Skip to main content

How Hollywood Invaded my Midweek Bible Study




I watched a great movie Saturday night that reminded me of my midweek Bible Study about Transforming Prayer where we’re reviewing the pieces of our spiritual armor that equip us to fight our spiritual battles. 

The thriller movie, Enough, stars Jennifer Lopez who is physically abused by her husband so she flees with her little daughter and learns how to fight back from the raging attempts on her life.  She had to learn face-to-face combat with this abuser husband so that she could save herself and her little girl.

Lessons from our Bible Study came alive.  Isn’t that what we Christians do in real life?  The enemy we fight may not be flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and dark rulers in high places.  These spiritual enemies want to kill, rob and destroy us just the same. 

On Wednesday nights we’ve been delving into God’s great love for us; He longs to speak to us and we need to hear His voice.  We’ve been targeting faith and obedience and praying in the spirit as well as looking at each piece of the armor mentioned in Ephesians 6:13-18 that assures our victory. 

In the movie, J.Lo tapes her wrists, puts on her brass knuckles, learns her Karate kicks and strong punches.  I’m doing the same thing, but in a spiritual sense, every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. as I take my seat in our church’s classroom.  In the movie, the bad guy loses and the good guy wins.  The Bible promises us the same!

This post connects to Tell Me a Story hosted by Hazel at Let Me Tell You a Story.

Comments

  1. a joyful noiseJuly 23, 2012 at 10:22 PM

    WOW that is such a great example of the battles we face and how the bad guy looses and Jesus wins.
    Thank you for sharing at Tell me a Story. Your Bible study at church sounds fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  2. DeniseJuly 23, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Amen sweet sis.

    ReplyDelete
  3. From The HeartJuly 24, 2012 at 2:12 AM

    Wonderful post.Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 24, 2012 at 4:01 AM

    What a WONDERFUL post, Mary! I love the way you were able to make the comparison of the spiritual application from watching a movie!

    Love this beautiful blog that you've designed...SO peaceful here, Friend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Debbie PetrasJuly 24, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    I love how you were able to make a spiritual connection. I have seen that movie with Jennifer Lopez. And yes we are in battle but with an unseen enemy who loves to tempt us and taunt us. However, he masquerades all too often as seemingly good. We have to be alert! Great post Mary.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kathleen July 24, 2012 at 5:10 PM

    Such a good connection. We never cower or shrink from warfare, do we? We stand tall & bold, knowing our victory is sure. The thought of issuing spiritual karate kicks makes me grin.

    ReplyDelete
  7. FloydJuly 24, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    I saw that movie. Before our oldest girls went to college I sent them to a studio where I use to train to teach them to not be a victim. A little training goes a long way.

    So it should be with our attitudes of this fallen world to fight back for and by the power of Him who we belong to.

    I like the analogy... Right up my alley actually.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wise HeartedJuly 24, 2012 at 6:40 PM

    Your post reminded me of putting on the armor of God in Ephesian...J Lo does brass knuckles, we do the sword of the spirit...great anology...well written. Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mevely317July 24, 2012 at 8:56 PM

    I loved this analogy, Mary! (Bet-cha J-Lo would as well.)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Crown of BeautyJuly 24, 2012 at 8:56 PM

    Mary, this is the third time in two weeks that the passage on the armor of God has touched my life. It is indeed a timely reminder to never let down my guard, for the enemy is looking for a weak spot, an access point where he could secretly launch an attack. I must look for that movie you mentioned.

    Praying Bonnie is doing better!

    Much love
    Lidia

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wendy @ E-1-AJuly 25, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    The armour of God is so vital to Christians but sadly, (at least here in the UK) not many Christians pay much attention to putting it on.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just Be RealJuly 25, 2012 at 5:02 AM

    Great analogy Mary. Appreciate you sharing. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. caryjoJuly 25, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    Sometimes we truly try so hard to protect our dear ones and battle the UNdear one. But, sometimes, we rely on our strength and power, and don't remember that HE is the only One who can bring the victory to the surface. I sure need to remember that myself. MEAN to, but get sidetracked and do too much knee-jerking reactions. Oh, well. He's perfect; I ain't.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Diane RonzinoJuly 26, 2012 at 4:48 AM

    What a great analogy! Love it. And I say, "Amen and Amen!"

    ReplyDelete
  15. RCUBEsJuly 26, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    I remember holding my breath at times while watching that movie as she tried to fight back...Knowing how this movie is also true in real life with those women abused by their spouses.

    I love the analogy you did and it's good to be reminded that our battles need God's arsenal of weapons. Blessings and love to you sister...I had been reading a lot about prayers...God must be calling us to be persistent...Thank you for telling me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nikki (Sarah)July 28, 2012 at 6:11 AM

    woo hoo. I totally needed this reminder...that it's not flesh and blood but a spiritual battle with the one that wants us wiped out. Thanks for posting this. Really needed to read.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MimiJuly 30, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    HI!!!|
    I saw that movie once or twice..always scared me....so sad that some people really live with that terror.....GOD Bless them...but our spiritual battle is as dangerous to our spiritual lives....I need to do a blog post about the armor of God....after seeing so many wonderful suits of armor in England....I did take notice as I stared at them...GOD indeed had us all covered!!!Did I ever send you my e-mail address????I think you asked me for it....
    Hugs to you
    God Bless
    The Verde Valley was beautiful as always!!
    hugs,
    jamie

    ReplyDelete
  18. PeggyJuly 30, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    Praise God for giving us the full armor in order to fight against the enemy. Thanks for your post to remind me I have this. I pray your sister is better.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousAugust 7, 2012 at 7:19 AM

    Wow. Such an inspiring words. Its simply wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
    AVETMISS

    ReplyDelete
  20. Diane RonzinoAugust 10, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    Great post, Mary! I love when I get messages from watching movies. This was really great! Thank you, Mary!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Crown of BeautyAugust 12, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    Praying all is well with you, Mary.

    Love
    Lidia

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beth in NCAugust 13, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    I love how you connected your study with this movie. :o)

    My daughter learned about the full armor of God her first week of school. They made the armor too. It was a lot of fun.

    I have no doubt that you are honing your skills to my friend.

    So glad I had a second to pop over here. I rarely get to visit.

    Love!
    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownAugust 15, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Transforming prayer...that's one of my favorite phrases. In fact I wrote a free guide with my top 8 Life Transforming Prayers and it's free on my website at shannonmilholland.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Daisy House

I work at my desktop with the children at my feet.  A makeshift area rug made of white butcher paper lines the floor where the baby, crayon in hand, imitates her big sister.  Sister focuses on the finishing touches of the house she designed.  The catchy children’s song, Wheels of the Bus, blasts from the Toddler Station on Pandora Radio. Six year old Sookie unveils her masterpiece and I ooh and awe at the sketch.  “It’s a daisy house!”  I exclaim.  “I love the colors.  I wonder what the inside looks like.”  Without hesitating, Sookie describes each room.  “There are five rooms and they are all different colors.  One is Mint Chip, another Strawberry.  There is a Vanilla room, and a Cookies & Cream room and the last room is Rocky Road.  You have to wear a sweater inside because it is very cold.” “A house made of ice cream,” I reply.  “It sounds heavenly!” I dug into my Bible readings that morning ...
37 comments
Read more

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
23 comments
Read more

The Final Chapter

Are you like me when you join a new group of people? Do you navigate the crowd wondering where you fit in the best?  I felt insecure when I joined Word Weavers, a Christian writing group in our town.  Liz and Tony welcomed me with their accepting smiles.  It meant a lot. I sat with Liz in a small critique group one week.  I leaned in close so we could share a writer’s paper together.  She mentioned she would passively kick back and listen because she felt sick that day.  Tony kept his eye on her walking over with a plate of cookies and a hug for his wife.  But Liz did not eat. Last week, Liz passed away.  I attended the memorial service where I learned that Liz was a dreamer and fought for her dreams up to the very end!  Liz’s dream, her third book Jamie , came true.  The publisher approved her manuscript and moved heaven and earth to get the story printed in book form and delivered to Liz.  ...
50 comments
Read more