ENEMY OVERTIME

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Here recently the enemy has been working overtime in his efforts to discourage. If anyone believes he is asleep at the wheel or not fully engaged in his quest to detour, derail and destroy, then you just aren’t paying attention.

And I am just not referring to the “biggies” either; relapses, suicide attempts and successes. Sure they have dotted the landscape of late, but what I am talking about today are the subtle advances he is making.

Missed meetings.

Ignored fellowships.

Lost focus.

Busyness and apathy.

Those are some real FREEDOM cripplers in their own right.

Yet that is how the enemy works, subtly and dangerously. I will wager I have quoted this passage 20 times in the last week and a half.

1 Peter 5:8

…be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat.

So I felt it important at the start of a new week and a new month of DISPATCH’s to encourage and remind us about his efforts and to take just a second to get ready!

1 Peter 1:13-16

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear… Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing…As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness…

What we believe has a direct impact on our response to life so we must decide daily to trust that God is looking out for us, that He is deeply invested in what happens to us and the pressures and attacks we are facing!

Psalm 33:14

…From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers. He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.

We need to remember that the enemy roaming around constantly offering suggestions, alternatives and enticements designed to trip us up and lead us off of God’s path for this day and future days.

Yet if we resolve to be OBEDIENT to GOD, to allowing HIS WAY and HIS LEADING to shape each day, we will be able to fend off the enticements and the distractions and remain in holiness just as Peter promised!

So today, tune out the distractions and the dangerous enticements and listen to GOD. For if we...

Proverbs 8:32

…listen carefully; those who embrace MY ways are MOST BLESSED...

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney