What We Need is a Few Good Men Women

    I hope this can be encouraging.  I was driving along, running my errands today, while listening to some Christian radio in the background.  I'm not sure who was teaching, but I think it was James MacDonald?  He was talking about the devil, and said that Satan cannot control you against your will.  Thank you!
    About a month ago I felt like I, along with several members of my family, was in the middle of heavy spiritual warfare.   I felt beat down, depressed, and began harboring negative and even resentful thoughts against Donnie.  This was really out of character for me, since I am usually an over-the-top optimist.  (To a fault)  And finally I was able to reach out to God, open my eyes, and see that the real issue was that I was being lied to. 
    You see, I believe that for the most part Satan is powerless against us.  He can't make us sick.  He can't thwart our plans.  He's basically impotent against God's children.  But there is one area where he reigns.  And that is the lie.  I picture him standing over our shoulders throughout the day, looking for an opportunity to cause dissension.  When he gets his chance, he begins to our out his lies into your ears, hoping for one of them to sink in:
"If he loved you he'd spend more time with you."  "Did you see how he just ignored you?"  "He cares more about those people at church than his own family."  Etc.  These are not obvious tactics.  He's sneaky and good at what he does--he's had lots of practice.  His goal is to separate us.  If there is trouble between us, it takes our focus away from God.  We cannot listen to these lies!  The only power that Satan has over us is the power we allow him to have!  Don't let him influence your life, your decisions, our your relationships.
    Okay, so what does this have to do with the radio show?  Haha!  Here it is.  There is one problem I have always had with my belief that the devil is powerless.  Job.  Job was holy and blameless, and Satan went to God, asked permission to temp him, and God said yes.  Read this for yourself it's incredible.  I think that this passage is why Christians are often so quick to give the devil credit for their hardships.  Oh, you are sick and can't teach Sunday School?  That must be Satan.  But here is what Dr. MacDonald said that blew my mind.  He said that Satan did not have any control over Job, or his situation.  Satan was a pawn!!  God used Satan and his selfish pride to bring glory upon himself.  Satan wasn't testing Job--God was.
    Doesn't that give you peace to realize that you are safe in the arms of God.  Yes, sometimes God tests us and allows hardships is our lives.  But they are for our ultimate good, and his ultimate glory.  Praise God!
    My own situation:  Before I let you go I'll tell you how I got out of the pit that I was in last month.  Whenever I felt myself beat down, or felt the resentment start to creep in, I worshiped.  Just like Job.  At first, I felt like Satan was trying harder to get at me.  But after a while, I felt the thoughts (and lies) start to taper off.  Worshiping God is the opposite response that he was hoping for from me, so I guess he backed off for a while.  That's a tactic I learned from this girl.  Thank you Lord. 

Comments

[Jeani]

You know you are never alone when it comes to feeling neglected. Many of us women feel neglect from our spouses, we don't always trust our feelings with just anyone. That is why God wants us to run to Him with everything. For years I tried to talk to my worldly friends just so I would get their support. When you ask of the world that is what you get, but when I would go to my sisters in Christ they always pointed me to the Father. He is who we are suppose to turn to. You are much younger than I when I learned this lesson and am so proud of you for sharing with others that we all are human, even pastors wife's. May God richly bless your ministry in your day to day life.
Love you Jeani

[Titia]

Thank you for your encouragement. It came right on time with my own issues. I am proud to say that I worshipped and worshipped my way back to closeness with God, the closeness with others returns as well. Amen sister for handing out Kudos to Beth Moore, what a zealous woman after Gods own heart! May I jump up and down with God's love each day of my life. Love you!!! titia