Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 1:5
Jesus is as close as you want Him to be or as far away as you choose for Him to be.
He’s always right by your side.
You can choose to let Him into your life, or not.
You can be as intimate as you want.
Jesus would like to be your all in all.
Your closest friend.
But it’s your choice.
If you choose to push Him away, He’ll go.
Not because He wants to, but because of your choices.
But the moment you change your mind, calling to Him, He’ll run right back.
Because He loves you.
Decide today to put God the very first in your life.
Life won’t be easy, but under the umbrella of God’s love, wisdom, and peace, His protection will filter the harsher bites of life and soothe the painful parts, too.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
He’s here.
Picture Jesus sitting right here.
In the chair beside you.
He’s as near as your very breath.
He’s waiting for you to need Him.
He knows you need Him, more than you even realize, but He gives you that choice.
He knows your heart belongs to Him, but sometimes it wanders away a bit.
When your heart wanders, it seeks after things of this world instead of God.
Jesus is seeking the Father on your behalf.
Always in prayer for you.
Your needs. Your health.
Your very life.
Anticipating your sigh, He looks at you.
Love and sympathy pour from His eyes.
He sees you.
He knows you.
He has a plan for all your days.
Good things, hard things, and everything in between.
He longs to hear your heart.
To carry your burdens, big or small.
As you labor through this life, reach out to Jesus.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
I hold onto things too tightly.
When I do, I remain in control.
As more and more things climb into my hands, I stumble, dropping everything.
I stand, crestfallen at the mess before me.
Looking up, I see You, my God, are here.
Your arms are reaching down to me, inviting me to come.
To surrender.
I place my hand in Yours as You lift me onto Your lap.
Instantly feeling peace, I rest, knowing You are the great I Am.
I look down at the life I’ve spilled and because of You, the messy pile is gone.
You’ve organized all of it for me.
In it’s place is a nice neat row, everything in a logical place.
You’ve even added Your touch, causing it to look more beautiful than it’s ever looked.
Thank you for reminding me that You, God, are in control.
You are my helper. My shield. My protector.
You are the author of my peace.
My constant shelter in the storms of life.
Remind me to give you my daily moments.
Remind me to let You hold my days as you protect me, allowing my hope to dwell in the future plans You have just for little ole me.
When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
How affected are you by others?
How often do situations move you into fear?
How available are you to the enemy’s agenda?
Guilty!
I know the truth of who God says I am.
Yet often, I fail to remember.
I know the truth, yet I often forget.
Am I alone in this, or does this happen to you, too?
When I forget, I am affected deeply by the ugliness of others.
When I forget, I am moved to fear or anxiety, sometimes even liking my pity party.
And when I forget, I become available to the devil’s lies. To his schemes. To his agenda.
That’s why we need Jesus, His ever present help.
Why we need the Holy Spirit’s whisper, reminding us of the Bible’s truth.
Only with our continual trust in God can we even hope to thwart the enemy’s plans for us.
One weapon we have is to memorize scripture.
Paste a special one somewhere you’ll see it often.
Continually remind your brain of Who made you. Of Whose image you bear. Of Who loves you.
Let’s try it for a second.
Think about how bad someone recently made you feel.
Feel your mood start to shift downward?
Now confidently speak these words to your brain: You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Picture yourself standing tall alongside Jesus, His crown on your head.
Picture yourself standing at the cross, Jesus looking at you, dying just for you.
Picture Jesus standing in front of you as you walk into a tricky situation.
You are protected, loved, and safe.
You are chosen.
The next time you begin to fall back into your poor me, even deserving of the attitude self, picture yourself seated in the high places with Jesus.
He chose you for this time.
He is for you, not against you.
With the Creator of the entire universe by your side, absolutely nothing else matters.
Walking in this world will only last for a short time, when compared to all eternity.
I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion. Ephesians 1:18-22
How do you see valleys in your life?
How do you view circumstances you wish were different?
Strained relationships you wish were closer?
Undelivered dreams or plans you thought were from God?
What if you reread Ephesians 1, applying it to your situation?
God has great plans for us.
Often we cannot see what they are, but Ephesians reminds us God has called us to a great hope.
To the riches of His inheritance to us.
And to dwell within His great power, which raised Jesus back to life.
What if you looked at the broken things in your life in light of God’s power?
Viewing them instead with eyes of hope, promise, and life?
Within our flesh, things can look pretty grim.
And sometimes they continue in that way, but God is always sovereign over all.
But – if you looked instead with heavenly eyes, circumstances and people would look different.
Human reasoning or God’s miraculous power?
Begin to live from the power God has for us.
See relationships healed with God’s strength.
Smile at the future knowing God is in complete control.
Look past your current circumstances, looking forward instead to what God has for you.
Walk with your head high as you contemplate God’s victory instead of casting your eyes downward in defeat.
Yes, God is over everything with complete control.
Yes, we don’t know what He plans with every little thing.
But you can rest assured He wants good things for us, His children.
Good things in our flesh may not always match up with the good He has for us.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because God is with us always.
He goes before us, behind us, and next to us, surrounding us with His peace, strength, and love.
Cast your vision on God’s hope, inheritance, and power.
As His voice becomes louder within, you’ll see life brighter and brighter, royally disappointing the devil along the way.
So instead of shrinking with fear, rejection, and lies, choose instead to shine with God’s hope and infinite power living inside of you.
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
I was deeply reminded the other day of how God holds everything in His hands.
Yes, He gives us free choice, but He is ultimately in charge.
Of everything.
He allowed Adam and Eve to sin.
And us, too.
Because we sin, we become separated from God, who is holy.
Yet He always provides a way back to Him.
When we choose Him, He’ll even walk alongside us. If we’ll let Him.
Imagine that. Allowing God, who created all things, to walk beside us.
As if it should ever be our choice. But it is.
He desperately wants us, but on His terms – which is for us to freely choose Him.
No bullying or taking against our will.
Even Paul, I mean Saul, when he encountered God.
Paul could have chosen to say no to God.
He would’ve been blind the rest of his life, but he had a choice.
This brings me back to us.
Daily submitting and really giving everything to God.
All things.
Teeny tiny things like parking spots, ugly hair, or stubborn pounds.
Big huge things like wayward relationships, divorce, or death.
Everything else seems to fall in between.
Working on my book and launch party comes to mind.
God literally handed it to me through His faithfulness and mine.
But little anxious worrying thoughts have been popping into my mind.
Honestly, they’ve had the ability to take over, making me question my course.
But then God whispers into my ear, “Why are you even bothered about that? Remember My faithfulness, which will never run out. I’ve cleared My path for you. As you continue to walk with Me, I’ll have your back. Forever.”
That’s for you, too. Stop worrying. Like ever.
Worrying removes your focus from God’s truth, which is this: He will never leave us or forsake us.
He’s got big plans for all of us.
Allow Him to use you and enjoy letting Him take care of the details.
Because He holds everything, including you, in His capable hands.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12
Do you remember?
Do you ponder all God has done for you?
All He has done for others?
Better yet, do you keep a record?
A journal of all His faithfulness?
I have one. It’s not great as I admittedly forget to write things down. Regularly.
But I’m going to get better. Way better.
One could write volumes each day, couldn’t we?
If only we could see what God sees.
What He protects us from.
What our prayers do in heaven.
What plans He has for us.
How near each day He really is to us.
We’d be in utter awe.
Jaw on the ground type thing.
Psalm 77 begins with crying out to the Lord.
He is troubled. So troubled he cannot speak.
His mind works, though. Sound familiar?
He begins to ask himself if God’s steadfast love has forever ceased?
He then sets his mind on God.
He decides to focus on God instead of his present misery.
On God’s promises and faithfulness.
He determines to remember and ponder what God has faithfully done for him and others.
He reminds himself God was always there, going before. Preparing the way.
While we cannot see God’s literal footprints, imagine them.
Picture God walking with you, sitting with you, watching over you while you slumber.
God wants to be your first thought when you wake and your last before you sleep.
If we had a glimpse into the spiritual realm, we’d never have anything before God. Ever.
God’s authority is here. As a Christian, live within His sovereign authority.
Ask Him for eyes to see all He does for you.
And choose to remember God’s faithfulness to you today and always.
That reminds me of my book.
Yes, I wrote a book. So excited!!!
Actually, God wrote a book for me. It’s a DAILY devotional for women taken straight from my blogs. 365 devotions. WOW, right?
It’s called Trusting God with Every Breath. Subtitle of my blog.
It’s a tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness to me. Written evidence. Now that I think about it, I do record His faithfulness.
Book is due September 5th. Hard to believe, although I’ve been working on it for over a year now. So much work, but so rewarding!
Anyhow, God is good. Even in the times of “if”, He still is. He’s got you and He’s got me. What more could we ever need?
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14
Did you catch that?
Sin will have NO dominion over you. Why? Because we are not under the law, but God’s grace.
We are no longer under the law because of Jesus’ payment on the cross for our many sins.
God’s grace covers us, removing the burden of our sin.
But Paul starts this passage with a warning: don’t let sin reign, or have control, in your body here on earth.
He recognizes we all have choices.
Hundreds of times each day, we choose whether to sin or not.
We often obey the passions or wants of our flesh even if they don’t line up with God.
But we don’t have to obey our flesh as sin has no power over us.
God’s power is bigger then the pull of our flesh which leads to sin.
When we choose to sin, we step out of grace.
We step out of what God has for us. What He wants for us, which is way better then what we want.
But when we repent, choosing instead to obey God, we step back into His grace.
We step back into what He has for us.
Recognize your choices.
Purpose to choose life each day.
It’s often incredibly hard as the pull of our fleshly desires is strong.
But sin has no dominion over us because of Jesus.
Live under Jesus’ power and authority over sin, death, and the grave in your life.
He’s your constant Protector, always ready to help when you simply choose Him over all else.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 4:20-21
Are you ready for God to work in your life?
He is.
He is more than ready.
Are you?
Are you willing to put in the work?
Meaning, set yourself aside so God can use you?
You might say yes, but do you understand the cost?
It could cost relationships that are dear to you.
It could bring you confusion at times when you fail to understand His plans.
And it could cost you your very life.
But God is able to do more than we could ever possibly think or imagine.
Imagine allowing Him to use you as He sees fit.
He has great plans for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God’s perfect peace surrounds you when you are within His will.
When you suspend your personal desires for God’s instead.
His plans for you might include simply loving others who utterly dislike your existence.
You can remain peaceful, simply loving, not retorting anger for anger.
Or He might have you react in a kind way when every fiber of your being screams for justice.
God is more than able to provide you the strength only He can to fulfill the plans He has for you.
Big or small, the plans He has for you are so good.
Allow Him full access knowing He is able to do far more than we could possibly imagine.
Apart from God, we are one thing.
But working together with Him is another matter entirely.
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
What else in the world is there?
What could possibly compare to Him?
Look full in His wonderful face.
Gaze your eyes.
Stop everything else, and look.
For the things of earth will grow strongly dim.
Everything else will fade in comparison to the One who created You and all things.
As my grandmother used to say, “From the balcony of heaven, what will it even matter?”
For in the light of His glory and grace, these things simply won’t matter one bit.
Why do earthly things grow dim?
Because of Him.
His power, His glory, and His grace above all.
God created everything.
He reigns over it ALL.
So, we must turn our eyes upon Him, Jesus.
Because He is our everything.
When you allow your mind to settle on things out of your control, people who do not care, or circumstances you wish would change, peace will leave as fear is invited to stay.
As Proverbs reminds us, focus yourself on Jesus. Leave no room to divert your eyes from Him.
Means you will purpose your mind to focus on Jesus and His truth.
You will focus on His love, protection, and provision for each and every little thing.
Focusing on Jesus means you trust in Him fully.
For your everything, today and tomorrow.
Focus on Jesus, the Author of your story, whose steadfast love and faithful presence will remain with you now and always.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Ever thanked God for your temptations or weaknesses?
For how you are tempted to sin?
There are many ways we can be tempted in our flesh.
Eating too much, addictions to sugar, alcohol, drugs, or technology.
Reacting in anger, putting others down, or thinking of ourselves always first.
Even wanting to do the right thing, whatever it may be, but instead listening to our flesh, following it instead.
What are your temptations or your weaknesses?
Have you thanked God for them?
Thanked God for being weak?
I know, sounds foreign. Almost like why would I thank God for where I am weak?
When you thank God, you recognize your need for His power through you.
You recognize your need for His strength covering your weakness with His power.
Your need for not only God’s saving grace, but His every day grace transforming you into your new person God created you to become.
When you thank God, you allow His power to shine through your weakness as resisting your temptation is possible through God alone.
2 Corinthians reminds us to boast in our weakness. To recognize them positively.
Because God shines through our weakness, making us strong.
If you had everything all together, all your ducks in a row, why would you need God?
Why would you need to rely on His strength?
You wouldn’t. You’d be fine on your own. You’d never admit your need for a Savior.
We are human. Flawed. Weak.
But when we submit our weak selves unto Almighty God, we are transformed, slowly, into His likeness.
Thank Him today for your flaws. For where you are weak. When temptation knocks at your door.
Then respond with God’s strength. He’ll shut the door for you.
And you’ll rest peacefully, knowing you don’t have to do it all.
Out loud with words or crying out within your soul?
David, the man after God’s own heart, did many times.
This Psalm is one example.
He starts by royally complaining.
From the depths of his soul he wonders how long God will forget him.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (verse 1)
He then tries to console himself.
We all do, when we fail to hear from God.
Or we think we don’t.
He forgets he can choose to praise God instead.
He focuses, instead, on his sorrow.
Again, like we all do.
David goes on: How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (verse 2).
David again pleads, sharing with God he will die if his sorrow remains apart from God’s peace.
He desperately wants God to intervene so his enemies don’t take pleasure in David’s weakness.
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. (verse 3 & 4).
David ends the psalm by choosing to praise God.
He remembers how faithful God has been to him.
That, in turn, helps David realize God will again bring him out of the depths.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (verse 5 & 6).
Maybe David has found the key.
The key to reconnecting our mind, soul, and body to the One who created us.
Praise.
Choosing to praise even in the midst.
Even when every fiber of our being wants to remain wallowing in the pit of self pity.
Praise the Lord even if.
Praise the Lord even if you don’t feel like it.
You will remember how faithful He has always been in every circumstance.
And you will suddenly lift your eyes, knowing He will once again show Himself.
Like the prodigal son’s father watched every day for the return of his wayward son, God watches for your arrival.
For your restoration.
If you are completely lost, when you decide to return to God, He’ll scoop you up the second He sees you, forgiving you completely.
If you are wandering away, stepping off into self-focus, not relying on Him, the moment you decide to return life’s burdens to Him, He’ll take them back in an instant.
Because He’s always watching for you.
Watching out for you as you walk with Him, guiding you around the rocks so you don’t stub your toe.
Showing you which path to take, when the path splits in two.
And protecting you with His umbrella when the dark storms arrive.
He’s also watching for you when your choices take you apart from Him.
When you’re determined to make it all on your own.
When you selfishly trudge on alone, thinking the entire world is against you.
It’s not, and God’s available to give you His peace.
He longs to have a relationship with you.
What are you waiting for?
God, who created you and all things, craves a relationship with you.
He can make all things new.
He can cross your every t and dot your every i.
Effortlessly.
Why wait?
Whenever you are ready, God will be there.
Always.
Because He is forever watching for you, His precious child, to return completely unto Him.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
God made us human.
Flesh.
And when we have not recognized the need for our Savior, we live according to the flesh.
Ourselves.
Satisfying our every “need”.
Romans says when we set our mind on ourselves, it leads to death.
Death.
Literally the opposite of life.
But when we have recognized our desperate need for God, giving ourselves over to Him, we begin to live according to the Spirit.
That means life.
As Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, helping us to live according to God’s will and plans.
We set our minds on the things of the Spirit.
And that, my friends, brings life and peace. Ahhhh.
But is it possible to choose death instead while living within the Spirit?
Yes, because we are human.
God allows us to make our own choices, choosing between living in the flesh or the Spirit.
It’s easy to tell if you are choosing to live within the Spirit.
Are your words producing life and peace or death?
Are your actions reflecting life or death?
Do your decisions cause others to recoil in death or thrive within life?
Setting one’s mind is critical, God says so.
Means you purposely align yourself to God’s ways through His Holy Spirit.
It’s a choice.
And then it’s a choice to stay fixed on God.
Choose to set your mind on God.
Ask Him to help you and His faithfulness will continually point you to life.
My Jewish faith has always been central in my family.
I keep the laws, heading to the tabernacle when my sacrifice is due.
We’ve waited for the Messiah my whole life.
Actually for generations now.
Sometimes my condition takes over and I can think of nothing else.
Honestly, I feel so useless.
Always feeling tired, needing to run to the toilet.
My condition also makes me unclean.
So I feel ashamed. Constantly.
I know God can heal me. He just hasn’t yet.
Maybe He won’t. Maybe this will be the way I always live.
I need to accept that if indeed my life will remain the same.
God can still use me.
But I’m so tired. Tend to feel sorry for myself if I’m completely honest.
Where am I standing? I’m in the city streets.
Today is going to be different.
I’ve heard Jesus will be walking through town today.
Heard simply amazing things about Him.
Miracles. Healing. Acceptance.
I need to see Him. He can help me if I can get near enough to Him.
I can feel it in my heart.
I’ve been waiting in this heat for awhile now. I’m so tired.
But I must remain standing. For Him.
Oh, I see a large crowd coming. They are so joyful and loud!
I see Him. Jesus is here! I can recognize Him from His eyes.
He is looking so loving at all of us, the crowd pressing against Him.
Ok, here’s my chance. I’m going to reach out and touch just the edge of His garment. That’s all I need to do.
Wow. I did it! Thank you, God!
Do I feel any different? Possibly? Could it be?
Wait. Jesus has stopped walking.
He has turned around, eyes searching the crowd.
Now He’s speaking, wondering who touched Him.
His disciples are confused as there are many surrounding Him.
But Jesus keeps looking for me. I just know it.
His eyes find me and I step forward trembling. I confess what I did, falling at His feet.
Jesus reaches down and helps me to my feet.
He called me Daughter! And said my faith had made me whole!
My suffering is now finished and I am to go forth in peace.
My body instantly feels completely different. I really am whole!
I am crying like a baby. I am full of overflowing joy and love from this man who noticed me.
This famous man, Jesus, sought me out and noticed me.
Yes, my body is healed, but He also healed my heart.
My identity has changed from unclean to daughter of the Messiah.
I must tell everyone He has come! Our wait is over! Hallelujah!
What do you need from God today?
Do you have faith He will help you, too?
As a Christian, our identity is fixed into God’s family as daughters and sons of the Most High.
Your Father in heaven will fill you with love and peace to overflowing each and every day.
Go to Him like this woman, believing He will help you.
And He will.
Because He loves and notices you.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:20-22
The demon in charge, whose name escapes me, is upset.
He’s a champion for the dark side.
Here is his rant.
I am discouraged. First the overturn of Roe vs Wade.
Good grief, it was so utterly easy deceiving Americans for almost 50 years now.
Guess we relaxed our efforts too much, thinking the law would never change.
Who would have thought those Christian prayers would ever really help?
I sure didn’t. Especially not after this long.
Time to work on the states. Surely most will keep choosing death. They think it’s a choice, but I know the truth.
What? The court decided coaches can now pray after a public school game?
On the field? In public? Like out in the open? Are they crazy?
Need to ramp up the violence. Let’s concentrate on the cities with less police protection.
What about the Christians? I’m not worried. I know how to get them.
Let’s take him over there.
I know him well. He looks spiritual, but underneath, he’s a mess.
He’s full of self-pity, one of my favorites. Tends to affect him every night about 7pm.
Becomes morose thinking of his family. I know how to stoke that.
Sometimes, he doesn’t crumble under the lies, because he prays, bringing the power of God into the room.
Not tonight. I got this.
Look – he’s thinking of his family. I’m going to plant a doubt, telling him they don’t care a whit about him.
Neither does his wife. Good. He’s quite upset. Perfect.
Let’s keep going, as this is quite fun.
I’ll whisper, ‘You’re nothing. You’re old and it’s almost over anyway, so what does it matter…’
Haha, good. He bought it. Closed his eyes and tried to escape.
He’s done for the night. Who else can I torment? Time’s wasting.
Now we will peak into his evening as the demon in charge, whose name escapes me, determines the next assignment.
“Who’s got her?” shouted the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
“I have her, sir,” answered a tiny demon with a large voice.
“Excellent, #2”, replied the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
“Want me to apply the usual tools, sir?” asked the tiny demon with the large voice.
“Yes, #2. Full report when you are done,” answered the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
Running to the girl, demon #2 assessed the situation.
He saw her sitting at the table, heads in her hands. It was late. He saw no one else up.
“Fabulous!! She’s staying up past her children and husband. She’s all alone, ready for my thoughts,” declared demon #2 with a large voice, although he whispered not wanting to disturb her.
Whispering into her head, demon #2 said, “You’re right. No one ever cares. Certainly not your family. They couldn’t care less about you. You might as well leave. Would they even notice your absence? They could live totally fine without you. You are not needed. You are useless. You are stupid.”
Sitting back, demon #2 witnessed her reaction. While the words began to take affect, she started to cry. Confirming the lies from demon #2, she agreed with his words, blowing her nose from the tears, which were beginning to flow from her weepy eyes.
The angels were stirred. Immediately, they circled her, knowing her heart and loyalty to God. They began to whisper God’s truth, combating every lie from demon #2.
Demon #2 sat up, scared. “Crap, they are negating my lies.” Immediately, he began to whisper more lies into her head.
Suddenly, the girl was aware of two trains of thoughts entering her head: the angels and demon #2.
Burring her face into her hands, demon #2 thought he had won. He started to celebrate, a smile erupting on his ugly face.
All of a sudden, the girl yelled, “NO.” She began agreeing with the angels, opening her bible to read. Her lips declared the name above all names, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
Demon #2 shrank back in fear, recoiling from that powerful name.
Immediately, he ran back to his nest, more comfortable among the evil comrades.
“Back so soon?” asked the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. That demon was certain of demon #2’s triumph.
Shuttering in fear, demon #2 replied, “Sir, she was helped by the angels from On High. They came and I didn’t know what to do. She began agreeing with them. And sir…she even declared that name. Jesus.”
“NOOOO,” cried the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. “Next time, I will personally accompany you. We must not let that girl out of our grip. She’s too important. Her mission from God MUST be accosted no matter what. Do you understand me?” He roared in anger.
And that ends our story. Demon #2 went on to worry about the next assignment. The demon in charge, whose name escapes me, went on a giant rant for a long time, certain to pull out all stops the next time he could encounter the girl.
The girl remained in her home, unaware, or partly aware of the spiritual battle swirling around her. Knowing she needed to remain whole, she began to pray deep in her heart, wanting to remain always loyal to Him, deciding from then on to listen closely only to His voice.
Are you loyal to Him? What might the dark side say to you when visiting your thoughts? Will you choose to believe God’s truth today and always?
Amy Linnea 
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