When the Evil One Sneaks in…

 Most of the time, especially during the daylight hours, we are able to keep the Evil One from our thoughts, and if he sneaks in, we ask JESUS to get him out. Resisting is a 24/7, 365 activity.

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 

It’s when our guard is down when he will sneak in, slide right into our dreams while we are sleeping and plant the negative, crushing thoughts. When we are strong in our faith, we will recognize those thoughts as not from the HOLY SPIRIT. 

Ephesians 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”

Ephesians 6:10-20 covers the ARMOR of GOD. Whether we want to believe it or not, we are in a battle for our souls. The WORD of GOD is equipping us to overcome the Evil One with GOD’s help through the HOLY SPIRIT. 

Another time we’ll dive into the full ARMOR of GOD, but today, I want to talk about 1 Peter 5:8-9, with a HUGE focus on the last 16 words of the verse.

We all have a story, a story of survival, of victory, of defeat, of suffering. Our suffering may be different, but our lessons may be the same. Don’t be afraid to share your story—you may be someone’s hero, someone’s miracle.

A few weeks ago, a thought came during a dream: “Your blindness is an inconvenience to everyone. Stay home and out of the way.” It was repeated over and over again. Usually when we awake, we may not remember our dreams; however, the phrase stayed present in my mind. 

I recognized it for what it was…the Evil One’s attack on my mental and emotional well-being. I prayed that the thoughts would go away and the HOLY SPIRIT would cleanse my mind. I texted a friend in my BC (Biblical Community) about what happened. She reminded me, “You are not an inconvenience, my precious friend! You are a blessing!”  Everyone needs a BC to receive and share encouragement, to lift up prayers, and to laugh hysterically.

Having a relationship with GOD, JESUS, the HOLY SPIRIT will help us recognize when the Evil One tries to slither into our thoughts. In a previous blog, “No, Thank You Evil One,” I talked about the dark thoughts. Just know, the HOLY SPIRIT will never send a negative, harmful, or demeaning thought during our waking or sleeping hours.

I know my blindness is an inconvenience, but it’s also, strangely enough, a blessing. How can we believe illnesses, sufferings, or problems are blessings?.,

.Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also attained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

May God bless you. May your story be a blessing to someone else.

Thank you for reading,

PB


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