Meditations for a Surrendered Life: Winning Daily Spiritual Battles Against the Enemy

By Dr. Jené “Dr. J.” Elaine Walker

Each day we are confronted by attacks from the enemySatan. The temptations he sets before us can seem insurmountable at times. We know God will support us in our battles against Satan, but often we do not know how to ask God for help.

In her book Meditations for a Surrendered Life: Winning Daily Spiritual Battles against the Enemy, author Dr. Jen Elaine Walker, affectionately known as Dr. J. by her friends on social media, uses her life experiences and even weaknesses to speak to the needs of Gods people. Her writing is aligned with the Word of God and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Walkers debut book is a compilation of writings God has used to bless so many across the world through social media. The author insists that daily, moment-by-moment communion with God helps us overcome the enemys attacks. She touches on the gamut of a believers daily struggles, from dealing with fleshly desires to winning the constant battles between the natural and the spirit realms.

Meditations for a Surrendered Life: Winning Daily Spiritual Battles against the Enemy provides daily, thought-provoking writings and sayings to help you navigate a world infested with sin and an enemy on a never-ending prowl for victims. Refer to the book any time to encourage you in your faith and to provide you with instructions for living a surrendered life and for winning daily spiritual battles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491787991

Dr. Jené “Dr. J.” Elaine Walker

Dr. Jene´ “Dr. J.” Elaine Walker earned a master’s degree, an educational specialist degree in educational leadership, and a doctorate degree of education in curriculum and instruction. She has held numerous positions in the Richmond County educational system. The mother of one son, Walker is a licensed minister at Elim Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. She is a much sought after speaker who travels to preach, teach, and facilitate workshops, conferences, television shows, and radio shows.

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© 2016 Jené Walker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

All Scripture quotations in this publications are from The Message. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-8798-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8797-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8799-1 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 6/23/2016

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 Love God’s Way

The Love of God

The Love of God’s People

The Definition of Love

Chapter 2 The Power of the Holy Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit

The Flesh versus the Spirit

The Leading of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 3 Communion with God

Giving God Love, Glory, and Praise

Communion through Study, Prayer, and Praise

Communion through Obedience

Developing Your Relationship with God

Chapter 4 Exercise Your Faith

Faith through the Word, Praise, and Worship

Faith through Speaking the Word

Faith in God’s Timing

Faith in Any Circumstance

Faith in the Sovereignty and Power of God

Chapter 5

Favor in Spite of Trials

Favor for a New Season

Favor to Lead

Favor through Connection

Favor through Obedience

Chapter 6

Sins Revealed

Purging the Flesh

Environmental and Spiritual Factors

Chapter 7

Instructions for All

Spiritual Warfare in Action

Fasting

Attacks on the People of God

Finances and Stewardship

Managing Your Thoughts and Expectations

Witnessing for God

Finding Your Worth in God

Staying Connected with God

Giving Grace to Others and Yourself

Being Obedient

Following the Spirit

Instructions for Women

Attacks on the People of God

Finding Your Worth in God

Staying Connected with God

Giving Grace to Others and Yourself

Being Obedient

Following the Spirit

Instructions for Men

Attacks on the People of God

Finding Your Worth in God

Being Obedient

Instructions for Married Couples

Attacks on the People of God

Following the Spirit

Being Obedient

Instructions for Parents

Attacks on the People of God

Finding Your Worth in God

Staying Connected with God

Being Obedient

Bibliography

Suggested Reading

Dedication

To God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit, who is the head of my life. Without Your inspiration and wisdom, there would be no me.

To my son, John Jaylen Walker Kinnitt, who shares me unselfishly with the world. You are my heart. I love you with all that I am, and I live for God and you.

To my parents, James and Helen Walker and my aunt and uncle Forrestine and Lloyd McPherson. Thank you for providing me with a spiritual foundation, love, and the freedom to be me. I love you.

To my circle, who encourages me, prays for me, fasts with me, supports me, and loves me unconditionally—

Kerwin Buck Demetrius Harris and his sons Daethan, Daniel, and Demetrius

Montré and Dana

Lee and my godchildren Jordan, Justin, and Kennedy

Lisa Rae and Jade

Sharonlyn, Amari, and Aleyah

Tamekia

LaTonya and Bré

Missy and Chas

Valerie and John Taylor

Donna and Lauren

Billy, Kim, and Kyle—I love you all.

To my spiritual mentors for the impartation of the Word of God—

Bishop Doctor Reginald Rodney McPherson, Sr. and Pastor Sharon and their children, Ricky and Shalecia

(Saint Paul New Life, Waycross, Georgia);

Reverend George C. Miller, III and Lady Cheri Miller and the boys (Elim Baptist Church, Augusta, Georgia);

Reverend Doctor Clarence and Patricia Moore (Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Augusta, Georgia)—thank you all.

Preface

I am Dr. Jené Elaine Walker, affectionately known as Dr. J. by my friends in social media. I am a licensed minister and I allow the Holy Spirit to use me and some of my experiences (and even weaknesses) to speak to the needs of God’s people in my writing. I believe that a vision without God is just an illusion that leads to disillusionment. My vision for my debut book, Meditations for a Surrendered Life: Winning Daily Spiritual Battles against the Enemy, is to organize a compilation of writings that God has used to bless many across the world through social media. I have divided these writings based on the spiritual themes they address to provide the reader with tools for daily communion and meditation. Daily, moment-by-moment communion with God will help us defeat the attacks of the enemy. We cannot win life’s battles through natural means, but the encouraging sayings in this book will help us as we battle in the spirit.

My first job was as choir directress and pianist beginning at about the age of twelve, and I kept that job up until very recently. I graduated from college with a bachelor of science in English and secondary education. I taught high school English for ten years and middle school English for two years. I obtained my specialist degree in education with an emphasis in educational leadership and then my doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction. I was the English language arts curriculum coordinator for kindergarten through twelfth grade for seven years, and I have been an assistant principal for instruction for the last six years. I completed about ten Bible academy courses and participated in several graduation ceremonies in the Bible Academy at Good Shepherd Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia. I have begun the Master of Arts in the Christian Ministry Program at Liberty University.

In January 2010, I fasted for the very first time in my life. In preparation for the fast, I read the book Fasting by Jentzen Franklin. During the fast, I also completed the supplementary journal entitled The Fasting Journal. On day three of the fast, the prayer focus and journal entry topic is Direction, Guidance, Dreams, and Visions. The journal entry question is What vision has God given you? Without thought and effortlessly, it was as if God revealed and confirmed simultaneously as I wrote the following statement: I am a greater leader in the church with my husband as my partner. Together, we lead in ministry. We have schools across the nation, impacting the lives of girls and boys. It was at that moment that I had a revelation about a surrendered life. However, the Holy Spirit still had work to do in me before I totally surrendered all my life to Him. And until I surrendered, I struggled with winning spiritual battles against the enemy.

I was strong in my faith from childhood to adulthood, but I was not maximizing my spiritual capacity, because I lacked spiritual wisdom. I’ve won pageants and excelled in education, and I’m successful according to the world’s standards. I’ve always had an encouraging word for others my entire life. I love God’s people even if they are complete strangers, but I knew something was missing in me—and it was spiritual wisdom. Having faith and operating in the power of the Holy Spirit are completely different. Although I believed God for being selected in a sorority, being crowned college queen, and obtaining a doctoral degree, I didn’t realize the power I had through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t understand spiritual warfare, and as a result, I engaged in many flesh-and-blood conflicts. After being submerged in the Word of God my entire life and sitting under an anointed man of God for most of my life, the Word began to penetrate my heart, setting the stage for a surrendered life.

After my third Daniel Fast, around about July 2013, God gave me a vision of me preaching and teaching, or at least I thought God gave me the vision. I couldn’t tell whether it was my vision or truly God’s vision. At that time, I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to give up self completely. I didn’t press the issue internally, but then I saw the vision again. I attended Bishop T. D. Jakes’s Woman, Thou Art Loosed Conference in Texas in September 2013. It was then that I actually told God that when I returned to my home in Georgia, I would live a completely surrendered life—for Him. It was in Texas that I had a spiritual epiphany. I said, God, I’m ready. I’m willing. I surrender my life to You. I said, I answer the call to preach. I had to become a fool so that I could become wise. I have learned that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. I have learned to place knowledge and academic degrees in their proper perspective, but my ultimate goal is spiritual wisdom and revelation for the building up of the kingdom of God. I have finally learned that every area of my life—finances, romantic love, career, desires, ministry, work relationships, motherhood, and education—has to be surrendered to God. I now allow God to rule every area of my life.

I am deeply involved in ministry now through the church, social organizations, and social media. I preach in a variety of churches and to my circle of social media friends and others I encounter about the importance of a surrendered life. I posted a series of meditations to my social media sites on the topic of a surrendered life:

Someone asked, Where do I start? Surrender. It’s that simple. Just tell God, I surrender it all to You. I surrender my finances to You, Lord. I don’t want to spend another cent without Your consent. I’m tithing. I’m paying my offering. I’m saving when You say for me to save. I’m saving what You tell me to save. But I’m blessing others when You tell me to bless. My finances belong to You.

I am single, and I submit my love life to You, Lord. I’m tired of trying to love on my own without You. Lord, I’m going to pursue You and chase after You and become a spiritual husband, a spiritual wife, spiritually married to You, Lord. I’m not going to use sex or manipulation to get my mate, because then that is what I will have to use to keep my mate. I’m not going to believe the enemy’s lies that I’m never going to have anyone to call my own. If I did believe him, I might settle for second best. I don’t want anyone You don’t want me to have. My love life is Yours, Lord.

I am a wife, and I submit my husband to You, Lord. He has been unfaithful to me in some way, whether it was adultery, focusing more on the job than on me and the kids, not helping me with the kids, pornography, flirting, an emotional affair, verbal and emotional abuse, or in our finances. God, You haven’t released me from my marriage, so I’m being obedient, and I’m staying committed.

But, God, while I’m here, I know You will still hold me accountable for my unforgiveness, and You won’t even move on my behalf with all this unforgiveness in my heart. I’m tired of withholding my nurturing, my lovemaking, my praise, and my support. I’m tired of hurting, but I’m also tired of operating in the flesh in my marriage.

Create a right spirit in me. If I really listen to my spirit, I will know that I’m not right myself. I need to submit. I need to be quiet. I need spiritual wisdom. I need to be a better steward of our money. I need to care for him first and my children and family and friends after that. Help me focus on You and stop criticizing him. I can’t transform him. Only You can, but I can be obedient to You, Lord, and then You will honor my marriage. My husband and my marriage belong to You, Lord.

I attribute my surrendered life to the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through me. Someone else who discovered this same secret is Amy Carmichael, who at an early age learned the sensitivity to the Spirit is indispensable in a close walk with God.¹ Oswald Chambers expressed the importance of the Holy Spirit another way when he stated, I had no vision of heaven of angels, I had nothing. I was as dry and empty as ever, no power or realization of God, no witness of the Holy Spirit.² It is impossible to live a life surrendered to God without the witness of the Holy Spirit.

What transpired after my confession of surrendering was a series of spiritual battles and events that helped to shape me for a life of submission and surrender. Shortly after my return from the conference in Texas, I began receiving spiritual promptings from several people to write a book. The message was clear; however, it took me some time to understand that God wanted me to combine the powerful short sayings He had given me in a book as a reference tool for those who struggle not only with surrendering to God but also with innumerable spiritual battles against the enemy.

I am now able to navigate through the trials, tests, and tribulations (spiritual battles) of a surrendered life as a mother, a woman of God, a minister, a leader, an encourager, and a confidant. One of the greatest lessons I have learned in surrendering my life is how to fight spiritually. One of the most profound scriptures that helped me begin to understand how to win daily spiritual battles is Ephesians 6:10–19:

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (NLT)

I finally understand that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Our enemy wants to kill us, steal from us, and ultimately destroy us. If believers were equipped with daily spiritual armor, the battles would be less bloody. If believers understood that we use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT), the victories would be sweeter. It is impossible to survive the daily spiritual battles and attacks of the enemy without the power of the Holy Spirit, and I want to provide other believers with tools for winning—daily.

Introduction

Although we know that our enemy, Satan, has no power or authority over us as believers, his attacks come frequently. However, we have to stay alert and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us so that we can employ our spiritual weapons to combat his attacks. Attacks from the enemy come in many different forms through many different people and circumstances. Do we watch out for our great yet powerless enemy? We do not want to fall victim to his attacks, because when he catches us off guard, we often give him more power than he deserves. God wants us to be able to recognize the attacks of Satan and understand that although the blows sometimes take our breath away, God is in complete control.

How does the enemy prowl around? He has studied us for all our lives. He knows exactly what to do to shake us, make us lose faith, and cause us to retaliate based on how we have reacted to situations and circumstances our entire lives. So he and his minions prowl around looking for gaps in our faith, looking for flesh moments, and looking for people and situations to use in the attacks against us. How is the enemy powerless? The enemy does not have dominion over the earth; we do. God gave the authority and power to us. Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground’ (Genesis 1:28 NLT). Another profound verse supports the fact that the enemy is powerless. Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you (Luke 10:19 NLT).

How will we exercise our authority? The enemy is under our feet. We have the power to step on him, walk on him, and stomp on him. So every attack is under our feet. We may feel the blow physically, we may fall physically, and we may even be bruised physically, but we will not lose. Nothing shall hurt us. Our salvation is impervious to the attacks of the enemy.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. (1 Peter 1:3–6 NLT)

Isn’t that amazing? So even though we have endured all kinds of trials, we still stand. The enemy does not have the power to change our eternal status.

God won’t remove all our trials. Now, He has the power to remove them, but God allows some of the attacks to make us whole and complete. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:2–4 NLT). Attacks come to make us stronger in our faith and more mature in our spiritual walks. The attacks have a purpose. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us in our response to the attacks. Then we need to react to the attacks in faith.

What can we do daily, moment by moment, to prepare for warfare and to stay alert? We must stay in the Word and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must also make sure that what we allow in our spirits actually aligns with the Word of God. We cannot afford to be lackadaisical believers. We have had our share of Sunday school classes, Sunday worship services, and Bible study. The enemy does more now than ever before to destroy us and sever our relationship with God because he knows Jesus will return soon. So we as believers have to do more. It is incumbent on us to have a deep loving relationship with God. We have been going through the motions of rituals, routines, and religion. Spiritual warfare necessitates having a deep, loving relationship with God. We need daily and moment-by-moment communion with Him. Most importantly, we must love Him with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. Then we will hear the Holy Spirit when He leads us and guides us through every attack of the enemy. When we have a relationship with God, the Holy Spirit reveals which spiritual weapons we need to employ in every battle.

I believe that God is calling us to a higher level in Christ. Church as usual is over and we have to do more to win souls for Christ. God compels us to submit to Him and to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives. When we submit to God, we make sacrifices to ensure that we are in communion with God. Communion is defined as the state of sharing or exchanging thoughts and feelings; the feeling of being part of something.³ In our daily communion, sharing ourselves with God and each other intimately, we have to submerge ourselves in the Word. We must read the Bible and other text aligned with the Word to help us make it through each day.

How to Use This Book

Meditations for a Surrendered Life: Winning Daily Battles against the Enemy is designed to be a resource and a tool for use during moments of weakness and attack. If the enemy continues to attack you in the same area, you may highlight and bookmark sayings and writings in this book that speak to your situation and your area of battle. The sayings and writings in the book are timeless and speak to universal struggles in our walk as believers. It is as if God has allowed me to experience so many attacks and situations so that I can authentically minister to others who have experienced and will experience the same attacks. My ministry requires transparency and total submission to God so that He can use me in His deliverance of His people. I am a willing vessel.

The book is meant to supplement your regular study of God’s Word in the Holy Bible. It is not a panacea for all our faith ills; God’s Word is. I urge you to study His Word, as it is God alone who transforms lives. He has, however, given me a ministry of encouragement and the spiritual capacity to break down His Word so that His people can be healed.

In addition to reading my writings and sayings to help you in daily spiritual warfare, you must develop a daily spiritual plan. My spiritual plan consists of the following facets:

1. Praying. I pray and confess my sins and ask for forgiveness. I then extol God for being God and give Him the praise He deserves. I thank Him for everything He has already done and make my needs known to Him. I intercede for others and ask Him for guidance on what He wants me to study or how He wants me to proceed with my day or His vision for my life. Then I meditate and listen for God’s response.

2. Reading