walls, located on a hilltop, along with the offensive capabilities of an army within.  The army could launch attacks, and then retreat to the safety of its walled city.    Thus, their point of operation became a “strong hold”.  This picture of the physical stronghold is used to also represent the spiritual stronghold.  Spiritual strongholds are represented in scripture, in the same way as physical ones.  They are points of operation, where attacks are waged on outlying areas.  The become points of offensive operations, which are hard to remove, unless concerted effort is made to remove them.

            Spiritually speaking, Paul defines strongholds as an “argument or high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”.  A stronghold is a point of operation from where Satan can keep the unbeliever captive or the believer incapacitated. See 2^nd Corinthians below. 

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

Israel an example of war 

            Waging war in the spiritual realms illustrates events in the physical.  Israel entering the Promised Land is an illustration of the faithful entering the land of promise and rest.  We see from Israel’s example, a nation, who because of unbelief was not able to receive the promises of God, because they lacked faith.  Only when they believed, could they enter, but the faithless generation was kept out. In the same way today, many “born-again saints” fail to receive the blessings promised because of disbelief.  We do not believe God is strong enough, to overcome the strongholds in our life.

            Before Israel was to enter the Promised Land, Moses had the nation of Israel send out 12 spies, into the land to see what the cities were like, including if there were any stronghold in the land (Numbers 13:19). 

17 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, 18 "and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; 19 "whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; 
Numbers 13:17-19 

            The twelve spies returned and reported what they saw; we get two different perspectives from the spies. Ten spies reported the land was too strong to take, cites were fortified (Strongholds) and large, the inhabitants were giants, according to the 10-spies. 

27 Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 "Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 "The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan." Numbers 13:27-29 

            Caleb and Joshua rejected the view of the 10-spies; they saw God as capable of giving them victory over the giants and strongholds of the land. The ten spies rejected Caleb plea, restating the hopeless situation of the nation found itself.   All hope was lost; the nation would need to find a leader to take them back to Egypt. 

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we."  Numbers 13:30-31 

            You could almost see the struggle, the faithful minority versus the faithless majority.  The people were so defeated and faithless in God’s ability they would have stoned Moses, Joshua and Caleb if the Lord did not intervene (Numbers 14).  They were planning to go back to Egypt after they selected a leader. The Lord would have destroyed the faithless generation, but Moses interceded. God instead allowed the generation of faithless Israel to wander the deserts of Sinai and die there.  We must remember, this rebellion follows the miracles of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, and their seeing God’s presence leading them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. 

            Israel’s plight illustrates a point, when we reject God’s promises because of unbelief; we end up wandering in a wilderness, because we refuse to take God at His word. This is the reason we need to put on the whole armor of the God.  Joshua and Caleb were able to see victory despite the strongholds in the Promised Land.  Joshua and Caleb were wearing God’s armor, as opposed to the 10-spies.  They were willing to wage war on the Canaanite cities, because they new it was not them, but the Lord who would give them victory.   

Wearing the Armor of God 

            Israel sets the example for the faithful; within the nation were two groups, those who believed the Lord and those who did not.  Because of the unbelief of the majority, the nation was forced to wander in the dusty and rocky Sinai desert for 40-years.  We (the saved), grafted into the covenant of Israel, should take notice, why did Israel fail to enter the land?  Was it because God was unfaithful? No, it was because the people would not trust Him.  Why did Israel tremble in fear at Goliath, and David boldly want to fight? In both cases, the faithful trusted the Lord, Joshua and Caleb saw God open the Red Sea, they saw Him in the cloud and fire, they knew their God.  David too, knew his God; He was more then capable of giving David victory (I Samuel 17). 

            Before the battle took place in the field, it was in the mind.  The minds of the 10-spies were controlled by fear.  The army of Israel before the Philistine Goliath, a giant, was defeated in the mind, before on arrow flew. The battle began in the mind, just as it does for us. 

            The armor of God gives us the ability to be victors in the battle of the mind.   Putting on the full armor of God, allows us to stand against the schemes of Satan, whose goal is to pin the faithful to the ground.   

            Here we stand, God’s warriors about to enter battle, how are we to wage war?  First, we must remember Paul’s instructions, we need to put on the full armor God, having done that, we need to make the conscious decision to stand.  We need to choose to stand, as opposed to being taken down by our opponent Satan.

            We must prepare for battle, in the spiritual war; our objective should always be victory through the Lord’s strength, not our own power.  Look in verse 10 and 11 of Ephesians, what is the key to success? 

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10-12 

The key to Joshua, Caleb and David was their reliance on the Lord’s ability, His power and might. They were strong in the Lord.  In verses 10 and 11, our part is to make a conscious effort.  Verse 10 tells us, be strong, verse 11, says put on. Are you willing to move forward in battle trusting the Lord? 

Preparing to assault strongholds: Spying out the land

            Using Israel as our example, what was their first action before they entered the promise land? Moses told them to spy out the land, to survey it, locate the stronghold.  We need to do the same; we need to locate places where the enemy has strongholds in our life.  Remember our battle is not physical but spiritual.   In Ephesians 6:10-18, only two pieces of the armor are offensive in nature, what are they? They are the sword (vs. 17) and prayer.  In describing the armor, many times people stop at verse 17, but verse 18 is just as much a part of the armor.  

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18 

The sword of the Lord, the word of God and Prayer are offensive weapons against the strongholds, which allows Satan to keep people captive. With these two weapons, we can take the offensive, rather then being defensive.  We can pursue our strongholds, to pull them down.  We need to enter the battle wearing our armor, prepared to assault the stronghold with our sword and prayer.

Looking back at Israel, the first generation of the Exodus failed to enter the land of promise, however the next generation, now led by Joshua did not fail.  Because they believed, they prepared for battle against the stronghold of Jericho.  The Lord Himself led the battle as the commander of Lord’s hosts; Joshua was merely to follow orders (Joshua 5).  They succeeded; Jericho fell because the nation obeyed the Lord (Joshua 6). However, the next battle was not so successful, because the nation disobeyed; the stronghold of Ai was able to defeat the armies of Israel (Joshua 7).  Why could a little stronghold defeat Israel?  The nation sinned, when Achan of Judah took garments from Jericho, he violated God’s command and the whole nation suffered, falling to the stronghold of Ai.

            Take a personal inventory of your life. What areas of your life cause you to fail?  Like faithful Joshua and Caleb, we need to spy out the land. We need to determine where Satan’s strongholds are.  Our goal is to enter the “Promised Land” of God’s promises.  The issue here is not salvation, but victorious Christian living (See chart at the bottom). In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-28), the seed is sowed on different types of soil, in the end, the abundant crop comes from good ground. Why did the good soil produce a fruitful crop?  Good ground was clear of those things, which prevented growth.  In the parable, the weeds, stones and thistles, choked off the seed (word) planted by the sower (Jesus). Jesus describes the weeds as the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. 

"But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."  Matthew 13:23 

Jesus tells us the key to bearing an abundant crop in this life requires we 

• Hear the word
• Understand the word
• Bear fruit

      Satan does not want us to bear fruit, his goal is to defeat us, and prevent us from having fruit.  The strongholds are points of operation, allowing Satan to maintain power over us. 

      Only through the Lord’s power will we be able to be break free from Satan’s control.  We have no power from within or without, except for the Lord.  God’s word reveals the control of Satan in our lives, through strongholds.  Satan uses these strongholds to launch attacks on us.  Therefore, we need to identify where these stronghold are, and remove them.  Just like an ancient army first had to remove strongholds, to hold the land, we need to do the same. 

Identifying your strongholds

• Adultery
• Jealousies
• Hatred
• Idolatry
• Heresies
• Murders 

            Wearing the armor of God, prepares us for battle, we need to identify just where our strongholds are located.  Paul in several portions of scripture identifies specific areas, where the flesh is opposed to the spirit.  The scripture below lists areas or strongholds where Satan can wage war.  Therefore, we need to identify these strongholds in our own life.   How does Satan continue to cause us to fall?  What area of our life gives him the ability to wage war with us?  Read the scriptures below, can you identify your strongholds?

1.____________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________

4.____________________________________________________________

5.____________________________________________________________

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Ephesians 4:17-19 

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Colossians 3:5-10 

20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21 

            Once we begin to identify the strongholds, we need to wage war against them.  Paul describes the type of warfare the Spiritual warrior is to engage in.

            For example, Satan had a stronghold in my life (the author); he made me think money was the only way to have friends, power or value.  Therefore, from the age of 15, I remember making a concerted promise to gain wealth, so I could master the world around me.  My whole life from that point was focused on money and power; I made it my god and idol.  Only after my idol was crushed in my early twenties did I out of desperation, seek to find truth.  Satan ruled over my life from his stronghold, from there, he was able to keep his hold on me; I was a bitter and angry person, who did not want to live. I found Christ and my life changed.  The strongholds of life still existed however, Satan was able to wage war with my thinking, causing me defeat and fear. Through scripture, I was able to make these thoughts captive to Christ.

            I learned from scripture the riches of this world were very temporary, that even if I was able to gain the whole world, I would be broke when I died.  Scripture revealed to me, true treasure was what you could keep forever.   The words of Jesus became instrument of spiritual warfare, Jesus said in Mark 8, 

35 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  Mark 8:35-36 

Therefore, every time Satan would whisper to my mind, the importance of great wealth and fame, I learned to quote this verse back. Soon I was able to wage war against this stronghold in my life, and claim victory, no longer trusting in earthly riches as my hope.  I soon learned to move on to other strongholds and areas where Satan would launch attacks. Like the armies of old, my goal was to claim territory from the enemy, I needed to assault his strongholds, and free the “Promised Land” from his control.   Once free from strongholds, I learned to rest in His promises. 

Waging war on your stronghold 

            In 2^nd Corinthians 10 verses 3 to 5, we are instructed on how to war against strongholds, where Satan launches his attacks. What can we learn from this portion of scripture about spiritual warfare? 

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

• The battle is not physical
• Our weapons are not physical
• Our weapons are able to pull down strongholds, arguments and high things
• The war is that which exalts against the knowledge of God (The Word)
• Victory is achieved by bringing every thought into captivity of obedience of Christ.

            We have two offensive weapons in this battle, one the sword of the Lord (God’s word) and two, prayer.  These are two mighty weapons, which allow us to pull down strongholds.  Our warfare is against that which is opposed to the knowledge of God.  The revelation of God’s word exposes these strongholds, for that reason it is important to combine God’s word, the sword with prayer to overcome these points of satanic power. 

            Satan knows if we are able to remove these strongholds, a mighty warrior will emerge.  His goal is to prevent the victorious spiritual warrior from taking the field.

Missionary Mary Slessor

The story of Mary Slessor's battle to bring the gospel
and civilization to the "Dark Continent."

The place is the Calabar River on the slave coast of Africa. The time is an afternoon in September 1876. A rusty ocean steamer is heading toward the mouth of the Calabar. This part of Africa is known as the White Man's Grave, and only a fool could come here without being afraid. The land a few miles from shore is unexplored. Killer elephants and lions, swarms of insects, witch doctors, and cannibals live there. To enter that land would mean death.

Life means little along the Calabar. Slavery is common and to kill a woman or a slave means nothing. If a family has too many children, they will just leave the unwanted child in the bushes to die. The birth of twins is thought to be an evil sign. Twin babies are cruelly murdered, and their mother is driven from her home to die in the jungle.

There is no respect for truth and honesty here. "Do right" would be a meaningless phrase, for these people do not understand what is right. The law of the jungle is "do whatever you can get away with." For this reason, people live their short lives in fear and filth.

The boat drops anchor well up the Calabar River beside a rough town. This is Duke Town. The mission station at Duke Town is the destination for the only woman traveling aboard the steamer. Mary Slessor is coming from Scotland to serve God in this harsh climate. A small boat from the mission comes alongside the steamer and takes her to shore.

Mary Slessor is 29 years old. She comes from a poor family. Her father was a drunkard, but her mother was a godly woman. Since she was 11, Mary has earned her living working in factories for twelve hours a day, six days a week. Despite these hard circumstances, she served God faithfully in Scotland, and the hardships have helped prepare her to serve Him now in Africa.

The Duke Town missionaries have had some success in the coastal regions. They have built a school, hospital, orphanage, and chapel at the station. Through their preaching and teaching they have been able to stop some of the worst heathen practices. The village leaders are beginning to realize that what they call "God-law" (the teachings from the Bible) makes sense. On any Sunday there are several hundred natives in services.

This was the situation when Mary Slessor began her work teaching in the mission station and visiting in the coastal and river villages. As soon as Mary could learn the local languages, she went without a translator. She was told that it was dangerous to travel alone, but she found that she could get to know the people better in this way.

The farther Mary traveled from the mission station, the greater needs she found. Mary told the natives the good news of Christ. She urged them to quit worshiping the skulls of dead men and not to be afraid of "evil spirits." The new missionary taught, "Do not kill the wives and slaves of a 'big man' when he dies. They cannot help him in the next life." She showed the women better ways to fix food and keep homes and children clean.

Sometimes at night Mary would lie awake on a dirt floor in some coastal village. "Oh Lord," she prayed, "I thank Thee that I can bring these people Thy Word. But Lord, there are other villages back in the jungle where no white man has gone. They need Jesus, too. Help me reach them!" Then, whenever she had an opportunity, she would ask another missionary or a native about her going to these villages. The answer was always the same: "No. You would be killed. They cannot be reached."

Her worst enemy was the tropical diseases which hit her so suddenly. There were many times when it seemed as though she were about to die, but she pulled through. It was a real temptation to forsake this unhealthy area and return to the cool mists of Scotland.

The Scottish missionary did go home on a short furlough, but she soon came back to Africa. She was thrilled to learn that she was now to be on her own at an outstation. Her new home was Old Town, some distance upriver from Duke Town.

Her first view of Old Town was of a human skull swinging from a pole in front of the town meeting house. Each hut had its own little gods. Mary's "home" was a mud hut next to a trader.

Her days were full of treating sick, teaching the Bible, and visiting neighbors. Mary became known throughout the area for her wise, fair counsel. There was a Christian chief, King Eyo Honesty the Sixth, who often asked Mary for advice in dealing with white men. She, in turn, asked him for help in working with the natives.

Mary was successful in Old Town, but she was also deeply burdened for the remote Okoyong tribe that had never heard the gospel. How could she bring the love of Christ to these people as well? They valued only three things: guns to have power, chains to keep their slaves, and liquor to dull their minds. But God was leading her there, and Mary was willing to trust God to show her how to win these savage people to Christ.

Mary prayed for God's leading. At last, in June 1888, she quietly announced that she would go upriver alone and find a place to settle. "You will die. You will die," her friends told her. They wept at the prospect of her leaving.

King Eyo Honesty said that if she must go, he would send her as a "big person" in his own special canoe. It was the grandest canoe in all of Calabar. Mary accepted Eyo's offer and headed for the land of the Okoyong. The farther they went, the more her twenty paddlers wanted to turn back. They feared the Okoyong. But the Lord was with the group, and they arrived safely. The Lord had also prepared the heart of the chief of the first village they found. Mary was the first outsider ever allowed to live there. The chief also said that she could build a school.

This area was far more wicked than any Mary had seen. The people respected only vengeance and cruelty. To a people who did not know what love was, Mary brought the love of Christ.

This was a wild time for the missionary. Hardly a day went by without a serious crisis. Mary knew that she could not expect to change their lives immediately, but she could not merely stand back and watch these people do wrong. She got little rest and her health was bad. But she was always there when she was needed.

Whenever Mary heard of any trouble, she would rush to the scene. As she approached, the men would be preparing for war. They passed around liquor, danced, and yelled threats at the other side. They were in war paint, and their spears and shields glimmered in the sun. The skulls and scalps of earlier victims waved from poles.

Just as the two sides were about to rush together, they saw a small, seemingly calm woman standing on a log between them. "Out of the way, Ma. We fight!"

She ignored the shouting warrior.

"Out of the way. You die, too, white Ma. Move on!"

"Shoot if you dare!" she called back.

When the two sides came to remove this gray-haired obstacle, Mary knew that she had won. She would scold them as children, plead with them to show mercy, or suggest they move to the shade of a tree to talk. Mary knitted while they talked, and she got a lot of knitting done. After hours of talking the men were calmer and too tired to fight. They went home without bloodshed.

News of trouble might come too late for Mary to get there in time. If this happened, she would go to her table, pull out a fine piece of parchment, and quickly make big marks all over it. She then sealed this with wax and tied it with a great red ribbon. A runner sped this important document to where the fight was about to begin. Mary's scribbles were nothing but nonsense, but none of the Okoyong could read! The warriors would spend the day puzzling over the important piece of paper sent by the "white Ma." They would still be studying the document when Mary arrived in person to settle the dispute.

After a time, Mary realized that as long as the Okoyong had nothing else to do, they would get drunk, and drunkenness always led to fighting. "Perhaps," she thought, "if they knew there was something better, this would stop."

Mary displayed her nicest possessions: some cloth, a teapot, and an old sewing machine. The Okoyong liked what they saw. "You can have nicer things than this if you take the palm oil and yams to the traders," she told them.

"These things you have--very nice," said one chief. "But it is no good. Traders afraid to come here. No good for us to go to them. River gods kill us."

"I will go with you. You will be safe.

"No. Too much bad."

Mary told of the wonderful things down the river. Finally they agreed to go and loaded a canoe. The chiefs and warriors shook with fear as they set off towards Duke Town and Old Town.

King Eyo hosted a great feast for the visiting chiefs. He showed them the good things they could have if they gave up their old ways. He told them that the God of the "white Ma" was the true God. Eyo was kind to the poor, backward Okoyong chiefs. Before they left he gave them each presents, including some fine cloth. The Okoyong could hardly believe their good fortune.

As a result of these meetings, the Okoyong region was opened to outsiders. Mary had done what traders, soldiers, and diplomats had been unable to do for four hundred years. There was now a reason for honest work. This experience was a turning point in the life of the Okoyong people.

In time, many of the Okoyong would accept the gospel. Free of their pagan fears and drunkenness, they could now understand God's love for them. The idols disappeared from the villages and in their place small churches were built. A court system was established to settle disputes, and Mary was made the first judge.

Civilization came more quickly to the Okoyong than it did along the coastal regions. For hundreds of years the white traders along the coast had tried to force the natives to change. It was not until the gospel changed the people's hearts that real progress was made.

As for Mary, she felt a tug on her heart for the region beyond the Okoyong. Her converts in Okoyong protested, "We love you. They will kill you. Do not go." Mary loved the Okoyong people, just as she had loved the people of Old Town. But her call was, "Onward! I dare not look back."

Mary's reputation as a great and wise woman and as a fair and honest judge had gone before her into the land of the Azo, a dreaded cannibal tribe. At first the Azo people seemed to show little interest in her message, but soon many accepted Christ. Mary reported that there was one town that had two hundred converts. None of them could read, so she pleaded for pastors to come to instruct the new Christians.

In the time she had left, Mary did all she could. She walked the paths until she was too old and feeble. Some Scottish friends sent her a cart that could be used to pull her to the villages. They urged Mary to come to Scotland for a rest. She wanted to, but prayed instead that God would give her the strength to finish the job among the cannibals. Strength came and she worked faster and harder.

Two years later, in January 1915, the Lord took Mary home to be with Him.

A government boat was then sent to carry her body down the river to Duke Town. She was buried on a hillside by the mission station where she had first served.

The group which gathers on that cemetery is a testimony to the life Mary Slessor lived. There are high government officials who found they could trust this woman's advice. A dignified tribal chief, once a cannibal, stands there. He found the "white Ma" a faithful friend. There is a young man whom Mary nursed through a fever. Twins are there who would have been murdered at birth had she not come. As they look up from her grave to the land around them, they see a country that Mary Slessor claimed for Christ while standing on the deck of a rusty ocean steamer almost forty years before.

This land cannot be the same again, nor can they.

*Reprinted from FAITH for the Family (1977).
© Bob Jones University, www.bju.edu/faith. All rights reserved.
Used with permission.