Have you had a particularly difficult time lately? You know what I mean, a real struggle with the circumstances of life……are things just not panning out no matter how valiant your efforts? Does it seem like the mountain you are commanding to be cast into the sea keeps growing bigger in apparent defiance to your faithful confessions? Are you being barraged by accusing or defeating thoughts? Have you been hit with the latest virus, flu bug, or has just another winter snow storm got you down? Somehow, while not having any of you right here in my office as I write this month’s message, I nevertheless can hear dozens of you saying a resounding, “YES!”
 Want to hear part of my story? Two weeks ago I landed in bed for nearly a week with one of those virus things. Now, I am usually very healthy, can’t even remember the last time I was laid up like that. Then, the usual financial stress of living life on the edge took advantage of my already weakened state of body and mind. On Tuesday we had to drive up to Clarksburg for some office supplies. We decided to run up to the nearby mall at the same time to just price some vitamins at GNC. Randy dropped me off in the women’s shoe and clothing entrance of J.C. Penny’s while he went to park the car. In less than 5 minutes I came under a terrorist attack.
No, it wasn’t one of Saddam’s guys, but another “guy” whose name also begins with an S….. and the voices started, “Wouldn’t those shoes be so nice to have?” “And that pantsuit…it’s just what you need.” “So many beautiful clothes….” “But, such high prices… “Forget about it…you can’t have any of them, there are bills to pay…” The attack was launched and I became a victim. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, self pity, resentment, anger, you name it. At the first moment that my flesh came into agreement with the “whispers” of the assigned demon, the attacker won the upper hand.
To recount to you the barrage of thoughts that flooded my mind the rest of the evening would be too horrible to write. Just let me say this one thing; I have a deeper and clearer understanding of how the tormentor works in people’s lives. I tasted the terror of depression, the temptation of despair, and the testing of the soul almost to a place of no return. It is not like that has never happened in my life before, but this was a surprise attack. I came home and went right to bed. Pulled the covers over my head and did not care if tomorrow ever came. Now that is not how I live my life…something major was going on. I felt the impact of flying bullets and thought they were of my own firing; my own thoughts. I couldn’t get a handle on them.
 The Word of God tells us to take every thought captive…every thought means every thought. Do you know there are thoughts you think and thoughts the enemy of your soul causes you to think? He convinces you that those insidious, hateful, self-pitying, lustful, prideful thoughts are all yours. Oh sure, sometimes the uncrucified parts of our flesh can get us sidetracked in our thinking. The Holy Spirit will come and convict us with His love and give us grace to make those thoughts obey the Word and the will of the Lord. What I am talking about is the sudden barrage of thoughts that try to take you captive and convince you life is not worth living. These are not your thoughts!!!!!
Somehow we are all in a season apparently where the shaking written about in Hebrews chapter 12 is taking place. Our faith is being tested. Our life is being tried and sifted. God is allowing all of it. A friend once said, “The devil can’t do anything without having it come across Jesus’ desk first.” So, what do we do? How do we stand?
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The night my mind was assaulted I lay in bed, hiding from life, not able to pray. I couldn’t even express the horror of the battle to my dearest friend, my husband. After what seemed like hours, a wonderful peace suddenly flooded my mind. The Mercy of God is new every morning, but it is also there in the dark of night! I had an overwhelming sense that someone had begun to pray for me. Jesus Himself, I am sure, who lives ever to make intercession for us was praying. Were you one He called on to pray also?
The sharp contrast between total darkness and total peace and hope restored has left me in awe. It has also sharpened my understanding of demonic, terrorist attacks and how they happen. I now hope to be one who intercedes for others with a greater understanding and zeal! No one should have to be left with the thoughts of the enemy harassing them! We need to gird up….strengthen our minds against stray thoughts and meditate on His love and His word as we STAND GUARD and cover each other in prayer.
These are awesome times we are living in. I believe we are going to see the glory of God revealed in ways we have only dreamed could happen. At the same time we are going to be tested, shaken, tried, and even terrorized at times. What am I made of? What are you made of? Have we got what it takes to resist evil? Yes we do! We have the certainty of the Father’s great love for us, and as we submit to His love and His will in our life He gives us the power….His power to resist evil for ourselves and for one another and the evil one has to flee!
Pray for me and I will pray for you. Let’s be more diligent in coming alongside of each other in intercession. We need one another! Victory belongs to each one of the Father’s kids….let’s receive it for each other and not be ignorant of Satan’s devises and plans to terrorize us. Let’s remind him that Jesus has disarmed him! “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them (Satan and his demons), triumphing over them in it!” Col. 2:15 |
