Less of Me, More of He

Saturday I am speaking at a women's conference in Williamsburg. I am excited, prepared, and ready. But I am also fighting a cold. I woke up yesterday with a sore throat. Today I just feel tired and a bit achy. As I think back to each time I have a speaking engagement, something like this always comes up.

The first time I ever spoke, my oldest had the throw up bug, and I left with great concern about her. Once I pulled a muscle in my back, and another time my computer crashed! At first I chalked it up to spiritual warfare. And it could be. But today I had another thought.

Today as I told someone I wasn't feeling "100 percent," a whisper came to my heart.  "Good," said God, "Less of you means more of Me." When I am weak, He is strong! If I were to go speak feeling 100%, I would think that I did a great job. But when I come to the table empty, tired, broken, down, and people still are moved, then I cannot dispute that it was Jesus, not me!

So though I'm under the weather, and not myself, I am peaceful. Because less of me, means more of Jesus. 

{The Lord said,} "My power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

How Losing 10 Lbs Prepared Me for Spiritual Battle

I recently lost 10 pounds. It was not easy. There were lots of times I felt hungry. There were yummy treats I didn't eat. But each time I made a good decision my confidence boasted and made me stronger to make another good decision.

I also decided that I would exercise a minimum of 15 minutes daily during my weight loss program. I hate exercising! But I would drag myself to do it, mentally saying, "I hate this!" throughout the program. Then a strange thing happened. The other day as I started exercising and my mind started thinking of quitting (as I always do), I realized that the thought of not exercising was worse than the thought of exercising. My will had beaten my flesh, and now I desired the exercise. 

Losing weight is not a spiritual battle. So how will it help me to fight a spiritual temptation? I am confident that my will is stronger than my flesh now. When I come to a spiritual battle, a true battle of the flesh, temptations, my will can confidently and boldly stand firm, with the help of God. I know my will has beaten my flesh before, and that it can again.

What spiritual battles, or battles of the flesh, are you fighting today? Will you boldly command your flesh to obey your will? Will you fight with the spirit of self-discipline that God gave you?  Nothing is impossible with God on our side. Stand firm against the devil. With God's spirit and a strong self will - you can stand firm. You have a spirit of power - empower it! 

 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

 Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com