How to Fight Back the Darkness

 

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Nothing makes Satan weak in the knees
more than when we are on our knees." 

~ Skip Heitzig, Pastor

Death.  Killing.  Violence.  What do we do with such heavy hearts in such a dark time? With the knot in our throats and the pit in our stomachs that are weighing on our souls?  When we look around us, nothing on this broken earth can fill our void of sadness and despair.  

So we look up to the One who created all things and who alone has the power to bring light and help:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.  

What does help look like?  When does it come?  How much will we get?  Anger, confusion, bitterness, hostility, helplessness and fear overcome us in different ways and at different times.  We want reasons- we ask, "Why, Lord, why?"

We instinctively want a reckoning- someone to pay for the injustice that has happened.  In our fury we lash out with words to others in person or on social media, with the thoughts in our head as we tally up the wrongs that have happened to us in different ways.  

Then we remember we believe in and serve a Savior who had enemies who sought His life, laid snares for Him and planned to ruin Him. Psalm 38:12

💗 He didn't strike back-

"He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He

suffered.  He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly." 1 Pet 2:23

💗In fact, He distinctly told us to pray for our enemies-

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you." Luke 6:28

💗He also distinctly told us to love our enemies-

"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" Matt 5:44

Ever have a tough time doing that- loving your enemies?  What? I'm sure you're the only one😉 

I have a hard time remembering to pray for them.  So here's a suggestion for us, to help us work through our thoughts, emotions, and hurts that come from the enemy who prowls around seeking to destroy and kill.  Let's ask the Lord to help us align our hearts to His by sincerely inserting the name of whoever the 'enemy' is into the essence of verses like Ephesians 1:18-21 and Colossians 1:9-12:

✞✞✞

Lord, I pray for _______, that the eyes of their heart may be flooded with

light so they can understand Your incredible greatness of Your power.

I pray _____ understands that You are far above any

ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else-not only

in this world but also in the world to come.

Lord, I ask that You give _____ complete knowledge of Your will and to give ____

spiritual wisdom and understanding.  I pray that ______'s  life honors and pleases You, 

and that _______ grows as they learn to know You better.

Lord, help me to forgive _______, the same way You have graciously

forgiven me.  We have all sinned and separated ourselves from You.

✞✞✞

As we pray like this, in the name of Jesus, for our neighbors, our coworkers, our local and
national leaders, our pastors, and our family, we feel the transfer of the burden from us to Jehovah-Shaphat ("the Lord our judge").  

We are warriors in the middle of a cosmic spiritual war, and our weapon is our allegiance to our King.  The only way we can stand faithful is to relinquish our hearts and minds to Him.  The only way that will happen is through talking with Him, listening to Him, trusting in His Second Coming and Final Judgement. 

Let's fight back the darkness, one prayer at a time.

Dear Heavenly Father,

sometimes we don't even know what to pray or how to pray, but we know we can give it all over to You- our Creator, Redeemer, Judge and Comforter.  We look forward to Your perfect peace in heaven, and we thank You for carrying us as we struggle in this broken world. We anxiously await Your return.  Amen.