Hi beautiful friend and happy October!
I wrote the below article because I was inspired to share what I’ve been walking through this week and a conversation I had with someone this week. Both of us are facing some fear of the unknown with some anxiety knocking at the door of our hearts hoping for us to let it in.
But I’m praying and working to stand against the fear and anxiety by choosing to meditate on a few key verses that remind me of God’s promises to protect, provide, and take care of me.
Specifically this one:
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
- Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Ultimately I’m choosing trust over fear, and I hope the below encourages you to do the same 💖
You and I are in a spiritual battle. Right now. And each and every day.
And in this spiritual battle, one of the biggest things the enemy would LOVE to take over is your mind.
Honestly, he doesn’t have to completely take over to win the battles. Just set up camp.
But not just any campsite. A stronghold.
A place where you will run when the threat of fire is coming because you’d rather stay comfortable where you are than be refined for the Lord…
a place you will run to in the middle of a fight with your spouse that causes you to seethe, allow seeds of bitterness to be sown, and choose division over forgiveness…
a place where you will hide in the midst of a struggle, an unknown situation, or when you’re face-to-face with one of your biggest fears because you’d rather avoid them than face or fight them in courage…
That’s when the enemy’s strongholds will be most evident. Instead of seeking God, choosing to respond like Christ, and standing firm we will:
• run away
• try to hide
• try to protect ourselves in our own ways or strength or
• even trying to drown out our sorrows, stress, fears, etc. with something else God never intended for us to go to for comfort
The enemy’s stronghold may seem like a good option in the beginning because it’s easy, comfortable, or what we have always done.
But eventually that “ease”, “comfort”, and “tradition” is what will come between us and our relationship with the Lord. And ultimately our growth and maturity in the Lord.
Why is that?
Because the LORD is supposed to be our strong tower:
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
- Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
The LORD is supposed to be who/where we run to in times of stress:
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
- Psalms 46:1 NKJV
The LORD is supposed to be our provider and protector:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.”
- Psalms 91:1-3 NKJV
And when we trust in something or someone else other than the Lord, we are really just going to an idol - something else first to save us, help us, or give us strength.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
- Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
My prayer for you…
I pray the next time you are in the midst of chaos, something you’re afraid of, etc. the Lord will remind you of this article and you will choose something different.
That you will choose to no longer run to the strongholds of your past, but instead choose to run to God instead.
But wait… can that actually happen?
Before we can ever expect to choose something different in those moments we must prepare for them in advance.
That means when things are calmer, we are:
• spending time with God in the secret place
• praying for insight, strategy, and strength for the next battle
• repenting of the things we have run to for so many years
• diving into God’s word and finding verses to memorize, run to, and stand upon when we don’t feel like being Christ like
How does this actually apply to your life?
Now it’s time to think about what this means for you.
What are you struggling with right now? And are you utilizing the full armor of God you have been given to wage the right warfare?
Is your shield of faith on the floor or is it in your hand ready to block all the fiery darts of the wicked one?
Is the Sword of the Spirit in your hand ready to combat against your adversary, the devil?
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” -1 Peter 5:8 NKJV
Now is not the time to back down, my beautiful friend.
Now is the time to lean into Christ, cry out to Him, stand firm on the Word of God, and fight the good fight of faith. Then wait and see what He can and will do in your life!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
- Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV
In Christ’s love,
~Sarah