Tag Archives: Struggle
The Conflict with the Beast Within
We tiptoe quietly around, afraid to wake the beast
He lies quietly sleeping, his power unreleased
Carefully hidden lying deep in the dark hearts of men
The anointing, a legacy, a dormant strength within
Stand tall
Stand straight
Be bold, be courageous
In moments we quietly shrink, in condemning fear
When the true path quietly lays before us ever so clear
Silently we slink around the throne of our hearts
Forgotten from where our true power comes
Actors bound in chains we forsake our destined parts
Stand tall
Stand straight
Be bold, be courageous
We quietly fear the unrestrained strength
The powerful emotions, the uncontrolled lust
For deep inside the small dark place in our hearts
Is where the beast resides in each of us
Stand tall
Stand straight
Be bold, be courageous
Moments try to define us for a lifetime
Feeling we are left with nothing left to fight
From deep inside out of eternity passed
Into the dark shines the source of all light.
Stand tall
Stand straight
Be bold, be courageous
For in each heart resides this nature
The conflict we all in this life must bear
And yet this which dwells so deep
With love is defeated when we dare
~Mark Schutter ©2016
The passage below was the inspiration for this poem, which talks about the war between good and evil that wages within each of us.
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ~Romans 7:15-18 (NASB)
Sin is a deadly beast that resides within each of us. We have the power of Christ and yet, we tiptoe around afraid of sin. We struggle to win the battle within, while the enemy condemns us and we believe his lies. Yet, as Paul writes it is not us, but sin which lives in us that is the problem. We are sons and daughters of the King and we need not fear the beast, but rise up and fight, for God loves and delights in us! Remember “you matter and have been redeemed!”
This post was inspired by Neil Vermillion and written at his urging. Be sure to visit his site for more inspiration and daily prophetic words, you won’t be disappointed.
Climbing Out of the Abyss
Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness! And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous. For the enemy has persecuted my soul ; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart is appalled within me.
~Psalm 143:1-4 (Prayer for Deliverance and Guidance)
The words above capture how I feel in spite of the many uplifting and hopeful blogs about new years resolutions and goals. The abyss of anxiety and depression is a deep cavern of dark indecision and self-loathing that many, including I, have journeyed through. The black surrounds, while a thousand voices are screaming in your head without a sound. The angst is like a velvet fog, soft and thick covering everything, greying the colors of life while your heart is heavy. The abyss beckons continuously, promising a false comfort or as CS Lewis said “the sweet poison of the false infinite.”
Life is…, not what was hoped and planned for
Life is…, the truths we believe about our experiences
Life is…, living, learning, loving and letting go
Fate conspires to break your heart and healing only comes once you are broken. A thousand steps forward only to find yourself sliding slowly backwards as if drawn by an invisible force. Reaching, grasping, clawing to the edge of the abyss. The struggle is exhausting and seems so endless at times.
Looking up, looking out, looking forward to the light, away from the dark. To begin anew from here, right where you are, taking one small step of faith. Trusting and believing in a God who cares and is bigger than our troubles. To accept the gift of love, to begin the journey anew and begin climbing out of the abyss. ~Maleko ©2013
