Counter Attack the Enemy!
I am beginning to have real pains from the cancer tumors that are growing in my body. Before, over the last four years, I did not experience any pain from the cancer except in the chemo drugs used in fighting the disease. During Chemo, I would experience a stabbing sensation and the hope was that the chemo drugs were killing the cancer cells.
Think about it – a monster lurking in your body, quietly invading and taking over space pushing vital organs out of the way as it grows and manifests into an insatiable beast! I was almost convinced that I didn’t have cancer for I looked well, (in between chemotherapy and hair loss), I regained my energy and was able to live a full life! I even been able to push the big “C” to the back of my mind and act as if I was okay,
But reality always has a way of showing up. Pet and CT scans told a different story and revealed the immunotherapy was not effective anymore. The monster showed itself and I could not ignore it anymore.
Just as I am counter attacking the cancer, I think of spiritual warfare. What are the dark thoughts that enter into your mind unbidden? Where did they come from? Why do we dwell on them?
Spiritual attacks come at anytime. I’m usually the optimist and I had thoughts of hopelessness.. I had to catch myself and ask myself, when have you become the glass is half empty girl?
The devil and his minions certainly want to sever your relationship with the Lord, and he will try to convince you of feelings of hopelessness while fighting disease, addictions; worthlessness, of past regrets you relive over and over, that you are evil for having dark thoughts, and that how would God want you in His Kingdom because you are not good enough? Distrust and losing faith in the Lord come seeping in and you lose sight of Jesus as the waters sweep over you, feelings of drowning and being lost in the tempest of the storm of hopelessness.
I am here to tell you – Jesus is there! He always has been and always will be! In the storms of life the battle matures our faith as we go through the fire. We keep our eyes on Him as He pulls us out of the raging seas that are threatening to drown us and pull us under. In the storm, our faith is tested and strengthened. Here are my suggestions for fighting the darkness :
- Know Jesus Christ as your Savior.
- Be in relationship with Him and talk, pray to Him every day.
- Read the Bible every day, even if it’s only one verse you have time for. Dwell, and meditate on its meaning and how it applies in your life. This is the Sword of the Spirit, (which is the Bible), and it’s used as an offensive and defensive weapon. When you take verses in the Bible and speak its truth, the darkness runs away, and peace, blessed peace and assurance returns.
- You have a choice! When dark thoughts enter your mind, reject it and speak back to it. I speak this Bible verse often: …”We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:5. NIV
- Praise God! Be thankful and thank Him continually throughout the day. It’s very hard for dark thoughts to enter when you are thanking and praising Him through your words, by singing and reading the Bible verses throughout your day.
- Serve the Lord. With the many blessings God bestows on us, I liken it to a water fountain overflowing onto others. What does it look like? To me, it is showing compassion and kindness to others, sharing Jesus, using the generosity that God gives us to help others monetarily. For how we treat others we are treating the Lord.
- Keep your commitments. Stay busy and show up when you commit yourself to something. I realize that pain will keep you housebound at times, but try not to let it become the main thing. When you dwell on others, it helps to manage the pain.
- Even if housebound, you can still read the Bible, praise Him and thank Him that He has brought you thus far. You can use one of the biggest weapons of all which is prayer and intercede on the behalf of others.
In the storms of life, God is in the midst.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:7-8. NIV