On Sunday our pastor preached about “Knowing our Enemy”. Whether we like to admit it or not, the reality of this world is that we live in constant attack of the enemy. He seeks to rob us of joy, to ruin our marriages and friendships…to steal all of the blessings that God has given us.
Friends THIS is a battle.
Ephesians 6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Our pastor told us that Lucifer’s name means light. He was originally described as the most beautiful angel and was created by God to bring light into the world. But he got selfish and prideful. He wanted to live independent of God not dependent on God.
Thus the fall. Lucifer and other angels that followed him were cast down to earth to rein here. Satan is our adversary, opponent. He is powerful and wise, crafty and cunning.
He masquerades as the truth with just enough falsehood to get us to doubt. When I heard my pastor say that on Sunday it just hit home.
That is exactly what I have experienced and what I have seen my dearest friends experience recently.
10 of us came home from Houston and one by one have been under attack. There was some pretty powerful work for the Kingdom being done in Houston, so it shouldn’t surprise us that the attacks came.
But they did, and for many of us, they caught us off guard.
What I love more than anything about our website team is that while it may be easier to cave in and walk away defeated, we are standing with Christ, arming ourselves with Him, for battle.
Delonna posted this morning that she felt called to a fast. She invited us to all participate, to encourage one another, and to use this time to pray over one another.
I will be honest, I haven’t ever done a fast. I really like food, and chocolate, and snacking…all things that don’t really fit with a fast.
But I believe that when people of God unite for His glory, in His name, in His power and authority…well Satan better just run and hide. ahem and Amen!
Some of us will be starting at sundown tonight and others tomorrow morning….but we will be fasting and praying together. And let me clarify…we are doing the Daniel Fast so we can have fruits and vegetables but no meats, dairy, processed foods or chocolate. 🙂
Delonna sent us a copy of the printable above to have and reference during this time. Our prayer for one another will be to ask God to break any strongholds we have, prayers for protection over our families, our children and our marriages.
Through the power of prayer and this fast we have hope for the mighty things that God will accomplish through us.
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
It isn’t about us and what we can do.
As my pastor said “The only way I stand is when I stand IN Him.”
So we stand, confident in the Christ that is in us, the One who gives us strength. The One who can break any stronghold. God will be fighting for us in the next 24 hours, we are standing willing and ready, armored in His Truth.
If anyone would like to join us over the next 24 hours, we would love to pray with you as well. And I’d love to hear if you have ever done a fast…what did God teach you through it all?!
Thanks Kristin for this great message. The battle is raging. The devil is not happy with any spiritual victories as God continues His work in us. Prayer and fasting are powerful weapons to defeat the enemy. May the Lord strengthen you all in this time of fasting. I encourage you to grow in your journey in the Daniel fast but also in other methods of spiritual fasting. Blessings. Elaine
Kristin- Press on sister!:) I have a love/hate relationship with fasting. I know it is a great, powerful tool, but I love to eat (probably too much). I read something that helped changed the drudgery to delight. It said, when we fast we should have an attitude of expectation and “Behold the victory that the Lord will bring.” We don’t always know what the victory will look like, but as we petition Him, we trust that He is hearing, leading and working. Like in Esther, when they fasted, I think they knew that somehow God would deliver them (the Jewish people) because of His promises and covenant with them. But, this situation (concerning Haman’s degree) was a real threat. They fasted and prayed and God brought deliverance! As you fast and pray, may it be with excitement to see what He will do. Even if we don’t see tangible results, I believe the spiritual realm is affected as we call out to the Lord.
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