Well ladies, the truth of the matter is we are at war.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
Through a friend of a friend, we are blessed with this devotion from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church (Virginia) that gives a wonderful visual to help us fight our adversary. I hope it blesses you as much as it did me!
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him
as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are
slaves to sin which leads to death or to obedience, which leads to
righteousness.” Romans 6:16
It's probably been 20 years since my friend shared her testimony one
evening with our Home Group. Some things stick with you for a lifetime
and I can remember, as if it were yesterday, what she shared about how
God delivered her from severe depression.
I knew that she had suffered depression for many years and that she
was much better now. She was close to giving up the battle, when, as she
read the above verse the Holy Spirit gave her revelation knowledge
about her depression.
God gave her a mental picture of herself bowing down to Satan when she
felt the strong downward spiral of her negative thoughts and the
resulting depression consuming her. He showed her that she had a
choice to bow down and say, “yes, master, I am depressed and can't
overcome it.” Or she could say, “No, depression, you are no longer my
master, I will not give in to you anymore.
Each time the tormenting thoughts would come that used to be the
trigger for hopelessness she would say no. She applied, 2 Cointhians 10:5, to
her thought life by, "casting down arguments and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ," She took charge against
depression and no longer bowed her knee. Sometimes people have a
chemical imbalance that requires medication but in her case it was a
spiritual battle that was fought and won with the Word of God.
What is your battle? When Satan tries to tell you that you will never
win, are you bowing down and saying, "Yes, master?"
The next time the enemy knocks, will we open the door and bow down and
continue to be a slave to sin which leads to death or will we bow to
our master Jesus Christ and to obedience, which leads to
righteousness? The choice is ours.
Our Lord and Master,
Please reveal to us anything in our lives that you are not Lord over.
We want to be slaves for you.
In Jesus name,
Amen
In Christ's love,
Chris
