Wooh...The many ways that the Lord has been at work in my life and the lives of those around me lately blows my mind.. On so many nights blogging tends to make me laugh because it seems impossible to put into words all of the things that have been going on.
God is moving. active. at work.
I decided tonight was the night that I would attempt to verbalize what my heart just wants to scream.
The Lord has made me so sensitive to the work of the enemy lately. I have sensed the presence of the enemy and have called out in the name of the Lord against him more times in the last month than I think I ever have. I have seen satan at work in my life- making me sensitive to the silliest things, jealous of others, and at times feeling like I just plain was not enough for anything.
I have seen the enemy at work in the people that we see in downtown Birmingham. People who are living on the streets involved in drugs, alcohol abuse, physical abuse and much more.
This world, without the light of Jesus Christ, is so awfully dark.
Never in my life have I been more confident that Satan hates what we, as God's children, are working for. He hates to hear us sing praises to Jesus. He loathes our sharing of the gospel with others. He cringes at the faith we put in Christ.
He will fight us.
I recently found myself asking- Am I arming myself up to fight the enemy as much as the enemy is trying to defeat me?
My answer was no. It is so easy to ignore spiritual warfare if you want to. It is simple to go from day to day and look past that fact that an unseen fight is going on between those of the world and those who are children of the light. Not only am I ignoring a battle that is going on- I am supposed to be actively involved in this battle against satan and is schemes.
In 1 Peter 5:6-11 Peter wrote "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen".
Peter assures us that satan is prowling. Looking to devour.
It breaks my heart even now to think of many names of those I know who have given themselves to the ways of the world.
We are called to arm ourselves up against him. To be firm in our faith.
How?
By praying for boldness is fighting the enemy, by studying scripture daily, by constantly being in communication with God
I am not much for physically activity- I have never considered myself an athlete...and it makes me laugh to think about taking up boxing, wrestling, or other hands on sporting things.
However- Thinking about fighting the enemy with all that I have makes me want to put on some boxing gloves and roll.
Satan has made me mad. Ruined the lives of so many. Wants to ruin my life. And sometimes it even looks like he has won.
It is a hard fight to endure but we can find comfort in God's promises mentioned to us in the later part of the passage from above. Verse 10 reminds us that we have been called to God's eternal glory in Christ- and that he will restore, strengthen. confirm, and establish us!
I may be beaten and torn in this battle against Satan- but I am promised victory in Jesus Christ. The battle has been won.
To close- I will share a portion of the hymn, A Mighty Fortress, the Lord brought to my mind this past week- needless to say I have been singing it alot lately-
"And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him."
I desire to live a life that shares the light with everyone we see,
no matter how hard we have to fight the darkness in the process.
Let's remind each other of the battle we are in DAILY. Keep me accountable as a true warrior for Jesus Christ. Will ya join me?
