Spiritual Warfare

This past month has been a month not from heaven. I have learned and grown a lot through the situation that I found myself in, and I have to admit even though it has sucked more than anything could possibly suck, good has resulted from it spiritually. I think watching a dearly loved friend walk away from the Lord and close relationships has got to be one of the most trying, depressing, and infuriating things on the planet. It also goes to show that no matter how secure in the faith you think someone is; Satan is ready and waiting to pounce on them in a heartbeat. He stands by our sides ready to accuse us before God and ready to pour condemnation upon us. It has shown me that we have got to be ready to do battle against "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Through the last month I have heard story after story of people being spiritually attacked and this leads me to believe that something big is brewing below the surface. Maybe God is preparing his people for something just around the corner. Two people I know have said they have had very vivid dreams of persecution taking place here in the U.S. Who knows what it could be, but we need to be ready and clothed in the full armor of God. I have felt weary and depressed lately, and I have been tempted to let my shield down. When I have, now more than ever, I felt the flaming arrows of the enemy. That seems very dramatic, but there is no other way to explain it. Pray, pray, pray for our friends who may have strayed far from God. I heard something recently, "While the lamp holds out to burn, the vilest sinner may return." As long as there is life there is hope. "But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." We need to encourage one another to continue in our pursuit of the Truth, to continue to steep ourselves in the word of God, to hold each other accountable personally and biblically. It's one thing to know it, but it's an entirely different thing alltogether to believe it. Christians do not remain on a single plateau. They are either progressing or regressing. Their desire should be continual progress.

Some books that I have read/am reading that have really shed some light on all of this are, for your reference:

When The Darkness Will Not Lift--John Piper
Finding Peace in Life's Storms--Charles Spurgeon
When Godly People Do Ungodly Things--Beth Moore
Spurgeon on Prayer and Spiritual Warfare--Charles Spurgeon
When I Don't Desire God--John Piper
The Bible--God

I would highly recommend any of those books, especially that last one. Friendship is amazing, but it's not all fun and games. It's being open and vulnerable to people, it's trusting someone else with knowledge of your past hurts and experiences, but it's also taking a risk to love someone even though you are opening yourself up to the possibility of being hurt. I'm hoping I'm on the "road to recovery." I know it's going to be a long one, but I know that we have a God who is faithful and our Lord Jesus Christ is our greatest Advocate. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Jesus pleads on our behalf and intercedes for us as well. That is very reassuring.