Today as I struggle with what to share, I know one thing for sure, I must keep my eyes on Him and resist the enemy and the enemy has to flee! Life is full of ups and downs, miscommunications, misunderstandings, trials, heartaches, disappointments and you could probably add more. It would be easy to sit here today and write about each of these situations in life but that is not resisting the enemy.
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
This week was such a beautiful week with lots of sunshine and sneak preview of spring. It was good to open up doors, air things out. The Lord was working overtime in my heart😊 speaking words of wisdom, encouragement, love, hope and a future. I’m so thankful for His unconditional love! There’s so much happening in our world. We have not seen so many hurting lives as we do right now. Our pastor’s hearts break for what our family and friends are going through right now. It’s just so important to encourage one another, pray for one another, help one another and rejoice in Him! That’s what He is showing me – REJOICE!!!!
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7
As I was reading this verse, I realized the power of His living Word. This says to rejoice and then he says it again – REJOICE! Be anxious for nothing, pray, let Him know what’s going on in your heart, thank Him and through all this you will know a peace that you can’t even explain. This peace is the guard of your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. This peace keeps the enemy from getting in and speaking lies about who you are in Him. This is how you resist Him. And it is of upmost importance in these uncertain hours and days.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
Sometimes I think we are surprised by the trials that come our way. I know I have been there. Trials come. It is what we do with the trials that makes the difference. We cannot let the trials become a battle in our mind that we dwell on. We must make the decision to rejoice at this time. Never before in my life has it been so vital that I know my identity in Christ. That is to know who I am because of what He did for me at the cross. There’s a war raging in the physical world, war raging between people and ideas, war raging between Believers, war raging against families, war raging in marriages, war raging in churches, and a war raging in our minds. We MUST know His Truths and stand firm on these to persevere in Him. Doubting Him and His Word is not an option for overcoming Believers.
“My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?” James 1:2-8
All the verses I am sharing today are powerful verses that I must continue to meditate on and ponder so I don’t give into the wiles and lies of the enemy about who I am. The enemy wants me to believe that I am a failure, that I can’t stand. That I have no worth or value and not healed. I know these are lies but if I do not keep my mind on heart on Him I could be deceived into thinking on these kind of thoughts.
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,” Isaiah 54:17-18
These are some of my favorite verses. Weapons will be formed against us but we cannot let them prosper and ruin us! They can only ruin us if we let them. If we don’t doubt His Word and let Him guide us through renewing our minds and speaking life the enemy CANT’ win. Rejoicing in Him is one of the greatest weapons we have to resist the devil, to defeat the enemy, to conqueror our thoughts. It’s important right now today, tomorrow, this hour. Many people don’t know the truth. Let’s be more than conquerors and overcomers so we can encourage them and help them know the truths. It’s time. There’s not time to put this off. This is vital and is what the Lord has called us to do as the Church body.
Thoughts may be a bit scattered but my heart is for you to be healed and whole. As a church Body let’s go forward together in power and victory and be a bright light shining on this mountain!