I remember a life several years ago I thought was great. When tragedy happened, I laughed my way through it, buried it and moved on. I woke up, went to work and back home. Occasionally in between, I’d stop at the convenience store to grab a pack of Pall Mall Menthol Lights.
photo credit: fake plastic breno (creative commons)
I did what I wanted when I wanted to and was quick to judge and wouldn’t hesitate to throw the first punch in an argument, whether physically or verbally. I did my fair share of making fun of “Bible Thumpers” all the while continuing on the road of my own selfish ambitions.
Sounds like the life doesn’t it?
Then Jesus got a hold of me. He brought me to my knees weeping, desperate for a change. All of a sudden, things weren’t as funny as they used to be. The sins I committed in the work place brought this thing on called conviction. My anger started to scare me. I became interested in actually reading the Bible.
Christianity was going to be cool. Everything would be perfect now. Life wouldn’t be hard anymore. People told me the answers to life were in the Bible and I just needed to search them out. Who couldn’t do that? I was on a smooth ride, just waiting to go to Heaven.
Sounds pretty boring huh?
Let me introduce you to the life of being a Jesus Follower. Boring doesn’t even fit on the scale. The more I grow in my faith, the bigger the target on my back gets. This life I live now is an action packed roller coaster and it isn’t always fun.
Turns out the closer your walk with Jesus, the more you piss the devil off. Though he knows he can never take your soul with him to Hell, he can do many things to try to make your life on earth hell. He attacks you through people. He attacks you through your own thoughts. He thoroughly enjoys throwing your past in your face.
This past week has been a tough struggle for me. For everything great God did in my life, Satan was there to throw a dart into the mix. Here are a few examples:
- I released a weight loss ebook. He was quick to remind me that I wasn’t worthy to write anything about weight loss. I was a food addict and would always be one, just like my dad was an alcoholic.
- As I prepare to finish the last chapter of my new book to be released in September, he is on my heels with every distraction possible to keep me from doing so. He does not want this book published.
- As I prepared to speak on the topic of prayer, He tried to distract my prayer life and disconnect me from God.
Unfortunately, I let Satan get a few good punches in this week and I didn’t fight back like I should have. I listened to my feelings vs. the truth. I tried to fix things myself instead of reaching out for prayer before the battle got too deep. I let my pride get in the way. I let lies of my past slip through the cracks.
But today is a new day and greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.
If anyone tells you that following Jesus is easy, they’re lying. It’s hard. You’ll want to quit. You won’t, because Christ is in you. Sometimes it’s exciting. Sometimes it’s exhausting. You’re always in a fight. You’ll fail. You will conquer. You’ll cry. You will scream.
But it’s all worth it in the end.
I close with this. If Christianity is rolling along smoothly for you and there are no attacks coming your way, then I have to ask, are you really following Jesus?
“…I let Satan get a few good punches in this week….”
Yeah, me too. The thought life seems to be the recipient of ongoing attacks. So I like the way you put that. “I let.” I allowed. I focused. I gave too much power to. I chose to focus on the wrong thing as opposed to the power that I have in Christ.
Ouch.
I like to diminish the power that I choose to hand over to the evil one. Not deny the existence of this distraction, this dirty boxer who gets in some low blows now and then, but I won’t even give him a capital letter. That’s just a small, symbolic gesture yet reflects my desire to put him in his place. James 4:7 it. Because 2 Cor 5:17!
Thanks, Sundi Jo, for your candor and desire to share. Keep it going.
Thanks Garry for the encouragement. He loses. I try to keep remembering that 🙂
Hey Sundi Jo,
Amen! Thanks for reminder that we are not alone in the trenches. ;o) I’m a bit beat up too and need to re-secure my armor. Keep up the Good Fight & Speaking Truth!
Love Ya, Susie 🙂
Re-secure the armor. Love that Susie. Thanks for the reminder.
Great post!!
Thank ya mam.
Amen my sister. Greater is He that is in you than he who is the world.
Thanks, this post brought tears to my eyes because I so relate to it.
The devil tries to lie to me and cause destruction in my relationships. Also, with the ministry that I want to go into, I began to have lots of fears and doubts but it’s the devil’s lie because he don’t want the light of Jesus to shine into those dark places he has a hold on.
But God is greater. And God’s will be done. When those lies come, I just whisper the sweet words over and over: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” And it is finished.
Thank you my sister. God bless you and may God strengthen you in all you do. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Thank you for the encouraging words. I’m glad to know I’m not alone in this thing. There are some days that’s all I can say is “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” We’re in it together! 🙂