Tuesday, June 4, 2013

When the Enemy Taunts

"Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me." Micah 7: 8

Did you ever think you had a troubled situation under control but then it comes back and taunts you once again? I call these experiences "dark nights of the soul." The picture above reveals the state of my emotions when this gets the worst of me: bleak, hopeless, gray, all while an oppressive voice haunts with, "Where's your God now?"

Certain situations in my life can only be conquered by an an aggressive onslaught of Scripture BELIEVED when my failures are brought to mind. The passage above was condensed from a longer portion I wrote in my notebook this morning from Micah chapter 7. Though written thousands of years ago, it could have been written today. So many people I talk to are walking around with hearts broken from one kind of trial or another. Many have given up on the Christian life, or worse yet, think that God has given up on them.

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

7:8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.

Also these words of comfort from the end of the book:

7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our [fn] sins into the depths of the sea.

Mic 7:20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

This was the latest among many Scriptures I have added to this notebook. It is time to replace the lies with the Truth of God's Word.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. v.32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

If we want the Mind of Christ, we have to be willing to change our thought systems, not let the enemy have sway over them. How can we do this? By saturating our minds with the Truth by abiding in His Word, as Jesus said. What does abide mean?

abide is meno, #3306 in Strong's Greek Lexicon, and it means:

1) to remain, abide

a) in reference to place

1) to sojourn, tarry

2) not to depart

a) to continue to be present

b) to be held, kept, continually

(In thinking on the Word of God, my added interpretion here)


b) in reference to time

1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure

a) of persons, to survive, live

c) in reference to state or condition

1) to remain as one, not to become another or different

2) to wait for, await one

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3306&t=NKJV

I write this in order to help someone else who may be struggling. You are not alone.It is the end times, and the enemy does not want you to continue in the Word of God. He wants to distract and destroy any interest we have at all in God's Word. The more you go on in the Word, the more of a threat you become. Don't be afraid. Press on.(Phil. 3:13) Read the back of the Book. Christ wins, and He shares the spoil with all who identify with Him now, in time.

6 comments:

  1. If we will lean on Him and get through the hard times, eventually we will find times of joy that we can hardly imagine!

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  2. Dear Audrey,
    Yes, though weeping lasts for a night, joy comes in the morning! (paraphrasing Ps. 30: 5) Been there, done that! Thanks for writing and sharing!
    Megan

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  3. Very comforting Megan! I have clung to that verse in Micah at a very dark night of my life also. The enemy is full of accusations, doubt, and fear but God's Word is our armor against it! He didn't leave us defenseless did He? :)

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  4. Ginny, no He most definitely did not. Suddenly that Scripture was recalled to my mind this morning. We need His Word like we need air to breathe and a baby needs milk! Thank you for writing!
    Megan

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  5. Thank you Megan! This was exactly what I needed to hear today. It's like you spoke directly to me. Beautiful words of encouragement.

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  6. Wise Wife,
    There are a lot of us who are struggling then. Take courage, the Lord is near to all those who are of a broken and contrite spirit.
    Love in Christ,
    Megan

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