“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 (AMP)
“The devil steals from people in such a deceptive way that he often accomplishes his evil goal before they even know he has stolen from them!” Rick Renner
- Don’t forget to pray with your prayer partner! Remember, prayer moves mountains!
- Stop and pray before you read today’s study, asking God to clothe you with Christ’s armor. Did you know that Christ’s armor helps you successfully resist the attacks of the enemy?
- Then, ask God to speak to you through this study. Jeremiah 29:13 promises that we will find God when we seek Him with all our heart! Quiet yourself and seek Him with your whole heart.
The Enemy Within
Steal. Kill. Destroy. Jesus speaks these words of war in John 10:10. 1 Peter 5:8 says it again: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Ironically, we’re hardly aware enough to fight it. The robbery can be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. And although nothing may be literally stolen from you, I challenge you today to dig deeper with me into your thoughts and feelings. Insidiously, our enemy works to destroy, steal from, and kill us through our thought lives. Take the time to stop and do some extra examination!
Smoothly and seamlessly, the devil tricks us by planting worldly, negative, harmful ideas in our minds: “This is too hard; I can’t do it anymore.” “These kids are driving me crazy.” “I’m bored.” We blindly receive these unbiblical ideas as “normal.” After all, they match with most other moms’ thoughts. But did you know that those sweet mamas are under attack too? We shouldn’t be comparing ourselves with the people around us. Instead, we should be asking ourselves, “Do my thoughts and feelings line up with Scripture?”
As a mom, when you feel anxious and overwhelmed, is it easy to stop, gently look into your children’s eyes, and smile at them? No! Your sweet children feel like a frustrating distraction, right? And as a wife, when you feel irritable because of the things your husband does wrong, are you able to lovingly, joyfully go the extra mile to make your marriage thrive? Absolutely not! You feel mistreated! Your feelings are surely under attack.
As a mom and a wife, God’s calling is for you to love your family well, with soft eyes, kind words, and servant leadership. On the other hand, the devil is doing everything he can to keep you from fulfilling that. The battle is real!
Sweet mama, what feelings need to be in your heart in order to respond more gently to your children? How can you adjust the voice in your mind to appreciate and invest in your husband? Ultimately, what can you do to fight for your family?
Every morning when you wake up, quietly pray out loud for yourself and every person in your family, resisting the devil for them in Jesus’ name and placing each piece of Christ’s armor on them, especially the shield of faith, which extinguishes all of the flaming arrows of the enemy.
This battle plan is directly from God’s Word. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Philippians 2:9 says that the name of Jesus is above every name. And finally, Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-17, immediately after talking about family relationships, that we are to clothe ourselves in the full armor of Jesus Christ every day. Wearing the armor, we’ll be able to stand firm, resist the devil, and be victorious against all his attacks.
Friend, your family is a battlefield, and if you are not aware of it, then you can’t even fight. Be alert. Arm yourself. And be encouraged that you are able to win the battle against the enemy!
Blessings and Love,
Kristi Valentine and the Help Club for Moms Team
Questions to Ponder
- What can I do to be more aware of my thoughts and feelings? On what truth can I meditate to transform my thoughts to godly ones?
- Are there times when I’m more vulnerable to worldly, negative, harmful thoughts and feelings? Are there books, shows, websites, or situations that tempt me to believe the lies of the enemy?
Faith-Filled Ideas
Invite a friend to be an accountability partner you can call when tempted to believe thoughts and feelings that might not be true. This is someone who will test your ideas, pray with you, and lead you toward the right path.
Renew your mind! Ephesians 4:23 says to let the Holy Spirit make your mind new. Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” What is one worldly belief or habit you want to release so the Holy Spirit can renew your mind?
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"...he set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God…”(v. 2-3)
Kristi loves to sing "a song of praise to our God, as He makes her steps secure” atop the Rocky Mountains! So far, she has summited 13 of Colorado's 14,000ft peaks with her husband and 2 boys.After 35 years in California, Kristi and her family have made their home in Colorado, where they delight in spending time together hiking, biking, playing music, or canoeing.
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