FUTILE THIEVERY

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.

John 10:10

A (THE) thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy…

Is that ever true!

Yesterday must have been marked “steal” day with big red letters on the enemy’s calendar of chaos and destruction.

He “stole” an opportunity for a brother to progress at the REFUGE by infusing an attitude of ingratitude causing him to be expelled.

He “stole” the home of a mom and her boy by convincing her that a toke from a pipe meant more than shelter and a meal for her son.

He “stole” from the coffers of several ministries through the manipulation and guile of one who is vexed with his lies.

He did his best to “steal” the recovery of a friend by lacing a relationship with contention, strife and anger.

He prowled around all day robbing and pilfering joy, peace, contentment, possibilities, and hope. The day was laced with story after story, text after text, and post after post; an onslaught of looting like I haven’t seen in a while. He even did his best to pick the lock of MY joy by convincing me to waste my time on another “selfishness and sulk” episode rather than sticking to my service calling. One to which I am returning today!

Romans 12:12

…Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Yet while he is relentless in his filching ways, we ALL must remind ourselves that while GOD acknowledges his robbing ways, GOD also confirms his thievery has no lasting impact.

Psalm 16:8-10

I always remember that the Lord is with me.

He is here, close by my side,

so NOTHING can defeat me.

9 So my heart and soul will be very happy.

Even my body will live in safety,

10 because you will not leave me…

The truth is the enemy can do his BEST to discourage and rob us of everything. Yet as hard as he works, as much as he steals and as good as he is at his craft, one thing he can’t take; GOD’s love for us!

Romans 8:38-39

I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is something that is protected from all destruction and pilfering. And that is what will sustain us even when everything else is ransacked or stolen.

Therefore if you sense that the enemy is lurking around your neck of the woods today trying to steal your happiness, your joy, your peace, or your hope remember he can never steal what is really important...

GOD’s love for you.

Not today. Not ever.

1 John 4:16

So we know the love that God has for us, and we TRUST that love.

God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney