Being A Christian comes with its good days and its tough days. We speak often of our good days because we want to encourage others towards Christ. People see you living this life and think that your life must grand or easier for you in some way but they do not realize that it is not easy to live life as a Christian. Spiritual warfare comes with the territory and sometimes it is a real struggle to make it through. And when you are in the midst of one of his attacks, it's often hard to remain encouraged.
Attacks by the enemy are just a part of this journey. For me, most attacks are simple and easy to recognize, nothing a little prayer can't fix. But there are times like what I am going through now, where it takes all of my energy just to think positive thoughts. Times when you feel like you are doing everything right but everything is falling apart.
When you feel like you have no one to talk to, when you are begging God for a word, some guidance or a sign and He is silent. When you just don't know what else to do.
Today it was really hard for me to even think of something encouraging to blog about. So I decided to share how I encourage myself when I feel like the enemy is trying to defeat me. The first thing I do is to go a little deeper in prayer and reading His word, despite how I feel. And right now I really don't feel like it at all, but I refuse to let the enemy win.
I tell God exactly how I feel and I ask Him for help. I also force myself to remember that I am not alone. That He will never leave me or forsake me. That He hears my prayers and knows exactly how I feel and what I am going through. And that just because He is silent, that doesn't mean that He is absent. He is always right there by our side.
Sometimes I think God allows us to go through times like this, just to see how we will respond. If we will really lean on Him when we are in need. I also find solace in the fact that when the enemy is fighting against you, especially when the attack is worse than normal, that you must be close to a blessing or something great is about to happen. Why else would he be fighting against you so hard. So when the attack is at its greatest, that is not the time to give up. That is when we need to remain strong and stay determined to make it through.
I may slip up, get a little down on myself or even focus on negative thoughts from time to time, but then I have to quickly remember who I am, His words and who He says that I am. God is our refuge in the midst of the storm. We have to remember this because the storms will come to each of our lives but the good thing is...that they will not last forever.
Psalm 46:1-3 1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Deuteronomy 31:6 6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Genesis 28:15 15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Psalm 34:6 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Nahum 1:7 7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him
Philippians 4:6 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.