Have you ever been so distracted by life that you didn’t realize where it was taking you?
I have.
Have you ever looked up one day and wondered how you got so buried in mistakes?
Me too.
Have you ever tried to stop a boulder of bad choices from barrelling down a path that you carved?
I’m working on it.
It seems that boulder is not so happy about missing out on its free ride. Neither is the devil who so eagerly pushed that deceptive rock onto my path in the first place.
I thought I could just walk away, but it turns out discovering I was wrong was only the first (although most important) step. I didn’t know just how far I had fallen. I didn’t realize Satan would assault me every step of the way back.
But I also didn’t realize I was so capable. Not on my own, of course. Never on my own. No, traveling on my own is what led me into the darkest woods in the first place. I’m capable because He showed up. Like light breaking through the forest, My Savior arrived.
Did you know all it takes is a whisper? Not even a whisper of words, but a whisper of longing from your soul. He recognizes the longing. He created it. He is simply waiting for us to ask.
That’s how I stopped the boulder from rolling.
I asked Jesus to do it, with a whisper from my soul.
I believed that He would do it with a surrender of my will.
And He did.
But then I had to choose to come back with Him.
I knew it would be a tough climb.
I figured there would be a rebuilding of sorts.
I don’t know why I didn’t expect a war…
The devil told the whole world I was a liar.
God fastened the belt of truth around my waist.
He reminded me how unworthy I am, what a mess I had made.
The Almighty secured the breastplate of righteousness on me.
Satan tried to make me feel anxious and worried and scared.
My Father prepared me with the gospel of peace strapped onto my feet.
He attacked from every angle with flaming darts of doubt.
Our Savior placed the shield of faith in my hand.
The serpent doesn’t give up easily. His minions are after my money, my family, my dreams.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under my feet (Romans 16:20). He hands me the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit as He provides for my every need, protects and heals my family, and reveals better dreams.
When I look now at the battleground around me, it doesn’t appear possible that there would be a survivor. Yet here I am. Stronger than ever. Why? How? A simple whisper from my soul, a longing for my Savior. A quiet breath of surrender that yielded the whole armor of God.
Please don’t believe that you are too weak to overpower the boulders.
The Holy Spirit will make you strong.
Don’t believe it even if you discover you are the one who chiseled their path.
God will right your wrongs.
Don’t believe it’s not worth starting over.
Jesus is ready to pour out mercy and grace.
Don’t believe it even if the devil himself is staring you down.
Satan has NO power over you.
Will you let your soul whisper to Him?
Will you take His hand when He offers it to you?
Will you put on the full armor of God?
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. ~Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)
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