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The Right Weapon for the Battle
Air Date: 2/25/21 - You don’t take a water gun to a real war. You don’t wear a snowsuit to the beach in summer. And, you don’t bring human weapons to a spiritual battle. Instead, Pastor Nat Crawford points you to the sword of the Spirit – the Bible – the right weapon for your daily battles.
Back to the Bible Presents: Nat Crawford
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Thank you for this message.
Thank you Pastor Nate for this encouragement for today and every day.
Thank you
Pastor Nat the last 30 seconds of your teachings today summed up The Full body of Armor of God! Pastor Nat here is my question to you. What is the difference between Spiritual battles and mental battles. Not sure if you knew or heard but I emailed Arnie because of an email he sent out. This is why I ask of you this question.
See for Spiritual battles I turn to vers
Isaiah 58:8
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
See Pastor Nat there is a big difference between these battles. Loosing my friend who was a Pastor, Loving Dad, Husband committed suicide. He was not alone as two others have as well. To same I'm fine when I'm not is wrong, to be honest and say I'm broken is letting The Truth be told.
When it comes to mental illness, we Christians haven’t historically been the best at reflecting grace, compassion and hope to those struggling. In our efforts to “encourage” our fellow Christians, sometimes we end up alienating those who need support the most. Oftentimes, this happens when we say things like:
Have you tried praying for God to take away your depression?
You wouldn’t be feeling this way if you were actually surrendering your anxiety to the Lord.
God never gives you more than you can handle.
Though these kinds of phrases can be well-intentioned, they often just come off as being judgmental. (And P.S. the last one isn’t even true — it’s just a platitude people say! God does give us more than we can handle, but he never gives us more than He can handle.)
And while we Christians certainly have room to grow in our responses to people struggling with mental illness, blessedly God has provided His Word to speak grace, compassion and hope when we are lacking.
Yet again this mental battle sometimes outweighs the truth of what God tells us. It is the evil one at hand no! For we all fall short of the Glory of God. There are verses I turn to when I need to remind myself of these mental battles.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
This verse reminds me God is with me not against me for He is The Overcomer!
Psalm 18:19
“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
“Through my battle with anxiety and depression, I find encouragement knowing God brought me through for no other reason than He delights in me.”
John 16:33
“‘I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’”
“We aren’t guaranteed a life without pain, but we have hope that He will make everything right again. Just because you’re struggling does not mean you’re doing something wrong or don’t have enough faith, it simply means you are fighting a mental battle not a spiritual battle.
Pastor Nat when you said I wish I could get into more of God's Full body of armor it hit me again. For when this happens to me or other's I try to hear Christ say rise up sleeper come out of that battle for I am with and for You...You belong to me and I belong to you.
I am sorry I posted this hear pastor Nat but I didn't know if I replied to the email sent for you it would reach You!
For for anyone who struggles with mental battles Psalm 91:11-12
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
It reminds me that God's Angeles are with us protecting us as He Promised.
Thank You Pastor Nat you have lifted me in comments you left for which keeps me rising up for Jesus.
See for Spiritual battles I turn to vers
Isaiah 58:8
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
See Pastor Nat there is a big difference between these battles. Loosing my friend who was a Pastor, Loving Dad, Husband committed suicide. He was not alone as two others have as well. To same I'm fine when I'm not is wrong, to be honest and say I'm broken is letting The Truth be told.
When it comes to mental illness, we Christians haven’t historically been the best at reflecting grace, compassion and hope to those struggling. In our efforts to “encourage” our fellow Christians, sometimes we end up alienating those who need support the most. Oftentimes, this happens when we say things like:
Have you tried praying for God to take away your depression?
You wouldn’t be feeling this way if you were actually surrendering your anxiety to the Lord.
God never gives you more than you can handle.
Though these kinds of phrases can be well-intentioned, they often just come off as being judgmental. (And P.S. the last one isn’t even true — it’s just a platitude people say! God does give us more than we can handle, but he never gives us more than He can handle.)
And while we Christians certainly have room to grow in our responses to people struggling with mental illness, blessedly God has provided His Word to speak grace, compassion and hope when we are lacking.
Yet again this mental battle sometimes outweighs the truth of what God tells us. It is the evil one at hand no! For we all fall short of the Glory of God. There are verses I turn to when I need to remind myself of these mental battles.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
This verse reminds me God is with me not against me for He is The Overcomer!
Psalm 18:19
“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
“Through my battle with anxiety and depression, I find encouragement knowing God brought me through for no other reason than He delights in me.”
John 16:33
“‘I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’”
“We aren’t guaranteed a life without pain, but we have hope that He will make everything right again. Just because you’re struggling does not mean you’re doing something wrong or don’t have enough faith, it simply means you are fighting a mental battle not a spiritual battle.
Pastor Nat when you said I wish I could get into more of God's Full body of armor it hit me again. For when this happens to me or other's I try to hear Christ say rise up sleeper come out of that battle for I am with and for You...You belong to me and I belong to you.
I am sorry I posted this hear pastor Nat but I didn't know if I replied to the email sent for you it would reach You!
For for anyone who struggles with mental battles Psalm 91:11-12
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
It reminds me that God's Angeles are with us protecting us as He Promised.
Thank You Pastor Nat you have lifted me in comments you left for which keeps me rising up for Jesus.
2 replies
Joey, you are right. There are mental illnesses that are driven by many factors: chemical imbalances, abuse, lifestyle choices, etc. Those are real issues. Is there a spiritual component? I do believe so. But when there are metal battles brought on by those scenarios previously mentioned, you can and should do more.
Here is the link to an interview I did with philosopher JP Moreland about his battle with mental illness. His approach is well-rounded.
https://backtothebible.app/library/back-to-the-bible/hard-questions-podcast/episode-30-overcoming-anxiety-and-depression-with-dr-jp-moreland/akTbhU5EvEK
Here is the link to an interview I did with philosopher JP Moreland about his battle with mental illness. His approach is well-rounded.
https://backtothebible.app/library/back-to-the-bible/hard-questions-podcast/episode-30-overcoming-anxiety-and-depression-with-dr-jp-moreland/akTbhU5EvEK
Omg... I can so relate. I have struggled with depression and severe anxiety my entire life. I'm about to be 50. So that is a long time. I have prayed for God to take my anxiety away.. prayed that if perhaps I had more faith it would happen. Felt guilt, shame. Always trying to hide my anxiety.
Then I was like.. well God created me.. he must have given me this anxiety for a reason. The last 2 years I have really been into getting to know Jesus better. Reading the Bible, reading devotionals, memorizing scripture. In fact I just wrote down Jeremiah 29:11. For it keeps coming up in my life.... so it's one I think I need to memorize.
I suppose my point is, that throughout all this...I have learned to trust Jesus more. I have prayed more. I have tried to deepen my relationship with him... and it does seem to make a difference.
So maybe that is why God gave me so much anxiety.. he wants me to run to him and rely on him, and trust in him.
Then I was like.. well God created me.. he must have given me this anxiety for a reason. The last 2 years I have really been into getting to know Jesus better. Reading the Bible, reading devotionals, memorizing scripture. In fact I just wrote down Jeremiah 29:11. For it keeps coming up in my life.... so it's one I think I need to memorize.
I suppose my point is, that throughout all this...I have learned to trust Jesus more. I have prayed more. I have tried to deepen my relationship with him... and it does seem to make a difference.
So maybe that is why God gave me so much anxiety.. he wants me to run to him and rely on him, and trust in him.
Great message! Thank you.