S.W.A.T.

 

          These words have been playing through my mind over the past several days and I felt compelled to put them on paper. In a day and age of promiscuity and indifference, we as a Christian society are now more than ever yoked with a great responsibility. The S.W.A.T. acronym above normally stands for Special Weapons and Tactics, a law enforcement unit designed wholly to go out and utilize their rigorous training and skills in the most dangerous of incidents and occurences. These officers are highly trained and are required to maintain the peak level of physical fitness and mental agility. We as Christians should have several things in common with the officers of S.W.A.T.  throughout the United States.

 

          In this case the acronym S.W.A.T. , as taken from Bob Larsen, stands for Spiritual Warfare and Training. This is a very true re-wording of the Law Enforcement acronym. We are consistently in a bout of Spiritual Warfare and should always be training ourselves to be in top physical, mental, emotional and spiritual shape to go to war with the principalities and powers of this world.

 

          How can you go into any fight without being prepared and in shape to do so. There are several different elements of this battle, a few of which are named above, as well as several which I could very well sit here and type forever and not encompass. The methods of which we as a Christian Society and People, can employ, are just as numerous. 

 

          We have to maintain our mental fitness along with physical and spiritual fitness by a proper and steady diet of prayer, God’s Word, and a life exemplifying that of Christ the Savior. The regimen is a strenous, ardous journey of prayer reading and the daily ingestion of God’s Spirit.

 

          1. The exercise regimen starts with rising early and proceeding to kneel on the floor and with hands folded together and pray to our Lord thanking him for all the gifts we receive. For all things great and small deserve the greatest praise that we can give.

 

          2. The next step is to begin a long walk, a walk in Christ, for the next 8-10 hours until we are ready to slumber once again. Even then we are not yet able to lie down to rest after our long walk. We still have to bed our children and lead them in earnest to kneel to the floor and with hands folded and eyes closed give thanks for everything that has come our way this day. Then we must proceed to our place of prayer, as the spiritual leader of my home, I begin to pray until tears are flowing from the eyes of my beautiful wife and are trying to flow from mine.

 

          3. Then we end the day as weary warriors and soldiers and members. Last but not least we, as S.W.A.T.  team members, are required to get our rest so we can began our journey in earnest again at the next morn’s arrival.

  

          There are several questions I put to you, as fellow team members. What kind of physical, spiritual and/or mental conditioning are you in? Do you believe you are in good enough shape to combat our adversary? What things can you do to improve your conditioning and ability to handle your everyday walk? What do you do daily to improve/maintain your spiritual, physical and mental well being? What place does the Lord hold in your life? When were you saved? What things do you do to maintain your walk and closeness with Christ? If you were to die today, do you believe you would go to heaven? Would you give your life up for your faith in God and Christ our Savior? If someone put a gun to your face, knowing if you admitted you were a Christian, you would die, what would you do?  

            In your life as well as mine, there have been many transgressions and arenas in which we fall short of the grace of God. We are by no means perfect creatures, and we will stumble and fall.  

            What have been the shortcomings and stumblings in your life?” What have you/will you do to prevent or deter recurrence of the same errors? Will you give your life up and become a fellow member of a very elite unit, one with very stringent requirements, but anyone is eligible for membership and inclusion. All that is required is to ask, if you want to be a member of the S.W.A.T team, it is really simple, just repeat aloud the following words and bingo, you have done it. That part is the easy part, now comes the hard part. Read the instructions above for the fitness regimen, I will give you a brief synopsis of the regimen: Prayer and Bible reading daily, pray consistently and with fervor, praise him whenever you are thinking about it, give thanks for the little things as well as the big things.  

            I have a few verses that will hopefully lead you to the path of righteousness that both ends and begins at the feet of Jesus.

 

Matthew 7:13,14:   Enter through the narrow gate. For the wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and anrrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it.

 

Matthew 4:1-11      Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, It is written: “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “ throw yourself down. For it is written: “ He will command his angels concerning you, and the will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of  the world and their splendor. “ All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said unto him, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: “ Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”  

            Well, this ends my lengthy weeks worth of thought, so we would be glad to hear your thoughts and comments also whatever they might be. Remember that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and as for me and my house WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. The end is near and there is not much time left, the book of Revelations is being carried out. If there is any doubt as to the veracity of that statement, read the book of Revelation and then tell me if you want to be around for the Great Tribulation. I as well as my family will be on our way to see our heavenly father God, so consider this an invite to join us in the rapture. We look forward to seeing you in Heaven. Thank your for taking the time to listen and read my God Inspired thoughts, these thoughts have been recurring all week and in my mind could be nothing else. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Joe, Leslie, Jacob, Sarah, Robbi and Haley

 

The Daniels Family  

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