When the Enemy Attacks

Every human has an agenda, and that agenda focuses primarily on the self. We have an innate desire to promote ourselves. It's so ingrained, this ugly desire, that we're blind to it. 

I'm learning to check my motivation against the Holy Word of God. And so often I find myself praying for God to cleanse my heart and plant me firmly in His footsteps. 

I don't want to form a new path in the woods--I want to plant my feet firmly in the footprints he's left for me. Take up your cross and follow me, he says. With my whole heart I want to do this.

That very desire--to follow Christ authentically, purely--makes me a great enemy of Satan. He's after me, after us, especially now that a Children's Bible Study will occur here once a week. Last week I was so ready, but yesterday was Peter's 11th birthday and we concentrated on him, not on preparing the house and snacks for Bible Study. 

These last few days I've felt the burden of perfectionism and once again, I checked my motivation against the Word. What does it matter about the house? Why must I stress about clearing away every last inch of clutter so that the image is one of organized perfection? 

For we all know, I'm far from organized perfection. Why would I want to live a lie? 

Oh, Lord, take away my self-promotion. Create in me a clean heart. 

We may fool ourselves into thinking we just want people to be comfortable in our home, but the truth is, perfect homes aren't that comfortable. I went to one recently with my children and it made me a nervous wreck--all the expensive things, sparkling clean and tidy. It felt stifling and I couldn't wait to leave. 

When we arrived back to our disheveled home with its laundry on the couch and toys strewn here and there, and paperwork on the counter, I felt strangely relieved.

Aside from that there's been the general feeling that this is all too much...I can't do it! We have too many problems to tackle a weekly Bible Study.

Lies. All lies. 

And how do we fight them?

The Word of God! We slow down and devour the Word, instead of speeding up to keep up. We focus on His agenda, and not on our skewed one. 

Souls. Souls. Souls. His desire is that not one shall perish. 

To teach the Word of God, to teach children to pray, to love them authentically and display a heart after His? There's no greater purpose than to save souls. Many things are involved in this endeavor, from teaching to helping to comforting. From feeding to clothing to listening. When we are the hands and feet of Jesus, when we put the Word into eager hearts, we are saving souls.

The actual work of Grace is of God, but we are His instruments. Let us rejoice and be glad in that. 

Here I've gathered a couple verses that help when Satan is battling your resolve to follow God. Spiritual warfare can happen whenever you live for God in a more focused way, such as reading the Bible more, teaching at church, starting a new ministry, or working harder on your marriage or parenting. 

Anything that draws you and others closer to God will be fought by the Enemy. 

We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength...especially making disciples!

There are many more verses that help and I hope to research further very soon. My Internet problems are probably another attack from the Enemy, perhaps? I keep losing the signal still.

Love to you all as you seek to follow Him.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Matthew 28:19-20

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20