What do all these verses have in common?
1. "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and now grow weary , they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
2. "Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will praise him, my savior my god." Psalm 42:11
3. "My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Acts 2:26-27
Lets think, all these quotes come from the word. The word of God. And he wants us all to have...hope in everything that we try to do in life. Especially when we have him behind us. I was thinking about this word of "hope" in the car today. It's not only an idea, a name, or a thought process, but it is a lifestyle, which we should all live by day in and day out. I was thinking about it because I realize that about a few months to about two weeks ago, I was starting to act unlike myself. I was worried about school, money, and everything else really imaginable. I sat there in the car, rain pouring over the windshield, christmas music playing in the background, and two windshield wipers, about to met their grave, thinking and running the past through my head, trying to make sense of it all. I came to the conclusion that I have been suffering, and from my last note, you remember that I use to have nothing to believe in. Now the suffering was occurring because of things attacking my life now, especially since I have been trying to grow in my faith and pray much more often. The devil was attacking me, causing me to worrying about everything and causing me to see past good things that Jesus was offering me. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8. He was, he was walking around trying to devour all happiness and hope that I had of trying to stay worry free. I was sad and I needed refuge.
So, there I was, sitting in car, driving, remembering all the mistakes that I have made. Remembering being at the mall, only 45 minutes earlier, and seeing a group of teenagers spit horrible words and phrasing out loud, while mothers with tiny children run away in hopes that innocent ears would be spared. I prayed, in the mall, walking to Waldens, praying that God would help those people and that they would notice their mistakes as well, and ask for the best gift of the season of Christ. I prayed for hope that they would know the love that I have. Now, I may be confusing you right about now...you are thinking.. wait, she just said that she was sad and didn't understand now she switches back.. what a hypocrite, right? Well, let me take you back. About two weeks ago, as school started coming to an end and I had some of the worst arguments, I started praying again, thinking, "hey, maybe God will listen to me," and I just gave everything to God. Everything and all my worries. Things started to look up for me. The devil kept trying to attack using Richard, my family, and everything else that he could. Finally I had enough. God said that I have control over the devil, not the other way around. I have recently read a description of something these lines by Dale A. Robbins. It helped me understand that I HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DEVIL because Christ is with me.
"The good news is that, although the Devil is described “like” a “roaring lion,” in reality he has no actual authority over believers. He is not really a lion, but roars “like” a lion would to bluff his victims into fear and intimidation. Satan is a liar and deceiver and uses deception as his weapon to gain advantage over those who are ignorant of the limitations of his power.
When Jesus gave his life on the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world, He also redeemed us from Satan’s power and dominion over us. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15). “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Praise God! Satan is already a defeated enemy! His legal authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Every Believer has Authority over Satan
So if Satan is already defeated, why then is he still able to cause trouble? Because, even though Christ broke Satan’s legal power, the Lord has left it up to us to “enforce” the Devil’s defeated condition. It's our responsibility to use the authority that Christ has given us to put Satan in his place.
As a believer, you need not fear Satan, but realize and exercise the authority which God has given you over the Devil. Every person whose name has been recorded in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (all those who are saved) have been given authority over the power of the Devil. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
You have the right to use the authority of the name of Jesus to repel and drive Satan out of your territory and to break his grip over spiritual strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). When you recognize Satan’s activity and covert operations, take authority over him in the name of Jesus! Just as Jesus and the early apostles did, command Satan to leave (Mark 16:17).
The Devil hates the name of Jesus and detests an atmosphere of praise and worship which exalts the name of Jesus. Christ said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Be assured, the presence of Christ will expel the presence of Satan. Lifting up Jesus in praise will send the Devil running!
Slam the Door on the Devil
The name of Jesus will drive Satan away. But it would be futile to order Satan’s departure if we leave the door wide open for him to flourish. The Bible tells us to not “give place” for the Devil (Eph. 4:27). That is, provide no area of your life where Satan can be comfortable or establish strongholds.
The enemy can always be found working in those who entertain sin, disobedience, rebellion or a self-willed nature. Unforgiveness toward others is another area which Satan flourishes (2 Cor. 2:11). Furthermore, any area of your life which is not submitted to God is considered open territory to the Devil, and he has the right to bring his expanding influence to those areas.
This is why the scripture says, “...submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The only way to actually resist Satan is to submit yourself fully to God. This was what Jesus was referring to when He said, “...the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30). Jesus had submitted himself to God, and although the Devil would try Him, there was nothing for the Devil to use to gain an advantage.
Rejoice Christian! God is in you, and YOU have been given power over the Devil! By submitting to God, and exercising your authority in the name of Jesus, you are more powerful than the enemy. “...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)."
Isn't that empowering?! There is no need for worry. Only hope! Hope that tomorrow will bring wonder and joy. And that, through Christ, if he comes tomorrow, I will be sent into heaven and made to live to forever. Lately, I realized that sadness wastes your life so be happy, do good things in life, and know that suffering is not always a bad thing. "Without suffering, there would be no compassion." That is one of my favorite quotes. It reminds that everyone suffers, because only through pain and dirt can flowers bloom and love and joy shine through. Kind of like, storms. I walked out the mall today, expecting more rain.. but miraculously, the sun shone bright through the rainclouds and warmed my face. I couldn't help but smile and say "thank you jesus for the rain to be gone." And the salvation army people bells, look at me and smiled. Maybe I touched a heart. Just maybe. I do that a lot now. "Thank you Jesus for tea. Thank you Jesus that the bottoms of my pants didn't get wet. Jesus, I am not going to worry about where those stamps went, you will provide. Jesus, I am running so short on money and I have applied to about 15 jobs with no reply, you will provide and I will be uplifted. etc." I just give to him, and thank him for the people in my life and the things that I can do for him. And in the idea of suffering, people wonder why god makes us suffer, but you have to think of the outcome. God wants the absolute best for us, and we make decisions, therefore, if our decisions take us away from where God's wonderful plan has us, suffering brings us back because after all it was our decision, and at the end we get what we get what we don't deserve of love, joy, and God's plan. And when people say that they don't have love, joy, and "God's plan", that is because they are still living in their mistakes and not having hope. HAVE HOPE that God will provide, and life will become such a better place for us.
"We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
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