#16 Satan doesn't rest, neither should you.

We need to be fighting always, daily, every hour, every minute, of every day. Fight against our flesh, against Satan and his demons!

If you're going through a hard time spiritually this is a hard thing to do. How do you fight if you can't even pray for your own battle, your own self?

1. Ask other sisters and brothers to pray FOR you. In the mean time get your heart in check, so you can begin praying again too.

2. Talk to your pastor or your parents, or other Christian friends. Surround yourself with other Christians. They'll uplift you spiritually, and encourage you to get right with God.

3. Remember Jesus's words, "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I know it's hard. I know you get depressed through these trials. But, you need to quit moping about how life sucks, or how things are tough and surrender your all to God. He'll give you the peace that passes all understanding. (Mind you I'm reminding myself here. But, anyone else who's having a rough time or wrestling with their sinful self, I hope I'm being encouraging :D)

4. Do not let go of hope. You're in a dark tunnel but there's always light at the end or somewhere in the tunnel!! How'd you get in the tunnel in the first place? If there's an entrance, there's an exit. Don't forget that this life is tempory, we have another home. Our home is with Jesus Christ in heaven, for all eterinity! Don't forget that! He hasn't forsaken you! He's calling to you now, but you're so depressed your ears have forgotten to listen to his call. Strain them and you will hear Him.

5. Read your Bible. Even though you've long been out of practice in doing so, read it. There you find words of salvation, hope, comfort, forgivness, grace, etc. You don't feel like it but do it. It will do you good. If you don't you'll never open it. I struggle with this a lot it's a line in one of my favorite hymns, "If you tarry til your better you will never come at all" (from the hymn Come ye Sinners) I used to think that I had to fix myself before I could pray to God, or do anything. And, as the saying goes, I'd never come. Because, I simply don't have the power within MYSELF (hah! makes me think of buhdists..sorry didnt mean to be random) to FIX MYSELF. I'm a human born under the curse of Adam. I am a SINFUL CREATURE. Because I'm am THE CREATURE and not the CREATOR. Finite, not infinite, I NEED MY SAVIOR'S HELP!! I still struggle with feeling like I have to fix myself. So, DO NOT HESITATE TO READ YOUR BIBLE!! EVEN if you don't FEEL like it!

6.CRY OUT TO JESUS. You may not feel like praying, you may feel small, you may feel helpless, restless, tired, weary, simply my point. Cry out to Him and He will hear your call!! He will help you through this.

7. Remember in James ...somewhere...in there..it talks (I think it's the first chapter..) about how trials help us become more Christ like. It strengthens our faith. As humans, we don't know what God's holy will is. We don't know why we're going through what we're going through. All we know is we are, and it's not fair. That kind of thinking isn't fair. It isn't fair that Jesus died on the cross and paid OUR PUNISHMENT, WHEN WE DESERVED HELL! WHEN HE COULD HAVE JUST CASTED US INTO HELL THE MOMENT ADAM AND EVE SINNED! INSTEAD OF TAKING ADAM AND EVE'S LIFE, THE PUNISHMENT THEY DESERVED, HE SACRIFICED A LAMB FOR THEM TO ATONE FOR THEIR SINS! God gave us dominion over the earth, but what about when we disobeyed Him in the garden? Did He then take away this privilage, this honor, since we disobeyed Him? NO. We still have dominion over this earth. THAT'S NOT FAIR. That's not fair that WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE WHEN WE DESERVE DEATH. ALL BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US. Next time you think "This isn't fair, WHY GOD! WHY!?" Ask yourself, WHY GOD, DID YOU DIE FOR ME? WHY DO YOU STILL LOVE ME THOUGH I PRAISE YOU WITH MY MOUTH, THE NEXT MOMENT I CURSE YOU WITH MY MOUTH!?

These are all ways we can be fighting even when we feel like we aren't capable of fighting Satan. In those weak moments we surrender ourselves to Satan. (When we sin.) Because we give up. Don't give up!! See Ephesians 6:10-20.

8. Don't give up. At your weakest, most vulnerable moment, remember Jesus before He accended into heaven gave us the Helper. The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. We are capable of (with the help and aid of the Holy Spirit) resisting the Devil, and resisting the will to sin.

9. Don't let the devil get a foothold over you! "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

10. Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Satan and his followers don't rest, and neither should we!! Remember always be aware of the spiritual battle going on around you. Fight the good fight, and resist all temptation this world has to offfer!!

Blessings,

~Lissie Darcy