Be Not Unaware, Nor Discouraged
Have you ever gotten an email, phone call, text and asked, “Where did that come from?” Out of the blue you receive something that throws you, and you wonder, “What did I do to deserve that?”
It is not uncommon these days to get reactions, opinions, even hatred thrust your way, as if it is the “assigned duty” of the one sending it to do so.
Well, with some of those messages sent it is their job, when you consider the ultimate source.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”1 Peter 5:8, NASB
However these attacks come, they are meant to wear down the believers, stop them in their tracks, keep them from pursuing and fulfilling their calling.
But they cannot. They must not.
It used to be that it would take me days to get over a hurtful word, spoken or written. It would simmer in my head, my heart, and I would battle to rid myself of it.
Over the years that time period has dropped down to about an hour or so.
After repenting of any action on my part, seriously considering if I was at fault, I move on in the grace and love of the Holy Spirit, recognizing the attack for what it was.
We certainly are not perfect. Sometimes these actions against us were from our own initial instigation. See it as another teaching moment to watch our mouth and our words that we give out.
We must not be unaware that attacks will come.
Even as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, wrestled, battled, fought them off through prayer and daily walking with the Father, we too, as His children, are not left alone.
Even as in the natural Israel is lambasted every day it seems, as the Scriptures tell us, so be it is in the spiritual.
“46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second Man is from heaven.
48 As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly One, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:46-49 NASB
The devil hates us. His legions war against us.
But we will stand and accomplish that which we are given to do. Our Lord’s promise to to us.
As an extra note, I have found listening to worship music gets my heart and head, and spirit, back to good order!
Ahava and Shalom,
Steve Martin
