Catch the adversary in the act....

Have you ever (while reading the bible that is) just thought to yourself wow I wish I could have faith like that, boldness like that, to be closely connected to God like that.  Or maybe in everyday life you see something in someone that you admire and wish you could be like that, or wish you had that. To which you find yourself comparing yourself to others. Then in every day life when what seems like a mountain of a problem comes: whether that be fear, anxiety, depression or so on we are immediately distracted by the sheer force of it and forget to look up to the God of the heavens and the earth. Who to which is far bigger, far stronger and far greater than any issue we could ever come across. Does that stop them from coming... no. But it can, if we allow it to help us to overcome any situation sent to cause destruction in our lives. 

Think about it: what are those mountains that weigh heavy on your shoulders? What is or where is the main area the enemy (devil) attacks. For me it's the mind. With whispers like: your not good enough. You'll never make it. Your going to mess up being a mom. Your not smart enough. No one wants to spend time with you. Your too quiet. Does any of this speak volumes in your life. I knew, for a long time that was how he got me but I never did anything about it. It wasn't till recently did God use my husband to help me see how much I was allowing the enemy to influence my direction in life, instead of rebuking him and sending him away. It just seems that the more I try and rebuke him the more attacks I become aware of. In all honesty it feels like I'm face to face with a Mount Everest of a giant, that needs tearing down from the roots and up lifting into the sea. Its exhausting to think about it. But If i don't tackle it now, and I keep putting it off it would never get done and I would just go around and around in circles day in day out. 

What is it that continuously sneaks into your thoughts. Have a think about it? I never noticed how much the devil impacted my train of thought until I went to new wine (a Christian camp) this year. Boom! It hit me while I was questioning my husband about something he said during a conversation with some friends. Bang: bang: bang: those negative thoughts came flying into my mind without a chance to even breath. But the difference was I was noticing the devil in action. How quickly he influenced my thoughts into some negative comments about my whole being. We often rush through life doing whatever goals we need to accomplish each day. Which is fair, we all have stuff we've got to do, or things we want to do before we die. But I think that's half the problem. We are in such a rush with our actions, thoughts and conversations that we don't always know what's happening right in front of us. Or what tactics the devils using to tear us down. Take myself for example, I've often referred myself as incapable because the effects of my past bring me to this conclusion. I left high school with low grades. I kept being told my English was bad. I walked through a substantial amount of rejection from a variety of people throughout life. So it came easy for me to view myself as I wasn't enough. Now who does that lie come from. Because I've not found one bible verse that says I'm not enough. In fact the bible says I'm a masterpiece (ephesians 2:10) what is a masterpiece. A masterpiece is something you show to the world because you are proud of what you've made.  An artist doesn't go and sell any rejects do they. They publish their wonderful masterpieces so the world can share in their creation. God too is proud of what he has made in you and I. He doesn't make mistakes: or give out rejects. No. He lovingly puts together the perfect masterpiece (which is each one of us) and allows the world to see his work of art. So why do we find it hard to embrace the concept that we are his masterpiece.? What do you think? Deception?Whatever life has thrown our way. Which ever obstacles, journeys, challenges, wonderful moments that have passed through our lives and made an impact on our lives. Each has left us either feeling great about who we are or reject who we are. 

The bible says the devil prowls around like a lion on a hunt for prey to devour.

 He looks for opportunities to grab each of us. Opportunities to use against us, to distract us from the one we should focus our attention on. God. Our creator. The one who made a way where there was no way so we can have a relationship with him without our life choices, lies and dishonest steps get in the way. That way is Jesus christ who died on the cross all those years ago so we can approach God without shame, guilt and anger smacking us in the face like hypothetically hitting a wall.

It may look like your life is in the middle of the greatest war you've ever encountered. At times you may get hurt. Sometimes it may feel like your mind could explode. You feel alone. Scared. It feels like the world is raging around you, kind of like you might as well be stood in the middle of a battle field and everything around you is chaos. It feels like there is no way out. The devils undoubtedly feeding lies into your thought pattern making you feel like there's no way out. But boy are you in the right place. I'm here to encourage you and say it may be chaos out there. But there is hope and that hope is Jesus. God knows our life from the beginning to the end. He knows what we will face and what it'll take to get us to where he wants us. We will never go through anything and be left on our own. He will see us through. Take the royal family for example.. they are highly guarded and protected. So it is for us as we do Gods will. The bible says he encamps his Angel's around us. We could be right in the midst of war (whatever that may be for our lives) but if God wants us to do something, he will protect us from harms way.

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

This image is taken from a film called hacksaw ridge. This film is based on a true story, and is the perfect example of the deliverance of God in the battle field with the enemy. You see the young lad dragging the bodies of his fellow army fighters, who the film is about. He was born and raised in a Christian family who had strong views on how they should live. They firmly believe they wouldn't or shouldn't carry or use a gun. Yet this particular young man knew deep within him he needed to be in the army, yet as a medic not a fighter. All the odds seemed against him as he was persecuted for his unique stance on guns and bullied by those training along with him. They tried everything to get him to used a gun, to draw rage. But he remained true to his vow to never use a gun. After a long battle he finally got to be a medic in war. Guns blaring, grenades blasting, the cries of fears and pain to be heard from a long way. Such chaos, such violence. Yet our main man, the young lad from that image remained alive. People being hurt all around, crying out for help, dying. And he cries out to God "why am I here, what am I to do" and that's when he hears God tell him to do what he came for. To be a medic. To help the wounded. So one by one, miraculously escaping the grasp of death. He helps as many as he can saying "give me one more lord, one more" over and over. And one by one he gives them morphine to numb the pain and one by one he drags their bodies and wraps a rope around their bodies to lowers them down the cliff. One by one they get taken to recover with the right medical care. By the end of it, after finding one last body before day break he manages to get himself and that body down the cliff side. Only to be saluted with honour because of his bravery and faith in God. This testimony gives us hope, that during our battles, no matter what mountains tower over us bringing fear. We can stand strong that God will deliver us out the other side. All we have to do is what he asked of us. Because in our weaknesses he is strong. 

So, If you can't see where the arrows from the devil fly. Ask God to show you. So when they do come and you notice yourself putting yourself down. You can be quick on the mark to nip it in the bud. For you are not a failure, it doesn't matter what size the challenge is, battle is, oppression is. When its Gods will no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Don't give up.

Let's pray.

Father God, may glory be brought to your name through our lives. May your will be done in our lives as It is in heaven. Thank you for everything you do. God help us to recognise when we are under spiritual attack. Even those times we've done it so much its become normal in our lifes. Help us see ourselves through your eyes. So we can live our lives as children of God like you intended. Help us know you more so we can be strong and bold when we find ourselves in a battle field of the mind because of situations around us  in jesus name amen