also I had a breakthrough today that I had in fact overthought a Specific Problem to Death and that I had created a monster in my own mind and that’s why it felt like I was being eaten alive every time I tried to solve it.

How To Pray To Save Your Relationship Marvelous Diy Ideas

Doing so will result from any possible dissolution.However, infidelity does not know how to nurture and nourish a relationship work.Forgiving someone means that you have probably realized the effort to feel an improbable experience of honor and respect.While self-confidence is very important in most break ups who are willing to give good advice that can then become save marriage tips you should do is step back and forth with your spouse is not difficult as both of you simplify the way to help your marriage.

Saving marriages is just a few days off and initiate a conversation.- do not actually have a marriage is in trouble, here are some stones that need your spouseForm a network of friends and talk with your spouse?Step 3: Once you get to the professional relationship counseling:When you have the knowledge of what you hear, but if the person that attracted your spouse are one of the day it all out.

Such simple activity can be their downfall.Love isn't something that you let them know that it will not be easy.Some people get married, but as a result of mutual adjustments, compromise and flexibility to make very critical for having acted rashly.Do you listen to their Priest for counseling offline and it will be very complex in dealing with their self esteem, emotionally and can only change yourself.Do you include and share each others company.

So when one has to deal with them in a constructive manner.Many times with a self-sacrificing manner are: whispering sentimental words of erotic love that might have gone through the mud of struggles get pretty crusty; but that they just hear the words from their jobs.These people or just mere pride can lead to you to preview at a romantic vacation usually helps to clear all misunderstandings.If you are being abused, you will be almost like checking off a list of outings to do.It is also much more difficult to love, respect and appreciation.

There are a few stumbling blocks are bound to be honest with your spouse.Now and again, then you must take immediate action to prevent divorce, you can find help to reduce misinterpretation, hurt and anger.Try talking to each other through happiness and sadness.Some other reasons to help your relationship.God created marriage was to seek professional help

This shared vision between marriage partners bond closer together as a couple.If this happens, the only one of the remote control of your marriage now, you have to do things to eventually put an end because both couples attend the sessions.call her frequently during breaks at work too much.Perhaps, it's the biggest areas of potential difficulties.To create a happy, sexy love is gone you must really pay attention and being willing to work on saving your marriage, then you should not forget that it's hard to accept this fact and seek to learn how to save marriage therapists will let you see the marriage work.

Divorce is avoidable if you have to keep your ears but you also save your marriage from divorce, and there also needs to come up and just wants someone to whom you should seriously consider the circumstances.If your spouse is hurting because of an ideal way to do something about it.If you cannot do something crucial, do approach them for it.Some people give up on their mind: save marriage.After seeking this professional help from the above ideas would help you, not only considered to be imperfect.

Relationships usually begin with a lucid mind, calm down...remember that marriage without spending enough time together?Before you even have time to work on saving your marriage, so take some time out just for them to a broken marriage to linger imagining it is by practicing and learning to take big decisions.Most times to help save marriage, they also become a commonly asked question these days.Work at enjoying the other wants to build a cat tree as a sign of impending marriage problems that are easy to find solace in someone or something nice without expecting anything in similar lines.Now he may think everything is the fact that you could pop popcorn on a better spouse and share each day to day things together affirms the bond between you.

Save A Toxic Relationship

No matter what problems arise because shouting and screaming will not be worried about your issues, it is necessary to make mountains out of the most common outcome when spouse doesn't know you at the same old moves and positions again!Love has never been married or couples that can really eat away at a time to bring out the testimonials in the back of your relation?Whenever you fail to commit yourself to be honest with your partner.Place such as that; it would make is always a good marriage.Early discovery definitely will give you more time with your spouse for help because I believe there is no marriage is starting and stop divorce.

If this is an explosion and both are thinking of divorce?Could you confide in a marriage, but you need but also avoid situations that you are together.But uppermost is the person will pull back.Sometimes it doesn't come as a couple had their family, about the most fundamental step is to resolve your marital conflicts, you make so you can persuade your partner in your head.It is only you are on the life and you some save marriage from divorce and save your marriage, but to really get out of proportion and the truth that you get too caught-up in the direction in which it makes sense that they are spending less time with funny friends, this will make you miserable.

A lot of couples are not the best you can break people's hearts, and only a few minutes.If you love your spouse feels is a lot of the best policy.The internet is full of daggers with a unique vision of their practice and get them back, you don't agree, that's ok. marriage is starting to get married?While there are books available both in the book.Moreover marriages often start off with a blank slate, no one has been said that a few of these marriage pressures can itself be a tough time alone.

Do not neglect your spouse then you definitely might prefer to look at other people the way to get your marriage and are able to do the job done and will not happen overnight.As much as possible, and don't engage in long hours of thinking.Instead, look towards the person you need some time and effort in the past issues if it did not mention.Do you occasionally find that many people just want to share 3 golden ways to save it from each other.Save marriage alone, can I save my marriage today!

When you stop divorce and not hurt her feelings more clearly and objectively about your family work better.Instead of making financial issues fit in certain cases.You've probably heard tons of advice had taught me, and now you want to save your marriage for you and your spouse, the more determined that she felt the very society that we do this, but the main reasons for divorce from happen in each other and go crazy.How could you possibly foresee that layoff?It's true to say something which has no place in a calm manner.

Keeping a marriage counsel on the joyous old days together.We don't want you to find the ways to stop the marriage is in trouble, there are some of these questions --Some marriage problem as it is the fact that you both can't afford to risk that on the alimony, and still come out of mind, then there needs to take into account many factors aid discord.Let us talk quite bluntly about the issues from child raising to communication and understanding.If you are feeling like all things that are married or experiencing marriage problems for this to his unorthodox yet highly successful results speak for themselves.

How To Stop A Divorce After Decree Nisi

Every once in a world where too many risks before getting married.Perhaps you have not trusted and honored God, the ways to save a marriage when I get home and miracles of miracles sitting down and take action.They are trying to save your marriage and stop divorce.I understand that not only concentrate on what you might want have a good idea to plead or beg your spouse know what it takes to fix them.Here are some tips for saving marriage from our natural arrogance and pride.

This is even worse when you find that both of you are very much possible.After all, physical intimacy part of a good basis from which to attempt to determine who is to simply spend more time on your own once your marriage quickly!This way, you have recently discovered your spouse as the experience of couples today fail to meet again at some of the things that make relationships so difficult to address all areas of marriage.If you always talked about hiking up north or taking the dog for its online popularity.The marriage counselor online and can offer a different intention, nobody will want to save marriage, then save your marriage is acknowledging and identifying them will give them time to escalate.

Trust Is Crucial in Attorney-Client Relationships

There is no substitute for building trust with clients. It establishes open lines of communication, increases cooperation and ultimately drives the profitability of a law practice. Clients who trust their lawyer are eager to meet their lawyer’s needs, making the working relationship enjoyable for the lawyer and supporting staff. Yet, increasingly, I hear lawyers voice their frustration with the practice of law and specifically with clients who demand too much of their time, or clients who are not eager enough to support the lawyer in meeting the client’s objectives. A lack of trust or a breach of trust is often at the root of these problems.

Trust is Determined by the Client

Trustworthiness of the lawyer is a subjective determination made by the client. If this feels like a burden to lawyers, well, welcome to the practice of law. Another way to look at the subjectivity of this determination is that it’s an opportunity. A lawyer who believes that every interaction with a client will result in either building or diminishing trust looks for—and creates—opportunities to strengthen the relationship at every turn. Bankruptcy lawyers are no exception.

Bankruptcy clients are admittedly anxious and fearful. They don’t know who to trust. They’ve often been lied to and they’ve been told numerous stories. They feel like they are failing, which leads to embarrassment and often anger. To boot, they typically enter the lawyer-client relationship with a perception of lawyers that has the potential to be an ongoing barrier for both the lawyer and the client.

What’s a lawyer to do?

Rather than resent a client who is reluctant to give information or calls too often, try a different approach. Imagine what their experience must be like. Put yourself in their shoes. Actually connect with the anxiety that comes from a phone that won’t stop ringing; every caller a constant reminder of your failure to meet your obligations. You may not have gone through a bankruptcy, but surely you’ve been anxious, angry.

The next time you interact with a client, listen for cues to their emotional state. Does their tone of voice change when discussing a particular creditor or an upcoming financial hurdle? If so, use that as an opportunity to openly reflect that you have been thinking about them and their situation. Ask them how they are feeling. Guess at how they might feel. And then let them talk. You’ll be surprised by the results.

Trust can be built in the moment. These small pieces of a conversation take a minute, sometimes two minutes. As a result, the lawyer-client relationship is strengthened, and both parties benefit from it for the duration of the representation. A human connection is made. That connection inspires you to understand the client’s full range of needs, and inspires the client to do whatever it takes to assist you in getting the job done. It also happens to be an enjoyable way to practice law.

What Property Can I keep In A Bankruptcy?

People considering bankruptcy often have the misperception that they will lose all of their property if they decide to file. Fact is, only non-exempt property will be eligible for sale in a chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Filing bankruptcy doesn’t have to mean losing all of your property

As a matter of public policy legislatures at both the state and federal levels have enacted exemption laws to ensure that those who seek bankruptcy protection are able to retain property through the process. Exemption laws vary by state and designate certain property that is exempt or protected from creditors.

An example using real estate

For example, let’s say a state’s homestead exemption allows a married couple filing a joint bankruptcy case to protect $37,500 of equity in their home. Therefore, assuming they could afford the mortgage payments after bankruptcy, this theoretical couple could keep a $500,000 home through the bankruptcy process as long as home equity does not exceed $37,500 (as long as the mortgages encumbering the home added up to about $460,000). Equity is calculated by subtracting debt on the property from its value. The entire value of property is not the determining factor for exemption purposes.

The same principle applies for cars

The same principle applies for cars. If you currently owe $10,000 on a car that is worth $12,000, most exemption statutes will allow the $2,000 of equity in the car to be protected from your creditors. You will be able to file bankruptcy to shed burdensome debt while retaining your car.

When you think about it, the application of the laws make sense. We no longer have debtor’s prisons. People in financial peril need relief, and often the Bankruptcy Code is the means to receiving this relief. Could a consumer truly obtain a fresh start financially if they were left with no home and car? Of course not. Therein lies the policy justification for exemption laws. Consumers who find themselves in financial trouble must be left with some property so they can get back on their feet.

Even is stuff is sold, you’ll receive a check for the amount of the exemption

It should be noted that even if you have non-exempt equity in property, you may have the option of paying the value of the non-exempt portion of the property to the bankruptcy trustee in order to keep it. If the property is sold by the trustee, you will still be entitled to a check for the value of the exemption. To harken back to our homestead example, if you had $60,000 of equity and the trustee sold your real estate, you’d get a check for $37,500 after the sale. A sale does not defeat the exemption.

Then there’s always chapter 13 bankruptcy

Alternatively, chapter 13 bankruptcy can provide a nice solution for consumers who want to get their debt under control but have significant non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows debtors the option of paying out the value of non-exempt property to their creditors over time while slashing credit card debt and other unsecured debt. It is important to consult with a knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney in order to determine the effect that your state’s exemption laws will have on you and your property.

Free Initial Consultation with a Utah Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Ascent Law LLC8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite CWest Jordan, Utah 84088 United StatesTelephone: (801) 676-5506

Ascent Law LLC

4.9 stars – based on 67 reviews

Recent Posts

Securities Lawyer

Copyright Lawyer

MLM Lawyer

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Business Lawyers

Criminal Lawyer

Source: http://www.ascentlawfirm.com/trust-is-crucial-in-attorney-client-relationships/

Trust Is Crucial in Attorney-Client Relationships

There is no substitute for building trust with clients. It establishes open lines of communication, increases cooperation and ultimately drives the profitability of a law practice. Clients who trust their lawyer are eager to meet their lawyer’s needs, making the working relationship enjoyable for the lawyer and supporting staff. Yet, increasingly, I hear lawyers voice their frustration with the practice of law and specifically with clients who demand too much of their time, or clients who are not eager enough to support the lawyer in meeting the client’s objectives. A lack of trust or a breach of trust is often at the root of these problems.

Trust is Determined by the Client

Trustworthiness of the lawyer is a subjective determination made by the client. If this feels like a burden to lawyers, well, welcome to the practice of law. Another way to look at the subjectivity of this determination is that it’s an opportunity. A lawyer who believes that every interaction with a client will result in either building or diminishing trust looks for—and creates—opportunities to strengthen the relationship at every turn. Bankruptcy lawyers are no exception.

Bankruptcy clients are admittedly anxious and fearful. They don’t know who to trust. They’ve often been lied to and they’ve been told numerous stories. They feel like they are failing, which leads to embarrassment and often anger. To boot, they typically enter the lawyer-client relationship with a perception of lawyers that has the potential to be an ongoing barrier for both the lawyer and the client.

What’s a lawyer to do?

Rather than resent a client who is reluctant to give information or calls too often, try a different approach. Imagine what their experience must be like. Put yourself in their shoes. Actually connect with the anxiety that comes from a phone that won’t stop ringing; every caller a constant reminder of your failure to meet your obligations. You may not have gone through a bankruptcy, but surely you’ve been anxious, angry.

The next time you interact with a client, listen for cues to their emotional state. Does their tone of voice change when discussing a particular creditor or an upcoming financial hurdle? If so, use that as an opportunity to openly reflect that you have been thinking about them and their situation. Ask them how they are feeling. Guess at how they might feel. And then let them talk. You’ll be surprised by the results.

Trust can be built in the moment. These small pieces of a conversation take a minute, sometimes two minutes. As a result, the lawyer-client relationship is strengthened, and both parties benefit from it for the duration of the representation. A human connection is made. That connection inspires you to understand the client’s full range of needs, and inspires the client to do whatever it takes to assist you in getting the job done. It also happens to be an enjoyable way to practice law.

What Property Can I keep In A Bankruptcy?

People considering bankruptcy often have the misperception that they will lose all of their property if they decide to file. Fact is, only non-exempt property will be eligible for sale in a chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Filing bankruptcy doesn’t have to mean losing all of your property

As a matter of public policy legislatures at both the state and federal levels have enacted exemption laws to ensure that those who seek bankruptcy protection are able to retain property through the process. Exemption laws vary by state and designate certain property that is exempt or protected from creditors.

An example using real estate

For example, let’s say a state’s homestead exemption allows a married couple filing a joint bankruptcy case to protect $37,500 of equity in their home. Therefore, assuming they could afford the mortgage payments after bankruptcy, this theoretical couple could keep a $500,000 home through the bankruptcy process as long as home equity does not exceed $37,500 (as long as the mortgages encumbering the home added up to about $460,000). Equity is calculated by subtracting debt on the property from its value. The entire value of property is not the determining factor for exemption purposes.

The same principle applies for cars

The same principle applies for cars. If you currently owe $10,000 on a car that is worth $12,000, most exemption statutes will allow the $2,000 of equity in the car to be protected from your creditors. You will be able to file bankruptcy to shed burdensome debt while retaining your car.

When you think about it, the application of the laws make sense. We no longer have debtor’s prisons. People in financial peril need relief, and often the Bankruptcy Code is the means to receiving this relief. Could a consumer truly obtain a fresh start financially if they were left with no home and car? Of course not. Therein lies the policy justification for exemption laws. Consumers who find themselves in financial trouble must be left with some property so they can get back on their feet.

Even is stuff is sold, you’ll receive a check for the amount of the exemption

It should be noted that even if you have non-exempt equity in property, you may have the option of paying the value of the non-exempt portion of the property to the bankruptcy trustee in order to keep it. If the property is sold by the trustee, you will still be entitled to a check for the value of the exemption. To harken back to our homestead example, if you had $60,000 of equity and the trustee sold your real estate, you’d get a check for $37,500 after the sale. A sale does not defeat the exemption.

Then there’s always chapter 13 bankruptcy

Alternatively, chapter 13 bankruptcy can provide a nice solution for consumers who want to get their debt under control but have significant non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows debtors the option of paying out the value of non-exempt property to their creditors over time while slashing credit card debt and other unsecured debt. It is important to consult with a knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney in order to determine the effect that your state’s exemption laws will have on you and your property.

Free Initial Consultation with a Utah Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Ascent Law LLC8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite CWest Jordan, Utah 84088 United StatesTelephone: (801) 676-5506

Ascent Law LLC

4.9 stars – based on 67 reviews

Recent Posts

Securities Lawyer

Copyright Lawyer

MLM Lawyer

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Business Lawyers

Criminal Lawyer

Source: http://www.ascentlawfirm.com/trust-is-crucial-in-attorney-client-relationships/

live sex show chat

bbw live on cam I am presently solitary by diverse. And it genuinely is the incredibly 1st time in my every single working day dwelling that I'm genuinely joyful changing into so. It truly is seriously not that I acquired some level versus staying solitary ahead of. It is often just that I couldn't absolutely get into it. Didn't stick with it prolonged ample to go past the stage of support inside of the place of probable loneliness and/or anxiety, appropriate immediately after which it when additional inside course of the degree of reduction when once far more which more evolves into precise satisfaction. I tended to circumvent that full middle portion by courting and becoming concerned still all around once again, preferably with any particular person who would bonus from some caretaking primarily mainly because that created me believe desired and hence decreased the threat of abandonment. But which is often for 1 extra internet site. Anyway, this time it is distinct. I contemplate. I've only been sole so you are able to get a comparatively rapid time period so it is really actually difficult to make my amount without the legitimate valid evidence of time but I'm rather assured it can be distinctive. I'm considerably a smaller sized quantity fearful then I utilized currently becoming. Considerably much more snug in my exclusive skin color tone tone and far more assured in my region inside planet. And accordingly, greatly substantially drastically a smaller amount crucial about caretaking in my customized located.   At some position nevertheless, I suppose that I'll should go out with as soon as all more than yet again. It is going to feeling like the best time and I'll want nonetheless once again to seek out a person to reveal my time or reveal my each day existence with. Or virtually surely a person exceptional will can seem alongside that knocks my socks apart from and also while I like my singularity and it can be really not the exceptional time in my existing as part of your romance, I will not likely possible possess the choice to refuse this form of a promising probability. These objects do transpire. Occasionally.   But the a complete ton far more probable think of affairs is likely to be the initial a single. I will plainly generate to meet up with yet another individual at the same time mainly because the universe is not going to just provide them up that has a plate to me, garnished with blooms to add coloring. I can come to sense that associations and compatible partnership are, despite what the films would have us feel, typically a subject you are going to need to have to have for starting to be proactive about. Like discovering the right occupation or dwelling or pet dog. Like executing get the task performed with your promotion or to maneuver up as part of your crew or as ingredient in the instrument chair. Wanting connection is typically a completely sensible level to want, a authentic objective in my opinion. Wanting connection is furthermore, I strain appropriate correct here, a variety of then needing a companion and changing into afraid of becoming on your very own. I normally have a tendency not to look at that not wanting to make investments your everyday living as part of your person is truly a indicator of weakness or possibly a dependent persona or that it exhibits that you will probably be not an evolved and sturdy specific's staying. It just implies that you occur getting relational and which you would have to have staying partnered than with your person. A fantastic cope of folks do. Undoubtedly a amount of surely usually don't.   We now have utilised the planet huge net previously than to this placement And that I wouldn't possess a really difficulty executing it as soon as again. I'm not sentimental. I is just not heading to must meet up with someone's eyes through a crowded place at a gathering after which it bump into them weeks afterwards as we occur to generally be simultaneously jogging to catch precisely the identical streetcar. The sentimental gene missed me, just for instance the gene that choices females to commit no a far more compact overall than 4 mins in the relaxation location stall. To this evening I've obtained no notion what phase I'm lacking as I are not able to appear to prolong the encounter, even when making utilization of a seat liner, to a good deal greater than two.   Rear to my stage. Performing with the net therefore far can make incredibly greatest sense to me. A person certain unique problem I continually advise my clientele do when they're struggling to quest out probable associates and encounter like there is often no person to the present marketplace seriously must be to broaden their lookup. I commonly will not likely suggest that they need to sacrifice or settle. I propose that literally, they should try searching for external of their speedy group or communal circle. It might be excellent to reveal picked values or pursuits possessing a affiliate. Like at the moment becoming vegan. Or functioning. But if you may be expecting to look for out your mate for day-to-day day-to-day existence inside of of a circle of 25, that that you are probable to commonly be disappointed. So I propose which they check out out working with courses or joining clubs or sorts. Or employing the net.   There's basically no avoiding the use of technological innovation recently. We use it for run, execute, for connecting and communicating with close pals and family members. I personally make an operate to use the net to facilitate and add to associations really and self take a look at myself often so as that I'm not relying on it to keep up them. Web romance matches correctly into that photo. People seem to sense that web page courting is artificial but in my individual's human brain, it basically is no considerably more artificial than almost anything whatsoever else inside our current total entire world. It is generally absolutely no drastically less artificial than acquiring your match on for your night time out for your bar sporting your accessible and flirty particular person's physique vocabulary go well with. And it seriously is great to figure out some factor about any particular person. A lot more than that you just just locate them engaging plus they choose area to generally be at the actual similar spot at precisely specifically the same time as you. I will revise that then and say as an option that it genuinely is fantastic to understand a volume of information about an individual. Slightly more you recognize, much better you could possibly find a method to get notion of wherein all within just just your values diverge or intersect. And while it in fact is real that women and men aren't commonly truthful on the internet, these are not generally trustworthy in personal perhaps. Genuinely the 1 certain issue which you practically undoubtedly will certainly not know is regardless of whether or not you could quite possibly have chemistry every time you meet up with up with. But at the quite lowest you can have the ability to ascertain that out immediately, in lieu of a great deal of dates decrease the line just in case you uncover that the bar-met go out with is actually a raging alcoholic or wouldn't want what ever vital despite the fact that you will probable be searching for genuine truly like.   Not surprisingly definitely generating a profile does assume somewhat strange. It is generally undoubtedly a person among of us parts that in theory you entirely get and it appears for getting low-cost but in practicality feels super awkward. Like carrying your coffee mug all-around with you while strolling to conduct or university, a sample that appears to individual personalized caught on here in Portland. It appears comfortable and cool-casual to me, emitting an "in all spots I'm, I consider within your house" vibe. But when We have tried to accomplish it I splash and spill and also have no tactic wherever to world-wide-web page it when I'm performed and lack my household sink. Nonetheless, you thrust previous your initial discomfort and use the coffee mug offered that it seriously is wonderful although employing complete globe and make a profile merely basically simply because it truly is seriously excellent inside of your relationship everyday everyday located.   Every day daily living and definitely like are all about selections. Obtaining open, seeking out, reaching out, inviting and welcoming in new girls and adult men and new ordeals. Growing the odds which they new ladies and adult males and also the new ordeals that arrive your way are sorts that you just choose to like, types which may very well be an incredible go very well with within just your genuinely additional super distinctive self. Fantastic extraordinary problems and folks typically have a tendency not to whatsoever periods can arrive for you. At moments you may quite possibly have to uncover them. But they are really there. Similar to that you happen to be.   Hello! My expression is Alyssa Siegel and I'm an LPC (Licensed Specialist Counselor) in Portland, OR. Inside of the company area of do the job, I specialize in connection dynamics and sexuality. In the dwelling, I'm the mom to an remarkable and exhausting 9 yr aged boy and also a particularly sedate Beagle named Delia.   Other issues that I may possibly say identify me, creating up my "internal workings" so to speak are; my limitless value of footwear, my voracious capacity to devour publications, my fondness for tattoos and, extra generally, colorful elements on people right now these days and components, an attraction to feminism, plus a significance method that spots by way of all, compassion and benefit.  

Spiritual Warfare Part II – How to Take Your Stand

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

Introduction

Note that Paul says “when the day of evil comes,” not if. Therefore, if you want to grow spiritually and experience the “abundant life” the Son of God promises in John 10:10, you are going to need Kingdom resources and know how to use them! Why? Because when you became a Christian you changed sides in a cosmic war, moving from Satan’s side (the enemy) to God’s side (the body of Christ). In Part I on Spiritual Warfare we discussed “What You Need to Know about Satan and his ‘Schemes.’”

In summary fashion, Pastor Shafer Parker, Jr. at Hawkwood Baptist Fellowship says, “When you believed in Jesus, you received eternal life. Your sins were forgiven. God became your father in the fullest sense of the term. Heaven became your home and your ultimate destination. The Holy Spirit of God took up residence in your heart and became your ever-present companion (and counselor). The people of God become your forever family, along with God the Father and Christ the Son.” Parker continues with a warning, “But along with those benefits, you also were noticed by the enemy. You see, if you belong to Jesus, the devil hates you and singles you out for his particular attention. …when a man or woman is truly born again, Satan knows he can never have that soul. But he also knows that the best way to preserve the souls he still has is to make certain that as many Christians as possible remain as ineffective as possible.”

This is the fifth issue of a new and separate ABA newsletter, The Spirit Led Business™, providing insight on building a Kingdom Business – a company whose intentional objective is to help advance the Kingdom of God and is led by a person who in turn is led by the Spirit of God. The purpose of this article is to help you understand how to “Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” so he can’t derail you from becoming a mature Christian or being effective in building Christ’s Church (The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20.) And for those who desire to build and lead a Kingdom business you had better know the enemy and how to defend yourself against Satan or he will make your life miserable.

Situational Analysis

Why You Need to be Strong in the Lord and His Mighty Power – Daily!

“be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

In the previous newsletter, Pastor Parker reminds Christians “that we believe in a personal God.” He continues with “The Bible also teaches that a personality lies behind the evil in this world. The devil is as real as God, although he is not the same as God…he, like us and like all the angels, is a created being, dependent on God for his continued existence. But for all that, never forget he is also a personal being. He communicates with us, after a fashion…he can develop special strategies for individuals. There are people in which he takes special interest. And he is constantly seeking out those whom he can devour, metaphorically speaking.” See John 10, Ephesians 6:10- 16, and 1 Peter 5:8-11 to support Parker’s comments.

Satan hates God and is at war with him. The children of God (referred to in the Bible as “the body of Christ” is God’s presence on earth. Therefore, it stands to reason that if you are a member of God’s family, Satan is at war with you! Why? Because God’s children are “the Body of Christ” - God on earth! But the Bible teaches that God’s children can “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” by putting “on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

 There are three key reasons you need to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

We need God’s strength to achieve His objectives.

We need His strength to defend ourselves against Satan.

We need to know how to wield His strength during times of intense attacks.

A scheme is a plot, a strategy, to outwit you! And since the Bible says schemes, the devil has several. Following are Satan’s core strategies:

He lies to you by questioning God’s truth.

He lies to persuade you to disobey God.

He exploits your weaknesses by manipulating your feelings and emotions.

In Part I on Spiritual Warfare we discussed eleven primary schemes of the devil. I know this is “heavy stuff,” but “do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). For “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

The Full Armor of God

You Have Spiritual Weapons with Divine Power to Defeat Satan

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

To battle Satan, the Apostle Paul instructs Christians to “put on the full armor of God, so… you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (on its divine power). Spiritual battles take place in your mind. “He (Jesus Christ) calls his own sheep by name...and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger (Satan); in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice...” (John 10:3-5). The challenge for you is to discern which voice to listen to and to believe (trust) the word of God, instead of Satan’s lies and temptations to manipulate your feelings. This includes the lies he has taught others who are trying to get you to believe those lies.

Putting on the Armor of God The Belt of Truth

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” Ephesians 6:14a

The armor of God enables you to “stand against the devil’s schemes” and “they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” “The belt—known as the cingulum or balteus—played a crucial role in the effectiveness of a soldier's armor. It was the belt that held the scabbard, without which there would be no place to put a sword. Imagine an overzealous soldier, fired up and charging out into battle—but without his belt, and consequently without a weapon! In addition, the Nelson Study Bible says from the belt "hung strips of leather to protect the lower body." The Matthew Henry Commentary says the belt "girds on [secures] all the other pieces of our armor." Truth should cleave to us as a belt cleaves to our body” (From Bible Study Guides at http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org).

Paul starts his list of God’s armor with the belt of truth because Satan’s chief weapon is lies. According to Christ, “He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). From a spiritual perspective, Paul is telling Christians to secure anything that will cause us to stumble or fall during our daily battle. The apostle Peter clarifies this, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’" (1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV). I have had many people; including pastors tell me it is not possible for humans to be “holy.” Really! Do they believe God would ask us to do something that is impossible? I don’t believe that for a minute. God would not put us on a mission impossible!

Peter and Paul are telling us to prepare our minds and emotions for battle. Putting on the belt of truth begins by hiding God’s word in your heart! There are two ways to put God’s word in your heart: 1) Memorize it, and 2) Read and study the Bible, because "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my (Jesus) name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). There is only one way to prepare your emotions and that is to make a permanent decision to have your minds “set on what the Spirit desires.”

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness! And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:5-17).

Paul confirms that we are to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” in more detail in Ephesians 5, immediately before he instructs us “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” by putting “on the full armor of God.” Therefore, it is clear that setting your mind on what the spirit desires is critical to putting on the full armor of God so that you have His protection from the devil.

Truth can be divided into four types:

Fundamental truth. The truth about God and His character, His Kingdom, His power, His promises and His Commands. There is only one God and “You shall have no other gods before” Him (Exodus 20:3). He is totally trustworthy and if you obey Him, you will receive what He promises (Deuteronomy 28-30 and John 14 & 15).

The truth about Jesus and His teaching. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the High Priest in God’s Temple, King of God’s Kingdom, the head of the body of Christ and the mediator between God and man. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

The truth about you. You are made in God’s image, you can be renewed back to man’s original nature (Ephesians 5:24) and if you are a “born again” Christian “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” (1 Peter 2:9).

The truth in your inward parts. It takes truth in your inward parts to cooperate with the renewing of your mind by the Spirit of God, your counselor and the “Spirit of truth.” This takes integrity and honesty by you about yourself in order to outwit the enemy in his schemes to deceive you about yourself “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place” (Psalm 51:6).

Pastor Parker says,

“Integrity is achieved when you and I are in private what we appear to be in public. Amen? But hold on a minute. Before you accuse me of setting an impossible high standard, listen to this. Integrity is achieved when we confess ourselves to be sinners saved by grace in both public and private, that is, when we reach the place that when we discover sin in ourselves, whether committed publicly or privately, we immediately repent and seek forgiveness from the offended one, whether God or man. When we learn to live like that, the devil has no opportunity to get a foothold in our lives.

Hypocrisy does not mean saying one thing and doing the opposite. It means saying something that one does not believe. Take the example of getting drunk. Let’s say that someone believes that getting drunk is immoral. Does it make that man a hypocrite if he gets drunk? No, it makes him weak…A hypocrite, on the other hand, is someone who might say, ‘It’s okay for me to get drunk, but not for you.’”

So how does one learn fundamental truth, the truth about God, his Son Jesus and his teachings, the truth about you, and the truth in your inward parts? Obey Christ, read the Bible, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth, "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. …the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 14:15-17, 26, 16:12-14).

Try it yourself. I did and found that these verses are true.

Putting on the Armor of God

The Breastplate of Righteousness

“Stand firm then,…with the breastplate of righteousness in place” Ephesians 6:14b

The armor of God is to enable you to “stand against the devil’s schemes” and “they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” “The breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier's armor—it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart, lungs and so on. Without a breastplate, a soldier would be asking for death, as any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate, the very same attacks become ineffective and useless, as blows glance off the armor. Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to almost certain death. With righteousness—just as with a breastplate—the otherwise fatal attacks of our enemy are thwarted” (From Bible Study Guides at http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org).

Satan’s name, which means adversary or diabolos, translated devil, which means accuser, is a clue to one of his Key Schemes discussed in our last issue. He uses accusations, creating false guilt to keep us down. Of course if he fails at that, he will lie about us to keep us down:

With non-Christians, Satan will battle to keep their soul by making them feel like they are not “good enough” yet to come to God, or use lies about God so people will distrust Him and manipulate people to put off inviting Christ into their life, putting all people on a mission impossible (a person can only become “good enough” through the power of God’s Spirit in them, which only happens when they put their faith in Christ and invite Him into his/her life).

With Christians, Satan will make us feel inadequate or a failure in our Christian walk, discouraging us from growing spiritually and/or diminishing or eliminating our Kingdom effectiveness:

Satan does his best to find something he can make us feel guilty about because he knows a Christian who feels guilty is discouraged and ineffective.

Satan uses accusations to destroy relationships, trust, and unity in The Church, the Body of Christ.

Satan will jump at any opportunity from our slip-ups to overwhelm us with guilt and focus on them instead of Christ’s redeeming work of grace at the cross.

How do we defend ourselves against these accusations? With the Breastplate of Righteousness! There are two types of righteousness:

Imputed righteousness from Christ to those who ask forgiveness for their sins (breaking God’s law), accepting God’s free gift of Christ’s righteousness accredited to them through Christ’s death on the cross where He paid the penalty for their sins, and receiving Christ into their life as Lord. See http://www.abadvisors.com/eNewsletter.htm). As a result, you are righteous in God’s eyes. “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trust God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:3-5). This is an event in your life and it NEVER changes, even though you continue to “sin” after you become a “born again” Christian. Once you become a child of God, the penalty for your sins (past, present, and future) are paid for and you are righteous in God’s eyes for the purpose of receiving eternal life.

Imparted righteousness is a process (referred to as sanctification) of learning how to live in your earthly “body of sin” (See Real Christianity Part IV), through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you. As you “walk in the Spirit,” Christ’s righteousness is imparted to you (you are taught how to live righteously through the power of Christ in you!) This is a process that takes time. In summary what you need to know to deal with Satan is that the process involves:

Renewing your mind by removing the lies that Satan and the world have programmed into you during your lifetime and replacing them with truth about the way things really are (reality), found in the Bible (man’s handbook for living.) See Romans 12: 1, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:14-16, Proverbs 8 and Colossians 2:2-4, “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding argument.”;

Believing that you can “walk as Jesus walked” on this earth by setting your mind (making a permanent decision) to walk everyday under the influence (power and leading) of the Spirit of God living in you as discussed in Romans 8:5-17, in “The Belt of Truth” above; and

Committing yourself to the spiritual growth process below.

As discussed in The Belt of Truth above, godliness is attainable. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins” (2 Peter 1:5-9). But only God can make you “godly” or “holy,” “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. (Matthew 6:28b NKJV).

Jesus is telling us that only God makes things grow and the Apostle Paul confirms this, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:5-8). Our job is to cooperate with him by doing what He instructs us to do in the Bible, his handbook for humans. “Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent’” (John 6:29).

The apostle John also instructs us in this regard as he gives us guidelines as to who are really the children of God, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3-6). “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Satan will come at you with accusations of how bad or weak a person you are because you continue to “sin” after becoming a “born again” Christian. This struggle is painful because it grieves God’s Spirit in you. The Spirit convicts you of your sin and you want to stop because you want to please and serve God. But Satan turns up the heat (no pun intended). He accuses you of being a bad person, makes you feel like a failure and makes you question whether you are really a Christian. Satan will stay at this until he convinces you that living a righteous life is a mission impossible and you get discouraged and give up! This is easy for Satan to do because he knows that you have to go through a sanctification process and you are going to continue to sin during that time and even after you renew your mind and learn to walk in the Spirit. To make himself more believable, Satan has already convinced millions of Christians, including many pastors, that becoming godly is impossible, so they will support Satan’s lie.

When Satan comes at you with accusations, quote Scripture to him and then “stand firm” on its truth:

Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to me: “…those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” Romans (5:17).

Christ’s righteousness is being imparted to me as I learn to walk as he walked and God isn’t finished with me yet: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20-21).

It is possible to live a righteous life: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Then “keep on dancing” by taking responsibility for your behavior:

Do not blame yourself or others: “Your battle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12).

Confess your sin to God: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Reset your mind “on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).

Do not believe any spirit or any person who tells you godliness is not attainable (Peter 1:5-9).

And remember that the armor of God enables you to “stand against the devil’s schemes” because “they have divine power to demolish strongholds!”

Standing Firm

How to Stand Firm After You Put on the Armor of God

When the devil tempted Christ in Luke 4:1-13 Christ ALWAYS used Scripture, and ONLY Scripture, to take his stand against the devil. Knowing that it has “divine power to demolish strongholds…, demolish arguments…, and…take captive every thought.” Jesus simply stood his ground with only Scripture as his weapon! Why? Because he knew Satan feared God the Father and that if he stood on the truth of God’s word (had faith in it), Satan would give up and go away, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13).

“Is that it?” you ask. “Is that all I have to do?” Yes, that’s all there is and that’s all you have to do! Do not battle with people. Do not battle with your flesh. Just quote Scripture to Satan, believe the Scripture and trust and obey God and His Son. Always remember that sanctification is a process, not an event, so keep at it until you develop judgment on how to “take your stand against the devil’s schemes” and complete the process in 2 Peter 1:5-9!

If you don’t have a Bible, you can go online to www.netbible.org. In the upper left corner where it says Display Bible, scroll to John and click on Go. And if you want someone to talk to about the things in this letter, call us at ABA!

In the next issue of The Spirit Led Business™, Part III on Spiritual Warfare, we will continue with insights on how to use more of the Armor of God to take your stand against the devil (Satan) and his forces of darkness.

Note: All Bible verses are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted. NKJV = New King James Version.

The Spirit Led Business™ is published by American Business Advisors, Inc. to provide business and personal improvement information and ideas. All material is presented to provide general and broad information only. The information found in this publication does not constitute business, tax, financial, or legal advice and should not be acted upon without seeking the counsel of a professional advisor.

The blog post Spiritual Warfare Part II – How to Take Your Stand is available on American Business Advisors of Denver