Hello old friends,
I first want to express a small portion of what's currently going on in my life. As most of you know, my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer last June. [ It has been almost one year....Wow, just wow.] During this time I have seen God do wonderful things. I've seen him restore. I've seen the beginning stages of healing [I know that the end of His story is life]. I've seen him move and I've felt his presence. God has been evident though it all. God has used friends, family, doctors, acquaintances, church members, the Bible, pieces of mail, important documents and more to make his presence known, so that we know He is in control. With so much of God showing up, you can rest assure that Satan wasn't too far behind. Lately, My family and I have experienced so much spiritual warfare. I have clarity to the fact that it is not the circumstance, it is not people, but instead warfare. I understand and recognized that Satan will use every issue, circumstance, tendency or person that he can. Satan is sly and unfortunately good at his job. But (with Satan it's such a blessing to know there is always a "but", because God is greater at his job and God is so much stronger and so much more mighty.) I want each of you to know that Satan holds only the power that you allow him to have. Lysa Teurkurst nails it when she says, " Author of FEAR, you have no place in my heart today. Author of CONFUSION, you have no place in my thoughts today. Author of DARKNESS, you have no place in my VERY ALIVE spirit today!" I am standing in faith and believing that God is my PRINCE OF PEACE, my perfect portion of love, comfort, encouragement, clarity, joy, and radiant light!! TODAY, I cling to the Highest of all and allow NOTHING to stand in my way of victory today! Currently, spiritual warfare, for me, is very much reality. Satan knows how much people mean to me. He knows how important that my mom, my dad, my brother and Andrew are to me and he knows how to use others against my love for them. As unfortunate as it is, the devil is sly, but [there it is again] God is greater. We are meant to live, a life full of love and joy, a life that is bright and powerful! (“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV)
Today it is my prayer that each of you look at what is currently going on in your lives and that you identify struggles. First know, it is just a season. You are in the midst of a storm, but a storm cannot last forever. My mom says, " without rain, there can be no rainbow." Rainbows are a promise. They intuitively tell us to hold onto hope, to believe without doubt that blessings will come. Also know that this storm is molding and shaping you into someone much stronger than ever before. Trust that blessings and goodness are to come, regardless of the time frame. Secondly understand that what is occurring in your life is not because of other people, yourself, your situations, your circumstances, etc. Instead, realize the true reasoning behind it is that you are experiencing spiritual warfare and attacks from the enemy. ( “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12) He is going to attack, that's his job. But you have the power to rebuke him. God is so much more powerful than Satan could ever even think about being. Finally, after being able to identify your struggles and that all arrows point to Satan be able to receive freedom from whatever is occurring. There is sweet freedom is vocalizing your struggles and being transparent and vulnerable to God. Express yourself to Him and tell him what's going on, he already knows, but he desires a relationship with you we're you come to him with EVERYTHING....the good, the bad and the ugly.
It is my prayer today that you, just as The Lord did, cast Satan out of your life today and everyday. (It's daily. “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23) I pray that you do not listen to his lies and deceit. That you cling to the truth and that God align your hearts, your minds and spirit to His. It is my prayer that regardless of what people are saying to you, regardless of where you are spiritually, regardless of what your situation or circumstance is that you know that you are loved. That you know that you are loved so vastly, so deeply, so widely and that you were created with purpose! That a purpose was created and then YOU were made ever so specific for that purpose. I pray that you are guided and directed to the perfect purpose God has for you. I pray that any rejection, any harassment, your past, your present, your future, your career, you family, your husband/wife, your friends group, your boyfriend/girlfriend DOES NOT define you. That your identify be found in Christ. The the King of Kings define who you are and what you are here for! That each day you wake up and choose joy and to live loved by Christ. This is my prayers for you.
