“No weapon formed
against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment
you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. And their
righteousness is from Me. Says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
Have you had
one of those moments where God is evidently trying to tell or warn you of
something? The other day I went for praying meeting with a number of my fellow
missionaries, and my sweet God didn’t fail to speak to a number of us. I was
happy for His Word... It shows He was definitely in our midst and He heard our
prayers.
After the
meeting, we were all happy and chatty when a good friend of mine drew near and started
speaking words of life to me, inspiring, encouraging words about never allowing
anyone to belittle me or steal my joy. I was like okaayyy. It was getting a
teensy awkward, the way he was stressing it. Lol I was wondering why all of a
sudden he was telling me such things, cause nothing had happened and like I
said, the atmosphere was all happy and chatty. I wanted to ask why but I was
like nah, lemme just take it in.
O, how God
works! The next day, the devil struck and it all began to make sense. You see,
God knew way ahead that the enemy was going to try to disturb me. But I had a
heads up from my God and had on His full armor. I always do, ready for any
attacks. Sometimes God’s care for me leaves me speechless. There are a billion
people who call to Him, but He still makes time for me and warns me ahead of
battle. Isn’t He an amazing God! He knew the enemy was ready to get at me with
meaningless, useless, empty words so He spoke to me through my friend before
that.
“Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the full armor of
God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...Above all, taking
the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:10,11,16
There are
two forces behind words. One is good and the other, evil. God speaks to us
through people, people who have made themselves available for the Holy Spirit
to use them, just like my friend. But then again the devil also speaks and he
also uses people who invite him in to use them for malicious purposes. And it’s
so obvious the differences between the two. As the Spirit-led folk speak
life-giving words, the ones who allow the devil to freely use them speak lies
and detestable words... What have you been saying lately? Don’t allow the devil
to use you. You were made for something greater, I promise.
The devil
knows how precious the children of God are because of our great inheritance!
Eternal Life! Plus we get to see and be with Jesus! Yes, that super cute,
gentle Lover of my soul. :) Ahh, that day will be glorious! Anyways, as I was
saying, the enemy who has been kicked out of Heaven is so jealous of our
inheritance in Christ, so he roams this earth, searching for someone to devour.
You know how the saying goes- misery loves company. This low life goes about
using people to spread hatred and lies to eventually lead them off the path of
God. Do you ever wonder why some people lose it and commit suicide or become
alcoholics or do drugs? They allowed the devil to lie to them that they are not
worthy. But hear me, YOU ARE WORTHY! You are so important to God, it’s mind-blowing.
If only you opened your eyes to see and be attentive to listen. He whispers
gently to your heart. You need only to tune out the devil and his accomplices
by feeding your Spirit with God’s Word. Yeah, sometimes it’s not ‘fun’ to read
His Word because it convicts you, but truth be told, that’s the best thing you
need. And surround yourself with positive, godly people. You do not have to put
up with negative people/lukewarm ‘Christians’ who do not support your growth in Christ!
“So then, because you
are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you of My mouth.”
Revelations 3:16
I’m not perfect and I don’t intend to be but I
know who I am in Christ and I can’t allow negative people slow my walk down with
HIM. Yes, it’s that serious. This is my eternity we’re talking ‘bout here. And
I can’t care how ‘odd’ this may sound to people. God tells us to flee from
temptation. Acting on temptation leads to sin. So anyone who tries to tempt me
to say things I shouldn’t say or listen/watch things I have no business with, I
flee from them. Simple.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I
seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of
Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Be friendly
to all but friends with few. Those you call ‘friend’, must also be on a journey
living for God. And if people try to make you feel guilty for weeding them out
of your space, let ‘em know 1
Corinthians 15:33. They cannot call you judgemental if you are quoting the
JUDGE! Yurp, that’s right, HE set the standards, not you or me.
Note that I
was busy seeking God’s face in prayer with friends when His Word came to me. God
can’t speak to you if you keep shutting Him out and not making time for Him.
Tune out the wrong crowd and seek Him like a thirsty, panting deer. You must desire
to grow deeper in Christ. No lukewarmness. Remember, this battle is not a
physical one. We contend not with flesh and blood so prayer is a very powerful
weapon.
“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.” Ephesians 6:12
So as the
devil tried pathetically to speak negativity to me that day, I simply laughed
like always and thanked God for His Word. I do not speak that messy language. I
speak positivity! Victory was and is already mine. I thought of how God never
speaks in vain. His Word is Life itself. Was He not the one who called the whole
world into being with words? O, I serve a living, mighty God! The God who walks
with me through fire, the God who intricately formed me in my mother’s womb, my
sweet Jesus who calls me Friend. Yes, He calls me friend. John 15:15 How cool is that! :D His ways are higher than the thoughts
of man and the wicked plans of the enemy. I’m more than thankful to be serving
such an awesome Father.
Do not entertain
the devil at all. Sure, he’ll always try to work his way to you but be ready and
alert. And like I say, there’re some battles you don’t even bother fighting, cause
the armor of God shields you from them plus your level of overcoming is way above
it cos you keep growing Spiritually...so the devil’s tricks become petty and
old news, more like a broken record. LOL
Hear me, you
matter. This world needs you. God needs you to fulfil so many wonderful
purposes. Believe it or not, that is why you are alive right now. While you’re
still finding your way around your purpose, the devil will try to lead you
astray and knock you out. He will use people against you. Don’t let him have it
easy. Don’t put up with the devil! Fight him off with God’s Word. Never believe
a word the enemy utters against you. Allow God to work in you and wait
patiently for the day when God will prepare a table for you before your enemies,
the day when they become a footstool for you! Know that the people who
continually plan bad things against you will have no choice that day than to
praise you. The people who are seeking your downfall, waiting for the fallout,
the ones who are desperately waiting for you to breakdown... trust me, these
people will have no choice than to celebrate you very soon! As painful as that
will be for them, they will. Why? Because God will make them! Psalm 23:5 says so! They should know
better than to be messing around with HIS beloved children.
I’ve gone
past the point of having petty fights and exchanges with the devil and his
partners in crime. Nah, they’re just not worth my time! When the enemy struck
that day, I had joy in my heart and kept singing praises to my Jesus. HIS Word
about my life is the ONLY thing that ever matters to me. Bits of this poem from
Maya Angelou came to mind as I joyfully relished in the beauty of that day.
You may write me down in
history
With your bitter, twisted
lies,
You may trod me in the
very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll
rise.
Does my sassiness upset
you?
Why are you beset with
gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve
got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like
suns
With the certainty of
tides,
Just like hopes springing
high,
Still, I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me
broken?
Bowed head and lowered
eyes?
Shoulders falling down
like teardrops
Weakened by my soulful
cries?
You may shoot me with your
words,
You may cut me with your
eyes
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll
rise...
The next
time the enemy tries to disturb you, let ‘em know that aint nobody got time for
that! The devil is attacking you because you have a super high value and he
hates it. He’s jealous of it. Seriously, think about this. The devil wouldn’t
bother attacking someone he’s already got pinned down. He’s after you with his
hateful words and evil actions because you are still out of his reach! Boom! Be
glad. In fact, you should be a worried if the world doesn’t hate you. Cos it’s
a given, part of the deal. Jesus made it clear that as children of God, the
world will hate us because it does not know Him/us.
“If the world hates
you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world,
the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose
you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18,19
So, is the
devil screaming lies into your eyes? Tell him, aint nobody got time for that!
Is he struggling to make you feel guilty and belittled? Let him know, aint
nobody got time for that! No thwarted word of the enemy can prevail against the
mighty, wonderful Word of God concerning your life. I’m not letting any
insignificant nobodies dull my shine, and so should you! Like my dear friend
spoke life to me that evening, I encourage you to never allow anyone to belittle
you. You are a child of God, live accordingly. No one can compete with that.
No matter
what the devil says, I’m an incredible wonder, a child of the KING of kings and
the Lord above ALL. If this disgusts anyone, ha! Tough luck. This is who I am
and nothing and no one can change this! I will continually be loved by my sweet
Jesus into eternity!
“For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor
things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created
thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38.39
Still, I RISE. xoxo
Delali.
