This word is submitted by Bill Hardaway [wkent1954@aol.com]

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                       Rise Up And Follow Me

Do not be deceived by the spiritual forces of darkness coming against 
you, for greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. You 
can count on experiencing trials and troubles while you are in this 
world, so why are you surprised when they happen?

You are in a spiritual battle, so you will come under attack. At times,
you will doubt if you will prevail. Put your faith in Me, and in My great 
love for you. Of course, you do not have enough strength on your own to 
defeat the enemy and his army of darkness that is coming against you. 
Come to Me and admit the truth.

Now, let's rise above that which now troubles you and move on. 

Do you think that it was easy for Me when I walked on this earth? I was 
in a foreign body, surrounded by those who truly did not understand the 
purpose for which I was sent. I was opposed and eventually put to death
even though I did nothing wrong. Yes, I knew the enemy would use those 
whom I was sent to save to kill Me. 

Did I not sweat as though they were great drops of blood, while My 
disciples slept? I had to watch Peter deny Me three times, and I saw 
those who were loyal to Me run and scatter. I knew that the entire sins
of the world were about to be placed on Me, and that they would cause Me 
to be briefly separated from the Father with Whom I'd been in communion
since before time began. Yet, I set Myself to do the will of the Father.

I know that your flesh has failed you. I know that you are weary. But rise
up and follow Me. Your situation is not as bleak as it may seem. I have
the answer for whatever is bothering you. I have seen the end from the 
beginning. 

Remember that you are My soldier. Enduring hardships is good for you, for 
it teaches you to war. You can not kill a giant, with the fate of an 
entire nation on your shoulders, until you have first faced the lion and 
the bear. But you do not face them alone, for I can knock down the walls 
of a city. I can empower David to kill a giant with a stone.

What is the giant that stands in your way? Tell Me! Know this: I am more 
powerful than you can possibly understand. Nothing is too hard for Me. 
But time is short and it is way past time for you to rise up, and move
forward. 

I promise that everything will fall before you. You say, "But there are 
giants in the land, in fact there is one standing right before me." Ask Me 
for the desire and strength to rise up and move forward. Then the giant 
will be a problem no more. Rise up and trust Me for the victory. Look to 
Me and not to your own strength and abilities.

I will work out everything for your good, even when it is your time to 
face death itself. So rejoice, for the battles have already been won--
even before you even get to them. 

The credit and the glory belongs to Me. I am the one that will provide 
the victory for you. Set your eyes off yourself, rise up, and follow Me.