Know The Enemy

I am really caught up in this whole idea of a new year. I have been thinking and reflecting on that. I wrote about that two blogs ago. As I am thinking about living this life and living it more abundantly I am also aware that this life, as a Christian, comes with persecution from the enemy. The New Testament warns us to stay awake. I think the story of Jesus Christ, getting ready to be crucified, kept telling His disciples to stay awake, is an example of our lives today. God doesn’t want us ignorant of the world around us. He wants us awake and aware.

I was ignorant about the world around me, when I was a Junior in college. I was a good girl. I didn’t do drugs. I didn’t drink. I didn’t have sex. Like I said, I was a good girl. But with that idea of being a good girl, I think there was some pride on my part. And pride is one of those deadly sins that can snare the Christian. That was the sin that cost Satan to be kicked out of heaven. I had pride that I believed I really was a good girl.

I never really thought about the enemy. In the back of my mind, I thought I was untouchable. Since, I was a good girl, how could the enemy get me? How could he snare me? There was nothing he could snare me with…except, there was…pride. That insidious sin.

In the spring semester of my Junior year at a Christian college, the enemy decided to take me down. I was completely unsuspecting. I was living my good girl life, studying and trying to pass Spanish in college. Remember? I was a good girl.

The attack from Satan would come from a mixed up, lonely, lesbian, who I would later come to realize was very likely demon possessed. I disliked her immediately. But my pride got in the way, I was going to help this girl. She needed my help. So I tolerated her. I was set up for the perfect storm. I wasn’t going to church at all. (I justified it, because I went to chapel everyday and had at least one Bible class). I wasn’t praying a whole lot. And my pride in being a good girl. That set me up for the enemy to attack me and drag me so far down, I actually thought of suicide at the end of it.

There is so much to this story, but the big takeaway is I want you to realize how the enemy works. After tangling with the enemy, my eyes were wide open. And like God always does, he restored me, I met my husband right after I came through it all. I gained a couple of really close friends, and God lifted me up so I had such perfect peace.

Since that time I have become like a spiritual barometer. I can sniff out the enemy’s presence almost immediately. As soon as those feelings come to me, I know where they come from. Those feelings are feelings of hopelessness. Feelings of dread. Feelings of depression. When I feel them, I know, I need to fall on my knees immediately. The enemy is about, doing what he always does, seeking whom he can destroy.

God is not the author of chaos. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Know them. Hopelessness doesn’t come from God. That is from the enemy. Memorize the fruits of the Spirit.

If you are struggling with anything like feelings of hopelessness, anxiousness, depression, or anxiety, know that these things do not come from God. They are contrary to the Lord. Know the enemy’s work. The Believer’s life should have the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. If you don’t, know the enemy is messing with you.

Stay awake Believer. Keep your eyes wide open. We are living in perilous times. Keep yourself guarded in this new year!