Everyone has gone through times when they encounter situations which seem like they will overwhelm and leave us devastated. The enemy of our soul is always looking for ways to take down the righteous, to discourage them.
The devil brings bad reports to shake us from the foundation we have in Christ. He uses sicknesses, diseases, illnesses, and any negative situation he can to make us feel alone and isolated. He uses these things to make us question the faithfulness of God.
It's during these dark times the devil seeks to destroy us. Jesus said there are three things the devil comes to do. This is found in John 10:10, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." He's wanting to take us captive to our thoughts and keep us believing that God doesn't care anymore, that God doesn't see our pain.
He will whisper in our ear that God will not save us. He wants to keep our minds tormented and in bondage to fear. The pain that comes from the attacks of the devil has left many Christians in the dust. Many have thrown up their hands and given up. However, this is not an option we should take.
It's during the times of our troubles, the times of our affliction the devil will try to make us believe that the power of life and death is in his hands. He brings a bad report to threaten and intimidate us. If we yield to fear he will take control. Through our negative mindset he will take power to enslave us to our thoughts. He uses these things to keep us in bondage and living in defeat.
The devil is always on the prowl, stalking, seeking to devour the children of God. The word of God says in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour."
When we receive a bad report, no matter what form it takes, is when we must rely on God the most. We must endure the storms of life that come our way. We might not always understand why bad things are happening to us, but we can rest knowing God sees our pain. He's waiting for us to cry out to him, and he will bring deliverance.
Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles." That's a promise from God, when we cry out he will hear us and bring deliverance. He said he would never leave us or forsake us. God will always keep his word and bring freedom. It might not seem like our liberty will ever come, but God said it would.
We need to be filled with righteous anger, and speak to that mountain to be removed and be cast into the sea. We have the victory through the blood that Jesus shed upon the cross. The devil has already been defeated. One of this Examiner's favorite songs is called "Prepare to Die" by Carman.
The song talks about the different diseases that come against the children of God. Then a revelation comes bringing the realization that we have the victory. Some of the lyrics to that song are as follows: "Then something will hit your soul, a revelation so it seems, and a holy anger will drill you and boy, you get spittin' mean, and it will shoot right through the fibers of your spirit like a beam.
And all across the countryside, everybody will hear you scream. Prepare to die, cancer, prepare to die. I've got a message from the God of whom you have defied. You come against me with your weapons from hell. You come against me with your fearful evil spell, but I come against you in the name of the God of the armies of Israel. Prepare to die" [sic]
When that bad report comes, when tragedy strikes, what will you do. Will you lay down and die? If that's not an option, which it shouldn't be, you need to take a stand against it. Cry out to God and with his help, you can overcome it.
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