Showdown

It’s been a rough week. Like, cry on my mom’s shoulder for an hour, unable to eat because of feeling sick to my stomach, and feeling so many emotions. I’d be lying if I said it was easy to distract myself. Ultimately, I had to force myself out of the bed and just go through the motions of the days. Would you believe there was a time, years ago, when I couldn’t have done that? So, I’m growing. I didn’t cave inward and pull away from those that care about me. Instead, I met the challenges face on, all the while expressing what was happening in my heart and mind with those I trust.

To my surprise, I wasn’t the only one who had a bad week. In fact, several people in my circle of connection shared that, they too, have struggled this week. Nothing distracts an Enneagram 2 (Helper) like recognizing that there are others hurting and in need. But I just couldn’t. Still, the fact that we were all walking through a battle assured me that this was no ordinary bad week. This was personal. Even more, it was spiritual.

When things are okay, it’s so easy to glorify God. Enter the enemy. The destroyer himself wants to crush us any way possible and will use anything at his disposal-including friends and family-to attack us where it will cause the most pain and keep us from pressing forward.

The thing is, though, I made a decision when Pastor Chuck died. Boy, did I miss him this week! He could put such a great perspective on pain and whatever situation we faced. There are others who can do the same thing, but Chuck was so dynamic, his encouragement made me feel like I could climb Everest. In honoring his life, I have chosen to #belikechuck. Chuck would not have stayed in bed and refused to face the devil head on. He would have met him in the middle of town for a showdown if necessary. He would not have given exhortations of just hanging on until we leave this earth. Chuck would have prepared for battle and made sure we were ready, too. I sure could have used a Chuck Glass battle speech this week.

Friend, we are in a battle daily. Not against one another or our schedules, but the prince of the air is spreading his darkness and it is seeping into everything in the world. This darkness is designed to choke Christians out until we can’t breathe, we wither, and ultimately, we die. I refuse to let the devil win. He cannot have my joy, my peace, my family, my friends, my job, my marriage!

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

We don’t need look at what is seen. If you spend most of the time watching the world around you, you will be forcing yourself out of bed to simply exist. The fact is that we are closer to eternity today than yesterday. The signs are all there. The darkness is attempting to permeate every corner of our mind. If we don’t prepare to meet Satan for the showdown that he is getting ready for, we’ll be attacked out of nowhere and may find ourselves useless to defend our homes, our family, and our FATH. We should prepare now by payer and getting in the Word of God. We know from past studies that this Word is Jesus Christ.

So, as we enter a new week, know this: if you are a Christian, the enemy is at war with you. Also, his time as the prince of darkness is winding down, so he will use any means necessary to deceive you.  Yesterday, I heard at a women’s conference, “If [Satan] can’t make you bad, he will make you busy” (borrowed Julie Clifton, ewomen’s conference23: Abide in Me). Get ready, saints. The showdown is coming.

© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.