You know....satan is a liar. He steps into our life to bring fear....to cast shadows of darkness over us....to destroy us. Satan wants nothing good for us. He wants to bind us and imprison us to where we feel as if we are suffocating. Recently I have been in that state of mind. It all started a couple of weeks ago....
Since becoming a Christian I don't recall drinking any alcohol. It's not that I didn't want to because many many times....I wanted to! But for me....it would have been the wrong thing to do. I liked how it made me feel Way. Too. Much. So for a long time....I struggled with that issue. Finally one day I turned it over to the Lord and I've been good without it since. Then two, maybe two and a half weeks ago, it popped into my thoughts....You need to get something to drink. You know....just a subtle little suggestion. Immediately I thought....What?! Where did that come from? Then off and on for a couple of weeks that thought would just happen. I would push it away and sometimes even say....satan leave me alone. I don't need a drink! Well a few days back I went to a party. Not a "party" party but one where there was alcohol. I walked in and immediately noticed that 85 % of the people were all walking around with some of the biggest drinks I had ever seen....at least in my mind! Honestly, I had no idea I would be bothered so much by it. I just kept thinking how I really wanted a drink. Then I would think....why am I thinking that? Drinking is the last thing I want to do! The funny part was....many people there know I don't drink but they were teasing me and asking me if I wanted one. Then others that don't know were honestly asking me if they could get me a drink. By the time I left that was all I could think about....even though I knew I couldn't.
Something else that I used to always struggle with was nightmares. Well....they have been happening a lot recently as well. Last night I went to sleep for just a little while and then woke up with a start. I opened my eyes and was sure I saw something staring down at me. Immediately I started trying to hit it but it was so tall I had to really stretch to even come close to it. As soon as I got my wits about me I grabbed the light and turned it on....there was nothing there.
Finally I have realized that this has been an attack from satan. It was this last nightmare that helped me to know this. So I was looking in my bible for something to read before bed and all the scriptures I saw have something in common. Here's a couple of them....
Psalm 28:7a
The Lord is my strength and shield,
I trust Him with my whole heart.
Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives His people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.
Psalm 31:24
So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.
Psalm 16:8
I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
I know that whatever I'm going through the Lord really is always with me. He loves me more than I can even imagine. He loves you more than you can imagine too. If you are struggling tonight because satan is trying to throw up road blocks to keep you away from Jesus....don't listen to him. Only listen to the voice of the Lord. There is a chapter in Psalms that always comes to my mind in these times. I like it in the amplified version when I'm really having a hard time.
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
3 He refreshes and
restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness
[uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for
His name’s sake.
4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and
unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the
length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my
dwelling place.
"until we see JESUS....face to face"
Hi Chelle, I am so glad for you that you found the root of these thoughts so quickly. Once you read His word and bind the devil he cannot help but retreat. So so happy for you. I trust your sleep is so much better now. God bless my friend
ReplyDeleteTracy
Hello Chelle,
ReplyDeleteI have had both those things in my life as problems. I no longer have either. Most of the excessive drinking came from lack of confidence - excess alcohol used to give me the confidence I did not have. Then, when I became born again of God's Spirit the Lord sent me out into the street with songs and a guitar, something I knew was completely against the natural in me, and I no longer needed a confidence booster. One night I was having one of my horrific nightmares when it suddenly came into my mind (within this nightmare) the power that I had experienced in Jesus. I began to speak the words 'Help me Lord Jesus'. The words were having a massive battle trying to come out of my mouth because of the fear in me, but I knew I had to persist in trying to speak them. As soon as the name Jesus forced its way through my lips I awoke and have never had a nightmare since. Praise our lovely Lord, and I ask the Lord, along with you, that you never have another nightmare.
God bless you with the peace that is in Jesus.