A wave of spiritual opposition smashed into me last night, after a wonderful day of communication with and from the Lord. Why does that always take me utterly by surprise?
Today I struggled to focus on Him, to listen to His voice of encouragement and truth. It has dawned on me, little by precious little, over the last couple of days, that I have been in agreement with the enemy of my soul rather than with the unchanging word of God. The last year was filled with deep disappointment and pain. It was awash with grief and what felt like permanent losses. At times is seemed as if I walked barefoot through the shards of my broken dreams. God has reminded me, yet again today in the wake of last night's battles for my mind and my spirit, that He has the last word and the word He has spoken over my life and the lives of my loved ones IS GOOD. None of these losses was permanent. Each day brings new mercies from His throne.
I have begun to pray bold prayers for favor for myself and my family. I am only asking God to do what He so eagerly desires to do. Provide for, protect, love, cherish, support, build up, guide, enhance, use, make fruitful and fill to the brim with fulfillment and joy each person I hold dear and me too! When the Holy Spirit is made welcome, something changes. Darkness has to leave. Despair has to lose its unholy grip.
The enemy doesn't trouble people who are not in love with Jesus. He doesn't take a whack at people who are content to live a quiet, passionless life outside of true intimacy with and service for the Lord. The good news for those of us who have decided to cross over into a sold-out brand of Christianity marked by daily obedience and FULL TRUST in God alone is that Satan can only swing his paper sword and roar behind his paper tiger mask. Jesus pulled his teeth at the cross. In Christ, we are victorious and he is completely defeated.
Wear the blood of Jesus today, Saints of God. Stand behind His robes of righteousness. Square your shoulders and focus on what He is doing in your life and in the lives of those you love. You may not see the evidence yet, but rest assured, He IS working.
Today I struggled to focus on Him, to listen to His voice of encouragement and truth. It has dawned on me, little by precious little, over the last couple of days, that I have been in agreement with the enemy of my soul rather than with the unchanging word of God. The last year was filled with deep disappointment and pain. It was awash with grief and what felt like permanent losses. At times is seemed as if I walked barefoot through the shards of my broken dreams. God has reminded me, yet again today in the wake of last night's battles for my mind and my spirit, that He has the last word and the word He has spoken over my life and the lives of my loved ones IS GOOD. None of these losses was permanent. Each day brings new mercies from His throne.
I have begun to pray bold prayers for favor for myself and my family. I am only asking God to do what He so eagerly desires to do. Provide for, protect, love, cherish, support, build up, guide, enhance, use, make fruitful and fill to the brim with fulfillment and joy each person I hold dear and me too! When the Holy Spirit is made welcome, something changes. Darkness has to leave. Despair has to lose its unholy grip.
The enemy doesn't trouble people who are not in love with Jesus. He doesn't take a whack at people who are content to live a quiet, passionless life outside of true intimacy with and service for the Lord. The good news for those of us who have decided to cross over into a sold-out brand of Christianity marked by daily obedience and FULL TRUST in God alone is that Satan can only swing his paper sword and roar behind his paper tiger mask. Jesus pulled his teeth at the cross. In Christ, we are victorious and he is completely defeated.
Wear the blood of Jesus today, Saints of God. Stand behind His robes of righteousness. Square your shoulders and focus on what He is doing in your life and in the lives of those you love. You may not see the evidence yet, but rest assured, He IS working.
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