LOCKED OUT
I’d like you to pray for us when you get up, eat lunch, and go to bed. I have a list of what we will be doing at those times and prayer needs. Email me and I’ll send a copy. For a copy with less details (for security reasons) go to the India web site http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/. Click on TRIPS, then 2017, then PRAYER REQUESTS 2017. Or use the following link: http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/trips/2016-2/prayer-requests-for-2016/ Thanks so much for your prayers – they mean more to us than you can know!
We’ve lived in our current home for over 35 years. We’ve raised 6 children of our own and had 12 others stay for various periods of time. My father lived with us for awhile as well. It’s a 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath home. So we’ve really filled it up and storage has been at a premium. We have a small space under the back of our house for access to pipes but it has served us well for storage for various odds and ends over the years. To make sure it is secure we put a latch and lock on it. All we had at the time was an old padlock without a key. Even if we would have had a key it wouldn’t close. But when we put it on the door as if was closed and locked no one could tell the difference from the sidewalk. At first glance it seems our storage area is securely locked so why bother trying to get in? No one has tried, for if they would have tried they’d have found the lock didn’t work at all!
Every time I open and close that lock I have to smile and shake my head – it reminds me so much of how Satan deceives us into thinking God’s blessings and victories are locked away from us. He has us thinking we are weak, undeserving, not worthy or that God just isn’t able to produce. It’s no different in India than in the USA or anywhere else. We give Satan and sin more power than he has because believe we can’t break the chains he has locked us in. However when we approach them through the blood of Jesus we find they have no power to hold us and we can easily open them and be free.
Revelation 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Where are you being defeated in your Christian life? Where do you need victory but end up in defeat? Do you believe you will never be free and live in victory?
What does it seem is locked away from you, even though God promises it and others experience it? Do you think peace and joy will never be yours? Believe that God unconditionally loves you as much as everyone else and wants what is best for you. Trust Him to provide all you need. Cover your doubt and discouragement with the blood of Jesus as live faithfully for Him. He’ll open all the doors He has for you in His time.
INDIA UPDATE: We leave for India tomorrow. Our flight leaves Philadelphia at 9:15 PM. We arrive in Hyderabad at 7 PM Wednesday your time, 5:30 AM local time in India. It is a long, tiring trip with much waiting and siting, but a lot of walking, security checks, waiting in lines, etc. It culminates with entry through customs into India. I’ve heard of numerous Christians being denied entry because of suspicion they are there to minister.
PRAY FOR us to get good rest today and tonight, have a safe time traveling, and that God send His angels to open all the doors so we can smoothly and easily pass through. Pray especially this would happen at customs in India. Pray that all Satan’s ‘locks’ would be broken open before we arrive. Thanks!
Jerry Schmoyer
Christian Training Organization
india.christiantrainingonline.org/