Have you tried giving yourself to God only to have the Devil try to convince you that you don’t feel any different? Don’t underestimate the struggle you will go through once you accept the Lord as your personal savior and turn your attention away from hedonistic pursuits. The Devil is not happy when someone turns their back on Him. That is because the Devil realizes that He is no match for the Holy Spirit that lives within the heart of a Christian. The Devil considers it slander from those who break free from the den of addictions, fear and self-punishment. He is without honor and sensitive to any slight. He is an outsider to peace, grace, forgiveness and prosperity. The Devil will do anything in His power to make you feel as if you are not fit to be in God’s camp — that you can’t possibly be forgiven of your sins. He will send people your way to try and make you stumble or to remind you of your old self. These are all tests my friend. We gain strength by being forged in the fire. That is how our faith gets fortified.
Walking in faith is you keeping up your guard to such attacks and by refuting and deflecting the lies. The Devil cannot take away what God has given to you though he will try. Once redeemed, forever redeemed. Staying immersed in the promises of scripture and taking them to heart is like putting on the full armor of God and it is what will allow you to win the spiritual war that is aimed at you.
The Devil is no match for Christ. Christ, with his own blood, offered a perfect, eternal sacrifice that paid the price for those who’ve accepted Christ as their personal Savior. If you are a Christian and have a relationship with Christ, it means all your sins – past, present and future – are forgiven. Christ is the only one who can restore your joy and wipe away your guilt. The Devil knows this and that is why he wages a spiritual war against believers.
There may still be consequences for your sin and choices, but you need not live in condemnation. Behaving as if you are consecrated is you believing that through the blood that was shed on the cross, you are set free. That you have victory over sin and over fear or any one else’s hateful ways. Faith and freedom go hand in hand if you are a Christian. You are no good to your children, family, friends and co-workers if you keep dragging around the blob of shame or pain from your past, letting it affect your mood, behavior and choices. Having faith is you believing in what God promises which means freedom from the weight of your past, including your guilt.
Trials, temptation and pity parties will come your way in life. They are inevitable. Being prepared for this type of spiritual warfare is key. That is where being bathed in the Word of God and memorizing scripture will come in handy. One of my favorites is Psalms 18:2. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
The price is too high for you to spend all your resources trying to win a war – a spiritual battle – that you alone can’t possibly win. You can win spiritual battles with God by your side. You just need to be consistent in your prayer life and prayer requests. Ask and you shall receive. He will help redirect your focus and heal your hurts. Once the Devil knows you are not going to be lured into his playground, he will flee if your boundaries are impenetrable. He might come back in a moment of weakness and tempt you again, but he won’t stay long if you command Him to flee.
If you are not a Christian and are ready to turn your life over to Christ, say this simple prayer. “Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I ask that you come into my life as my personal Savior. Give me a heart to know you and know that you are God, Creator of the Heavens and the earth. Please forgive me of my sins. Walk with me. Be the light unto my feet. Help me rise up and out of the past and my negative, repetitive thoughts that have held me captive for so long. I ask these things in Your name, Amen.” Your story of redemption and consecration alone is so powerful it will give God’s angels charge to fly above you and protect you. The resource tab has a list of books, Youtube videos, and podcasts that can help you in your walk to a brighter future.
Hold your head up high dear Christian.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” I Corinthians 10:13
