Not today

 

Life can be hard. It’s moments of sadness, pain, deflation, heartbreak, embarrassment, loss of confidence, loss of willpower, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and hopelessness that can become overwhelming. We all have them.  We don’t want them or ask for them or even deserve them most of them time. We just live in a broken world, and so, without fail, the enemy marks each one of us for these disappointments and failures. The enemy, the devil, is clever and conniving. He wants to steal any joy you might possibly have.  John 10:10 calls him a thief and says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” 

For some of us right now, these hits may feel like they are happening daily. The car broke down and it’s going to be extremely expensive to fix it. You got in a fight with your spouse or best friend. A good friend said something that hurt your feelings. A loved one passed away. You lost your job. You just found out you have a disease. Your child is sick. Your spouse left you. You’ve lost confidence in yourself. You’re just so lonely. Your heart is broken, and you really miss someone. A plan fell through. You’re not appreciated for all the work you do. You feel like you work so hard but don’t get anywhere and feel hopeless. You worry about your loved ones.

The enemy lurks and waits for an opportunity to attack us when we are weak.  He pounces on us and beats us down so that we are so low we won’t rise again—at least that’s what he wants. It’s during these times we have to recognize what’s happening and remember not only who we are but whose we are.

Not only are we special humans put on this earth for a purpose, but more importantly, we are children of the King of Kings. Yep, we belong to our Father, God, the One above all others. Isaiah 43:1b says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” I don’t know about you, but for me, those are my fighting words against the enemy.  When he is beating on me and my family, I take my warrior stand and remind him that I belong to the King of Kings and he can just back off.

So when you feel like you’re under attack, remember whose you are and that He fights for you. You tell the enemy, “Not today.”

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” Ephesians 6:12