This quote is from church, not from In the Presence of Mine Enemies.
"Complaining always comes from an empty heart."
When is your heart empty?
I've been thinking alot about who my enemies are. And I've decided that because I can't see them, I forget to be aware of what effect they are having on my freedom. Gracia Burnham could see the men with guns trained on her. She could feel the rocks they threw at her. She knew in a tangible way the humiliation of their treatment. And she faced what she learned about herself while in their captivity.
Because my enemies aren't tangible, I often don't realize I am in their control, that they are limiting my freedom, abusing me, keeping me from the joy of life.
I have realized that I do have enemies that take me into captivity in much the same way Gracia and her husband were taken. They burst in unaware and demand that I go with them and they keep me bound and helpless constantly running from place to place in search of safety but never toward release.
Who are my enemies? Self-pity, desire for control, unreasonable expectations for those around me, weariness, wrong focus, covetousness, jealousy, anything that takes my eyes off Christ who gives me life and freedom.
My ransom has already been paid. These captors should have no power over me because I have already been freed from them for all eternity. But I continually allow them to have control and although the source of my release is available, I choose not to take it but continue on, slogging through the mire of the jungle of my fears, frets, and failures.
Each time I am taken captive by these very real enemies, I must face who I really am, I must turn to my Savior and allow Him to release me. I cannot release myself. I must throw myself on His mercy and salvation.
Our salvation is not only a one time for all eternity salvation. It is a daily salvation from our enemies in whose presence our God has prepared a table filled with all we need.
I have read a wide variety of books, hundreds of them, and many of those more than once. Many of those books have touched my heart, enlightened my mind, challenged me, motivated me, moved me, but I have just finished one that drove me to my knees to ask God to change me.
In the Presence of Mine Enemies by Gracia Burnham tells the story of Gracia and Martin Burnham's kidnapping in the Philippines and their 1 year 11 day captivity. When I began to read it, I expected my faith to be strengthened. Instead my faith was tested, tested as God took the trials of my Christian sister and used them to put a magnifying glass over my faith and forced me to see what I really was in relationship to Him and all He wanted me to be. I was forced to see that I was far from living by faith but was rather living in the flesh, expecting God to meet me there and provide for me.
I challenge you to read this book, if you haven't already, and while you're reading, I'll share with you, a little at a time, what I found there that changed my life.