Has it ever happened to you – when out of nowhere you just feel off? Maybe an argument breaks out… Perhaps one thing after another starts to happen… Heaviness comes. You get confused. God’s truth feels far. You feel way different today than yesterday.
I’ve been there. This past weekend, I can’t say what it was, but out of nowhere my husband and I started arguing about nothing. The air was heavy and words poured of our mouths, neither of us meant.
I knew it was an attack. He knew it was an attack. Why? Because it came out of nowhere.
I didn’t seem to be alone in this either. I talked to a couple of friends; they too felt an attack. I suppose, though, we shouldn’t be surprised when this sort of thing happens. Scripture tells us:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8 NLT)
What about you? Are you undergoing and overhelming attack? Do you feel weak to handle it? Are you unsure? Put out?
Don’t be discouraged. You are not alone. Even Apostle Paul dealt with attacks. Consider this, he went through various court trials, was imprisoned and shipwerecked, and even after all this he experienced this:
Acts 28:3 says, “As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand.”
The spiritual attack not seen by the natural eye, became apparent as a literal snake bit him on the hand.
What did Paul do?
He made a move to shake the snake.
“But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.” (Acts 28:5 NLT)
Friends, we can shake the snake too. How do we do this? 1. Repentance: Repent of any fear, any unbelief or any sin. Get gone what is not meant to be found near you, a believer.
- Pray: Pray it away. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Lu. 10:19)
- Rejoice, Give Thanks & Praise God: Your name is written in the book of life and you are protected, secure, and significant in Christ Jesus, forever and ever more. “But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Lu. 10:20)
- Discern: Is there something or someone God may be calling you to surrender to Him? Is there an activity, a show, a program or something that is not bringing peace, hope and life to you? Consider and pray if you are going God’s way.
Anxiety, fear, stress, and heaviness is not our portion. Surely, do we go through hard times in life? Of course. Do we need to submit to attacks and be taken out by them? No way.
Don’t be coy or timid; shake the snake.
Prayer: Father, we need you. We need your protection, your direction and your defense. Will you come to our rescue? Rebuke the enemy on our behalf. You are our armor and protection. You are our strength. Defend me. Rescue me. Strengthn me. And, deliver me from all evil. I pray schemes of the enemy cease and today, I put on the full armor of God. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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