Say goodbye....

Why are goodbyes so hard? Even when we know its for the best and bigger things are instore for the road ahead its still difficult to let go and trust in the unknown. There is freedom in letting go of the chains that Satan uses to keep us prisoner to his lies but its a continual process to stay free. When Jesus died on the cross He died for the things of the past, present, and future. He died for our failures, weaknesses, burdens, pain and suffering but just as Jesus worked to set us free Satan is working to hold us captive.

There are things in my life and situations from my past that it seems like regardless of how many times I fall broken at the feet of Jesus I still find myself struggling. I have moments where I feel like I will never have complete freedom, Satan uses doubt, discouragement, guilt and pieces of the past to tell me I don't deserve freedom, happiness or joy. I used to carry such guilt and confusion around because I thought once you seek freedom from the past or a stronghold Satan had over you that "poof" it was gone, never to be seen or heard of again, but that was never the case. I came to a point in my journey with Christ that I realized those enslaving thoughts were exactly what Satan wanted and instead of drinking from the poison he wanted to quench my thirst with, God had a much bigger plan. 

To the voice
To the liar in the mirror
Saying you can't ever change
To the guilt that's sittin on your shoulder
Always keeping you wrapped in chains

To the past that you can't undo
To the pain that your walking thru
To the small and the big mistakes
This is what Love wants to say
 

Say Goodbye Say Goodbye
To the one that used to be
Say Goodbye Say Goodbye
Everday is a brand new mercy

 I love those words, I love the hope they offer that regardless of how dark our situations may seem that everyday is a brand new mercy. When Jesus died He gave us the gift of freedom and promised to throw our burdens, struggles and transgressions as far as the East to the West but that doesnt mean Satan wont use every weapon possible to throw those charges back in our face until we find ourselves a prisoner once again. Freedom has been won but its a daily fight to keep our freedom because the moment we turn our back even for a second the enemy rushes in and takes our minds captive. 1 Peter 5:8 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." This passage in scripture is a warning, a descriptive message that Satan is on the hunt to distract us, entice us and consume us. "Satan does not give up on you when you become a Christian. He knows who you are, what you have, and where you are as a child of God. He knows that you are chosen, accepted, adopted, appointed, valuable, justified, reconciled, redeemed, righteous, free from condemnation, holy, sealed, complete, and completely forgiven. His mission is to keep you from walking in the truth of who you are and we must recognize Satan's tactics in order to fight the battle for our minds." Sharon Jaynes.

When someone robs a bank you never read stories of them warning the tellers or customers, they don't give the location time to prepare but instead they walk in unannounced, dressed in disguise to try and throw their victims off guard. The goal is to sneak up and take what they want without allowing time to put on armor, guard all the doors or call for backup. Satan is like this, he comes unannounced and disguised, his goal is to suprise and attack us at our weakest most distracted moment. Each day is a battle and an opportunity to be thrown into prison by the enemy.

 

"One of the biggest steps we can take toward consistently glorifying Christ and walking in peace and joy with our heavenly Father is to recognize the deceit which has held us captive. Satan's lies distort our true perspective, warp our thoughts, and produce painful emotions. If we cannot identify those lies, then it is very likely that we will continue to be defeated by them." Robert McGee

 

Scripture reminds us in Ephesians to put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10-18 "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)."

 

Whatever battle you are facing today be reminded that Satan comes to hold you a prisoner to your circumstances. Where ever you have been,  and whatever you have done Jesus has vindicated, redeemed, and renewed you. There is freedom in Christ and His mercy is endless. Remind Satan that although trials may strike  "I will not be distracted, enticed or consumed because I have been ransomed by the blood of Jesus and the chains have been broken so that I never have to be held in bondage again.