It is said that the closer we are to God, the more we love Him and worship Him, the more we pray, the harder the devil works to derail us and to take us away from God.
Because that is exactly the devil's job. He exists all right. He is a spirit. Very much like the angels are spirits. Very much like our souls are spirits; and we live on after we die. The devil too is a spirit. He is an evil spirit; a malevolent spirit, whose job, as I said, is to take us away from God.
He does this in various ways. Through temptation for instance. Let's face it, he tempted Jesus many times. So we shouldn't be much of a challenge for him.
Another way apart from temptation, is by playing with our fears, with our minds, with our worries.
Let's say for example, you hear something bad in the news and you worry about it.
We are anxious about how it will affect us, or affect our loved ones; and as anxiety grows, the thing we have heard about in the news continues playing on our minds and we can't shake it away.
The devil takes over. This is his playground. He makes us more and more concerned both for ourselves, our loved ones and whatever else we are fearing at that moment in time.
And this is the way he gets us to start doubting about God. Doubting His very existence. His love for us and His protection.
I think in a way we should be proud when the devil does that. When the devil attacks us and tries to draw us away from God. Because it proves that we are worthy of him to be bothered with us. Let's face it, he would not be bothered if we were already lost souls. So when he actually comes to attack us and lead us astray, it shows and it proves that we are in effect close to God; and we should use this opportunity to defeat the devil through prayer, and through trust … unfailing trust … in God.
Let us pray to God that throughout our anxiety and our fears, we know, we believe, as much as we possibly humanly can, that God still loves us, is still in control of the situation, and will protect us. Nothing bad will happen to us or our loved ones if we trust Him totally.
Thank you for listening. God bless.
...fear is a strong emotion.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Tom.
DeleteGod bless.
How is it, Victor, you know the right thing to say at precisely the right time? Once again, the devil came calling on me in this morning's wee hours -- stirring up what-iff's and anxieties. Yet, I'm reassured by His love ... and messages such as this.
ReplyDeleteMevely, last night, at about midnight, I felt I had to record this message. I got out my recording equipment and recorded this message. This morning, I felt it had to be written also; so I transcribed all I had said, unprepared, the previous night.
DeleteI am so pleased you found it helpful. Praying for you.
God bless.
P.S. Please share this with others who might find it helpful. Thanx.
This is a very inspiring and humbling text. Thank you for writing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kindness, Charlotte.
DeleteGod bless you.
Hi Victor, I was discussing this with my friend this morning on the phone. You are absolutely right, the devil tries to lead us away from the truth of God's Word, and the more we grow in the Lord the more lies the evil one will try to put into our carnal minds. The lovely thing is that we have the mind of Christ when we are born again of His Spirit, and the more we grow in Him the more that Word will come into our minds and to combat the devil's lies. God continue to bless you and all of His children with the truth of His Word.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Brenda, the devil works harder to take us away from God. Don't let the devil win.
DeleteGod bless.
The devil does work hard to fill our minds with doubt and fears, Victor, and the harder he tries, the more we can be reassured that we belong completely to the Father. Thanks for this reminder, my friend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Thank you so much for your encouragement and support over the years, Martha. Much appreciated.
DeleteGod bless.
Fear can be paralyzing. It's great that you pick these reminders at the perfect time. Thanks, Victor!
ReplyDeleteYou are right; fear is a paralysing motivator. It destroys trust in God.
DeleteGod bless, Bill.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteYour 11th viewer here and you speak very clearly, slow enough and it is an important subject.
It is hard to live by when in a stage of war...!
Let us pray for all people that are under siege.
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes, let us pray for all those tormented by fear. May God help them in difficult times.
DeleteGod bless, Mariette.
Not the fear but being threatened by war attacks; for REAL!
DeleteI like the verse in II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
ReplyDeleteAmen Happyone. We should trust in God when facing anxiety and fear.
DeleteGod bless.
When he is tempting me to be anxious, i start to sing the children's song (even if only in my mind), "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart." When i get to the line, "And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack!" i start to giggle and imagine him sitting on a tack at the foot of the cross and Jesus dealing with him there.
ReplyDeleteIt truly makes the attack stop, as evil wants to be taken very seriously and cannot stand being laughed at. He also can't stand being told to go sit at the foot of the cross, it's the place of his defeat, his least favorite place ever.
Yes, I remember hearing some time ago that we should tell the devil to sit at the foot of the Cross. You make a very good point, Mimi. Thank you for reminding me.
DeleteGod bless always.
Just stopping by ... hoping you've had a blessed Sunday.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Yes thanx, Jan. God bless you always.
DeleteWe were blessed by listening. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteSherry & jack
Thank you so much for your kind words Jack and Sherry.
DeleteGod bless always.