Proverbs 13:21
“Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.”
Things Change when we get Saved
My eternal destiny changed from Hell to Heaven. My outlook went from liberal to conservative. My world expanded to include people I truly had no interest in before. But something else came into my life as well… my enemy. The devil, Satan, Ol’ Smutty face…
He goes by many names but gets blamed for things that he has little to no interaction. I find my mind influenced by things that God has already promised He would take care of. Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Every need that I may ever have can now be met by my Heavenly Father – because He promised. The problem comes when I confuse my wants with His needs for me.
I have many Battlefields of Temptation that have Reared their Ugly Head. My Flesh
I battle with the temptation of my flesh whether it’s lust, hunger, anger, depression, loneliness or despair. My mind. I can think myself into quite a frenzy if I am not focused on those things that God tells me I should think.
Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
There are fiery darts that my enemy fires to get my mind off center and unfocused. My spirit gets wounded and I feel like the whole world is against me when in fact, God has never left me nor has He ever forsaken me. His promise endures until the time I will see His face. Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
The Day I got Saved was the day I Entered into a Battle
But I did not go into this battle without weapons, armor, and power to conquer and ultimately win. I’ve been given power;
Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Not my strength, not my power – but His. I’ve been given a helmet, a breastplate, my loins girt about, my feet are shod with protection and I’ve been given a shield that can quench anything my enemy fires at me and a sword. It is a sword of promise; a sword of power and a sword of protection. I fail when I forsake what I’ve been given to think I can fight this fight in the flesh; in my own power.
But Sometimes, this Battle isn’t Mine
It is for those that I love; those that God has given to me to love and care for. Those to whom I am to minister, mentor, and mold. Often, we stand in the gap for others and think that we will never get in a fight. Yet, when we advocate for someone in bondage, we are closer to the fighting than they are and we are in need of the armor and weapons more than ever!
Our enemy doesn’t strike when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, prayed up and serving. No, he attacks when we are weak, tired and away from our Bibles. We are slowly and subtly drawn away from our source of strength, power, and protection when we neglect to care for and maintain our walk with God. We get busy DOING good and leaving off the power, protection, and presence of God that only comes from being in a relationship with Him.
The distractions are many that call for our attention
They are as lethal as a grenade thrown into a crowd of people. They consume our thoughts, our time and cause our spirit to fall asleep when we are called to be sober and be vigilant for our adversary as a roaring lion goes about seeking whom he may devour.
We fight on battlefields of our own making when we should be fighting those things that keep us from our Source of power, protection, and presence of our Heavenly Father. Turn off your phone, computer, radio, music, and get alone with God. The interaction in the stillness of your morning can become what some call your “Power Hour”. Fight for your time with God – the devil is…
