He "tries" to Steal, Kill and Destroy




"The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy...." John 10:10a
It is such a reminder when I talk to people in the middle of their junk and misery and see the true heartache and utter heartbreak how we are so similar in so many ways.
In our junk, we truly believe that we are the worst any one has ever seen. "No one is as bad as I am..." “If anyone knew who I really am”
That is exactly where the enemy wants us to stay in our junk.
The fact of the matter is if we are hurting, if we are in a mess that is bringing heart break to us, to our family, (usually in conjunction) the enemy wants us to believe that we are damaged goods. The enemy would have us believe that there is no hope for us in our life.
That, my friend, is a big lie. He does come to steal, kill and destroy what God made and called good. Again, he wants us to stay where we are and focus on the mess rather than the solution.
When we are in our junk, we tend to bow our head into our stuff, focusing on our hurts, illnesses, addictions, and our junk. We begin to believe the lie that we are who we say we are or who we believe we are in our hurts.
The scripture tells us though in Isaiah that He is the lifter of our head. We have to know that even in our deepest hurt or dysfunction; He has the power to heal us.
So instead of bowing into our junk, i.e. “I am an addict, I am a cancer patient, I am an angry man, a depressed man, I am a food addict,” etc, etc. We must instead of bowing into our junk, do as the scripture tells us and lift our heads and eyes to the Father. Praise His name thru our trials, in the midst of our junk and in process of the healing journey. He has the power to bring freedom to our life and if our focus is on Him and His ability to heal and restore our life, family, relationships, etc. As Joel 2:25 tells us “He will restore the years the locusts have eaten.”

Yes, the enemy is a thief that will and in some cases has temporarily stolen your freedom, your peace, and your joy in your life. John 10:10 goes onto read and reminds us that “His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life.”
I don’t know about you, but I would much rather lift my head up to a Higher Power in Jesus Christ rather than bow my head into what the enemy would have us to believe is now our identity.
No matter where you are in your life, please know that your identity is not in your hurts habits or hang-up but rather in Jesus Christ. We struggle with our stuff, but our identity is in Him. And aren’t you glad He died on the cross for you and I to give us life to its fullest. To give us freedom, hope and joy that the enemy once stole from us.
He is the way the truth and the life!

For information about Celebrate Recovery, contact Rodney at 479-659-3679 or roholmstrom@fellowshipnwa.org

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Thanks for the reminder Rodney. It is all too easy to focus on circumstances rather than Jesus Who is my healer, provider, friend, Savior, Lord, Counselor, and the answer to every need. I am forgiven, loved, accepted, washed as white as snow. Nothing the enemy says or does will EVER change who I am in Christ!!!! Cathy T

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