Do you ever wonder about those low moments? Your life, surroundings, and beliefs can be a twisted mess. In my mid-twenties I had a valley experience. It's crazy how quickly I sank from my mountain peak with God. It was more of a death drop of sorts. If the Devil had his way it would have been the end of my faith.
What does the Devil have to do with it? You may be wondering this question, particularly if you are sinking yourself. We have minimized the enemy of our souls into a weak, cartoon character (or emoji), when he is out to destroy us. The Bible references him as a lion because he functions as a predator.
I was in a vulnerable place. A new town, new job, no friends, no family near by, and new responsibilities that felt enormous...have you been there? I was primed for an attack because I was embarking on a season of complete transition alone. What was worse, the Enemy aimed at my weakest muscle, my heart. Feelings are rarely a good indicator of our reality.
Lysa TerKeurst, in her book Uninvited, discussed the Devil's predictable nature through 1 John 2:16, and he will, "dangle scenarios in front of me that evoke feelings that tempt me to crave, lust, and boast.*" If we search ourselves with honest hearts, the Enemy has or is attempting one or all of these routes in his schemes. I craved friendship, care, and love so deeply the Devil easily slid past my defenses to create sin oppotunity.
So how do we combat this? Lysa asks what is influencing and grabbing our attention. Looking at who or what speaks to our heart, mind, and actions is key. This is part of why we desperately need quiet time with God. There will be a million ways for the Enemy to deceive us, unless we know the size, strength, and power of our God.
Where can we start? The best place is God's Word. The Bible has all we need for deepening the bond with our Creator. The Psalms and book of Matthew help with understanding the heart of God and Jesus better. If you are looking for other resources check out a previous blog post with resources http://mmmnothingisimpossible.blogspot.com/2016/08/searching.html . I pray the more time you spend with God, the more you will be able to detect where the Enemy is attacking so you can resist, turning to God for your strength.
*TerKeurst, Lysa. Uninvited Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely. (Nashville: Nelson Books, 2016), 150.
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