Armed & Dangerous (part 1)

I’m no stranger to the valley. I’ve passed through more than one valley in my lifetime. But there is something especially different about this particular valley I’m in right now. Not only has it been deeper and darker than most but it’s almost as if there’s an ominous presence lurking. You know that feeling you get when you’re sleeping and sense someone is standing there staring at you in the middle of the night? If you’re the parent of a toddler, then you know exactly what I mean. Tiny humans tiptoe into your bedroom in the wee hours and breath on your face until you wake up startled. You invite them into your bed but good luck trying to go back to sleep after having the living daylights scared out of you. Ha!

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I Peter 5:8

The Bible is clear that an enemy exists. Not only does he exist but we don’t always see him coming. He tiptoes in the wee hours, disguises himself and invades the corners of our minds. His end game is to destroy us. He wants our marriages, finances, health, job, and our minds. More than anything he wants to steal our joy and our peace. He wants us to invite him in to take up residence within our hearts.

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

The thought of a dark presence lurking around waiting to devour us sounds so scary. Like straight out of a Stephen King movie, doesn’t it? (or does it? I’ve never actually seen a Stephen King movie). But unlike a blockbuster horror flick….we have no reason to fear! If we have placed our faith in Jesus as our Savior, then the enemy can’t touch us. The enemy was defeated when Jesus died and rose again, conquering death. Friends, we underestimate this truth!! Let me say it again. The enemy has already been defeated! He can’t touch us. He can’t hold us down. We have no reason to fear him. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, I don’t know what will!

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me Psalm 23:4

The bible says the enemy is called the father of lies. He wants to fool us into thinking he is bigger than he is. And we buy into it. Time and time again. We believe him. We believe him when he says there is no way out. We believe him when he says our circumstances are hopeless. We believe him when he says we are unworthy. He is competing for our attention from God. He hates the very name of Jesus and wants us to turn from Him. So he is never happier when we get anxious, fearful, depressed, angry and bitter. He wants us to take our eyes off the wonderful character of God. The One who promises us life to the fullest. He especially tricks us into thinking our co-worker, spouse, and neighbor is to blame. And although we may have legitimate complaints against them, they are not our true enemy. Our true enemy is using them to wage war over our souls.

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

Know who your true enemy is! Satan is subtle and sneaky but powerful. He uses powerful weapons. But God’s arsenal is far more powerful. God uses weapons of mass destruction. We do not have to let satan hold us down. God has equipped us to take back what is rightfully ours. We don’t need to live our lives as if we’ve been defeated. In my next post, I will go into more detail how God is teaching me how to arm myself. I have never felt more empowered! What I’ve learned has been life-changing. But don’t get me wrong…I don’t have this thing figured out. And never will. Learning to trust God is an on-going, never-ending process.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

By the way, I figured out why this particular valley is different. God is taking me to a place that will draw me (and my family) closer to Him. I’m trusting Him more and leaning into Him harder. Nothing threatens Satan more than a heart yearning for God. So, knowing that I’m being chased this hard, means I’m definitely onto something good. I say bring it on!!! Because I am more than a conqueror. And I am armed and dangerous.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash

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