Yes, the struggle is real. The voices that we hear ringing in our ears on a daily basis say: You can’t do that! Who do you think you are? You are not smart enough. You don’t have the education for that. You are too young or too old. You are not tall enough. The list goes on and on. Yeah, those voices ring so loud that it causes one to doubt and second-guess if what we are hearing is true. However, another powerful voice RISES up on the inside that appears to resonate with truth and says that you are going to make it in life. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (I John 4:4).” You are going to come out stronger because you have asked for wisdom and He is with you to guide you continually.
We recognize this tug of war to be a battle going on in our mind. And what gives the believer the ability to hold on is because of the outcome. We know that every battle we endure is a fixed fight where we come forth victorious. WHY? “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!(Isaiah 54:17)” Now is not the time to give into the voices that are negative, doubting, and defeating. For every negative thought that is a lie we can cast it down with what the truth of the word says which is positive, encouraging, comforting, and life-giving. We have a choice in the fight of our life every day. We each make the choice to give up and give into the lies of the enemy. Or we can stand strong and victorious saying what God says in His word about us. “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Genesis 1:26).” You were designed for greatness. Greatness is in your DNA!
We know that the attack is real and we hold powerful weapons in our arsenal for the battle. God has his part and we have our part. He will not do our part in the fight and we are not to do His part. This message is first to me and I want to encourage you to do what is necessary to drown out those voices daily with keeping a P.E.P. in your step:
1) PRAY~ As warfare becomes intense so our prayers also must be intensified. When the enemy comes with a lie then find out what God says about You and your situation and pray aloud the truth from the word. A book that I highly recommend with scripture-based prayers is by John Eckhardt, “Prayers that Rout Demons” at Amazon.
2) ENCOURAGE~ Say words of affirmation throughout the day to encourage yourself in the Lord. You can’t count on others to do this for you. The word of God is powerful when spoken aloud. Declare: I am your beloved. I am blessed and highly favored of the Lord. I am complete in Him. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. Can you imagine how strengthened and encouraged you will feel? It’s the best prescription I know without the adverse side effects that one gets from medication and you can keep getting refills as often as needed for healing, deliverance, and breakthrough. As my Pastor would say, “You can continue to call it like you see it until you see it like you call it (Pastor Don W. Shelby, Jr.).”
3) PRAISE~ Keep praise on your lips especially during the hard times. To give praise by definition is to commend; to applaud; to express approbation of personal worth or actions. “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together (Psalm 34:1-3).” It will confuse the enemy when you bless the Lord at all times. We give God the opportunity to inhabit our praise. Play praise/worship music in your home to saturate the atmosphere and shift some things.
Remember, it’s a fixed fight and WE WIN!
Blessings and Love,
Lauretha Ward