224. DEAR ENEMY OF MY SOUL: I WILL NOT RETREAT!

(The Faith Forum Series – Batch 5)

Dear enemy of my soul, I will NOT retreat but will by God’s grace, ADVANCE!

I know that you hate me with intense hatred, want to see me destroyed and God’s work stymied. However, although I have no doubt that you already know this, allow me to remind you: I HAVE WITH ME A FORMIDABLE WEAPON: THE WORD OF GOD and you will NEVER be able to withstand its power.

That is why, as you tried to launch a fresh wave of attacks against me recently and dealt me some blows (some from unexpected sources), I was wounded, yes and for a few days, just stared at the damage you had so suddenly inflicted but then I reminded myself (and in so doing, encouraged myself, even as David did), of the power I had as a child of God, in the Word of God.

As I contemplated on this truth, this morning I wrote:

I may be weak and feel weak because truthfully, I admit that I am a weakling but although I am weak, THE WORD OF GOD IS STRONG! I will therefore use it, despite how weak I feel and my flesh telling me to just give up, to overthrow every diabolical work and the words of the enemy…

No matter what people say, how things look and how I feel, I have a hope and a future because of Jesus Christ my Lord. I belong to him and so, even at my weakest, my darkest and most confused moments, when sterility seems to be my never ending portion and people gloat about it, I will continue to look to HIM and trust in HIM.

Jesus is THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, Whatever my issues therefore, no man on earth may be able to help me because I am too far gone and my wounds too sore but Jesus can help me. I will therefore keep inviting him into my situation, to bring help and healing.

This morning, to remind myself and my fellow sisters (believers in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ), of the truth, I also wrote as follows:

We often underestimate the potency of God’s Word. Whenever a Christian knows how to use THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT and takes it up and uses it to withstand the enemy’s attacks, no matter how aggressive or how heated the battle or who the enemy has enlisted to do his dirty work or how many the foe, there are ALWAYS casualties.

I can personally attest that this is true. When you realize that you’re under attack and it has been commissioned by the enemy of your soul to derail, distract and prevent you from achieving the great exploits that God desires to achieve in your life, don’t retreat. Do like David and MOVE FORWARD. For, you have with you a formidable weapon, that which the enemy and his minions will NEVER be able to withstand.

The Lord’s Word is like a hammer that BREAKS the rock in pieces. Keep using it in faith therefore and see what God does. It is tried and tested and is a formidable weapon. We will NEVER lose. For we may be weak yes but THE WORD OF GOD IS STRONG!

The Word of God reminds us:

“Finally, my brethren, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:11-18 KJV)

“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)

In Psalm 18:1-19, the Psalmist who had been under the enemy’s attack but then emerged victorious because God showed up and fought for him, testified:

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

YEA, HE SENT OUT HIS ARROWS, AND SCATTERED THEM; AND HE SHOT OUT LIGHTNINGS, AND DISCOMFITED THEM;

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: BUT THE LORD WAS MY STAY. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.”

Dear enemy of my soul, you dealt me such blows in the past few weeks that I was truly wounded BUT GOD! He is my stay and so I will look to him and in particular, his Son Jesus Christ my Lord, in whom there is ALWAYS hope. As I fight back in the spirit with the weapon I have been given by the Lord: THE WORD OF GOD, you and your minions (wherever you have them positioned) are sure to be defeated.

For, the Word of God tells me in Isaiah 26:4: “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” Through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of my testimony therefore, despite all that you have tried from childhood to date and all the people you have used to try to attack and discourage me from continuing to have faith in Jesus, I still do and I SHALL OVERCOME! (Revelation 12:11)

Like with the Psalmist, the Lord will bring me forth into a large place. He will deliver me because he delights in me. That is why I believe he calls me HEPHZIBAH. I believe that the Lord has spoken to me through his Word to convey this and despite all your efforts and all the people you have used to derail, I may be cast down but I’m not destroyed and by God’s grace, all that the Lord has promised and intends to do in my life, all that he has planned and purposed, WILL STILL COME TO PASS AND BEAUTIFULLY. Just you wait and see.

His Word, which he initially gave to the Israelites and which I believe he spoke to me through, states:

“Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called HEPHZIBAH, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.”

(Written on 12th April, 2022)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article interesting, helpful, informative or edifying, you may also be interested in reading the following:

Note 161 – ‘Overcoming Oppression – Spiritual Warfare’

ADDENDUM

Thank you R. (the one the enemy has used most recently and admittedly, unexpectedly) and all the other people that have allowed him to use them wickedly throughout the years and in the past few weeks, to try to take me down.

Once again, the Lord has turned it around for good. For, as I have said time and time again, the devil is a defeated foe and so are all who choose to align themselves with him.

I have realized that, when people are going nowhere fast (by their own choices) and have resigned themselves to misery, they tend to want to have company and will therefore do all that they can to keep you from advancing and achieving. BUT GOD!

After your latest attack dear R., you thought that you and the enemy which sent you, had won but look what the Lord has done! An Article has come out of it to strengthen my faith and those of all believing daughters of God that read it. You meant what you said for evil therefore but God, through his power, has enabled me to turn it around for good. Praise God!

Despite the enemy’s latest attack, I still have a song! For, upon my heart and in my spirit is the wonderful song which comes from Psalm 100:4, 118:24 and 92:4. Call me crazy or whatever you like but upon completing the above Article, I suddenly found myself singing and making melody in my heart, the following:

I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter his Courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord hath made
I will rejoice for he hath made me glad.
He hath made me glad, the Lord hath made me glad
I will rejoice for he has made me glad
He hath made me glad, the Lord hath made me glad
I will rejoice for he hath made me glad!

(Addendum written on 12th April, 2022)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article to be informative, edifying, beneficial or interesting, you may also be interested in reading the following:

Note 77 – ‘Tired Of The Storm, Sterility, Stagnancy And Silence? Create A Spiritual Safehouse’
Note 161 – ‘Overcoming Oppression – Spiritual Warfare’
Note 241 – ‘Fearless Against Our Foes’
Note 242 – ‘Note To Self: Feeling Defeated? Check Your Armour’