Our Greatest Weapon

I've been missing in action with my writings for the past few days. It's actually been a bit of a tough week for me. Not sure if it's the time of year, or the dreary weather, but I've felt more lonely for Mom this week than I have since her passing. Journalling has been a lifeline for me throughout this journey, but I've even found it hard to write the past couple of days. I think I needed to be alone with my thoughts and just process some things.

On the days that I have difficulty writing, I find myself reading through old journals and personal notes. Just being reminded of the times the Lord has brought me through brings me peace and helps ground me when I need grounding. And I definitely needed some grounding this week!

Today I came across an old exercise book of mine with devotional notes, sermon outlines, and a bunch of other info that brought me back several years. In that book I found a sermon outline that I had preached on in our youth group many moons ago. The title was "The Road to Personal Revival", and the text was taken from Jesus' temptation in the wilderness found in Mark 1. One of the jot notes that I made in studying this passage was, "when the devil flees from you, angels will attend unto you." Jesus resisted Satan in the wilderness when He was being tempted. It was a tough battle. Jesus had been fasting for 40 days when the devil came at Him with very enticing offers. Jesus was tempted at His weakest moment physically. But He strengthened Himself spiritually...He overcame the devil by the Word. After Jesus resisted the devil and the enemy fleed, immediately angels attended unto Him.

It's easy to feel attacked in your mind when you lose a loved one. Fear, doubt, and anxiety are just waiting to pounce when you are at your weakest. Feelings of loneliness and uncertainty of the future can creep in at the most inopportune times. But in those moments we need to resist the wiles of the devil. Spend time in the Word. Memorize scripture so that you can easily recall verses in times of desperation. The enemy cannot gain access to our hearts and minds if we declare and stand on the Word of God.

During this time of reflecting I have found much strength in reading my Bible. It is a love letter from the Lord to me and helps me to overcome the times when the enemy tries to bring darkness into my life. In those times I feel His loving arms around me, and his angels tending to my broken heart.

You may be feeling darkness all around you right now. Reach out to Jesus -- He is our light in the darkness. He is always there for you, and gives His angels charge over you. Trust in His Word. Through the toughest trials in our lives, it is our greatest weapon.