Ever feel like everything is finally going good. Your walk with God is going well, your life circumstances are looking up, and you are feeling great? Then out of nowhere, all chaos breaks loose. It seems like in a split second the entire world is against you, and you don’t know how to keep your head afloat. It seems as though you are just one second away from drowning. I’ve been there and I know each of you have too. In fact, I am undergoing a spiritual attack right now as a type this. But, unlike numerous times in the past, I know what I need to do to win the battle, and it starts with recognizing the signs that a spiritual battle is imminent. A few years ago God blessed me with one of my best friends, a woman named Angela, who is like the older sister I always wanted. You’ve probably read the story before on one of my other blog posts about how it was divine intervention because the odds of us meeting where 1 in 10,000, literally. And we met at the perfect time, going through similar things, and ever since have become best friends. She is someone I look up to a lot because she is very wise and is a strong Godly woman, firmly rooted in her faith as a Christ follower. She has been through a lot, and at times her life resembles the life of Job. Yet, through each and every storm she endures, she preserves, and is living proof of James 1:2-5.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:2-5 NIV
One day during one of our phone conversations, we discussed spiritual attacks, and she said something that stuck out to me, and has continued to help me. She told me that Satan (the devil) knows each of our weaknesses and when he attacks, you will often be able to know because he tends to use the same patterns. He may be clever, but he isn’t God and he isn’t omnipotent, so he cannot know our thoughts or be everywhere at once. Each of our weaknesses are unique to us, but we all have them. The devil wants to thwart any good plans God has for your life, so he is going to attack when God is doing something big in your life. Satan also wants to be as sly as possible, and subtle, so that his attacks can work. But, we can outsmart him. We have to notice the patterns and the things he throws at us to try and ensnare us so that we can fight against it. Knowing is half of the battle, because the longer we deny or ignore what is in front of us, the further we will fall; the more damage will be done. For some, a weakness may be a sort of temptation such as alcohol, sexual sin, anger...etc. For others, it can be self pity, or feeling like you need to go back to toxic situations and people because suddenly they need reach out to you, even though nothing has changed. It can also present itself in a specific illness that comes on right when you had plans to go on a mission trip (different from chronic illnesses). It can be getting into a heated argument with the same person about the same thing again. It can be so many things. But the point is as a Christ follower you will experience spiritual attacks, especially when you strive to live a Christ pleasing life, and there will be techniques the devil uses to try and destroy you. But don’t fret, remember how we fight our battles and who is stronger: Jesus!
When we can recognize a spiritual attack, what we do next is crucial. We cannot just sit back and let it happen, we need to do something. However, we as humans are weak and unable to battle. We need God to fight for us. We have to surrender ourselves to him, letting him have his way in all areas of our life. We have to ask for forgiveness for any sins we have committed and ask God to lead and protect us. We have to pray against the evil that is coming at us and trust that God is bigger than any waves coming our way. Though we stand on the beach looking at a tsunami wave coming directly at us, we have to look above and let God do the work. He is faithful, He is just, He is loving, and He is all powerful. He can and will carry us through and we will come out the other end, stronger than before. But we have to let God fight the battle, we cannot fight it ourselves. If we fight it ourselves we will get overtaken by the waves.
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91 NIV
In times of spiritual warfare, we turn to God’s word so that we can dwell on his truths and keep them in our heart. We also should ask our close brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us too, for where two or more are gathered, there God is in the midst of them. We are to help one another out, because this life isn’t easy and we need each other. Whenever you feel a spiritual attack coming on, stop everything and pray. Then ask people to pray for you too, and make sure to get into the Bible. Don’t fight this battle alone. We weren’t made to fight alone.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20 NIV
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV
You may be wondering “ Why does the devil want to attack me?” Well, there can be many specific reasons but his main goal is he doesn’t want us to prosper. He doesn’t want us to live the blessed life God intended for us. He wants as many people to reject Jesus as possible and go to hell with him because misery loves company. He can’t take a Christ followers’ soul, but he can do whatever we allow him to to wreak havoc in our lives. But if we resist him, he will leave us alone because he realizes he is wasting his time. We are always victories over Satan because we belong to Jesus. So please my friends don’t let whatever you are facing today scare you or discourage you. Instead turn to God and those you trust. God will hold you up and you will make it through. God bless <3.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:8-10 NIV
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