I want to talk about the enemy.
You know, the one who is after your soul. The one who wants to destroy you. That one.
He's going to throw all kinds of things at you. He wants to rob you of your peace. He's going to stir up anxiety and fear.
I'm talking paralyzing, self-doubting fear. He's going to do his best to cause disunity and jealousy and comparison and envy. He's going to give you all kinds of reasons why revenge and grudges are your rights to keep. He's going to lie to you. Oh, he's going to tell you a thousand lies.
But God has not left us defenseless.
What did Jesus do when the enemy attacked him? He quoted back scripture to him.
The next time the enemy starts stirring up fear and lies and pushing you around - push back with God's word.
When he reminds you of all your past failings, you remind him "that He who the son sets free is free indeed." (John 8:36)
When he reminds you of how weak your flesh is, you remind him "that He who begins a good work in you is faithful to complete it and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and that His strength is made perfect in your weakness." (Philippians 1:6, 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
When he reminds you how nothing good can come from the mess you find yourself in, you remind him "that He works all things for good for those that love Him according to His purposes." (Romans 8:28)
When he reminds you how impossible your prayer is, you remind him "that what is impossible for man is possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
When he reminds you that you are not in a position to be used by God, you remind him "that such a time is this that you have been placed in this exact season and circumstance of life so that you may seek Him and find Him and make Him known." (Acts 17:26-27, Esther 4:14)
When God's words become our own, we stand in His power and His truth and we can rise up because our confidence is in Him and not ourselves. And HE never fails. His word never returns void