Hello sisters! Welcome to the end of week 1!  I don’t know about you but I found this first week to be very powerful. Reflecting on the specific areas of my life that the enemy uses to attack me, realizing how strategic he is, that he plans and calculates was very eye opening for me. Priscilla says it so perfectly, “So, what’s your plan? Do you have one? Your enemy certainly does. He’s been studying you, baiting you – zeroing in on your tendencies and habits, your proclivities and appetites. His attacks have not been random or unsystematic. They are highly calculated and precise,ready to be waged against you in heavenly places.”

I hope you enjoy our recap with Julie!   Have a beautiful weekend! Stay tune here to the blog for week 2 starting on Monday.

In His Love
Melisa
One Heart Ministry

Hello sisters!  We are almost at the end of week 1 of our study and I hope you have been staying alert to the enemy’s tactics in your life.  We are in a battle my friends and we need the put on the full armor daily in order to have victory!

Today we have a few questions for you to consider.  We want to hear from you so share your thoughts with us.

1. Going Deeper II on page 33 Priscilla shares with us some of the enemy’s strategies.  Did you find that any of them were ways the enemy attacks you and if so which ones?
2. How is God stirring the need for a daily prayer strategy in your life after your study this week?
3. What’s your tendency? Do you personally overestimate or underestimate the enemy’s influences in the circumstances of your life? What effect does this inclination have in your life? (See page 17 of your homework)

As for me personally, I think I can relate to all the strategy’s on page 33 at some point or another in my life.  Though I would say the ones that have been the most common or the strongest perhaps would be #8 and #9. I have found myself to be way to overloaded time and time again. I have been known to be guilty of keeping wounds fresh and struggling with forgiveness. However, I will say after a recent sermon by PD, our pastor at Oakwood, I have been much better at letting go of the rope and have stopped ringing the bell. If you want to know more about the sermon send me a message.

While I have always prayed and even kept a prayer journal, God had been telling me that I need to be more strategic and fervent in my prayers because I was underestimating the part the enemy was playing in my life.  This study is exactly where God brought me to and it has changed my prayer life!

Ok, now it’s your turn. Share your thoughts will us in the comment section.  If you are doing the study as a group then take some time to share with each other. Watch for our wrap up video to be posted tomorrow!

In His Love,
Melisa
One Heart Ministry

Go. Sit. On a tack!

…And if the Devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack! Ouch! Sit on a tack! Ouch! Sit on a tack! And if the Devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack! Ouch! Sit on a tack to stay!

Really?

I mean, really. Really!

Sit on… a tack? O.K., yep that’ll hurt a bit. But you and I have both probably stepped on a dry pine needle or a stinkin’ stray Lego…those hurt, to the point of eliciting vocal acknowledgement! I’m jumping off of my personal ‘reserved and discreet’ limb here and saying my tush can probably handle a tack. And, if you’re honest, so can yours.

In my family, this same prescription was just as likely spoken by one angry, upset sibling to another…go sit on a tack! And stay there for that matter!

The lyrics to this catchy ‘Christian’ song, penned by George Willis Cooke “I’ve Got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart”, sang by many round faced cutie-pie kids with their innocent child- like faith, are not preparing them for the real life spiritual battle Satan is just waiting to launch in their lives.

If, “Go, sit on a tack!” is going to be your defense against your spiritual enemy, the devil, who desires to construct strongholds in your heart and life, then you’re in trouble!

And probably already in danger, whether you know it or not.

What am I trying to say?

I am saying that as believers in Jesus Christ, as God’s children:

• We have an enemy…

“Be self-controlled. Be alert. Your enemy, the devil…prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone [YOU] to devour.”  1 Peter 5:8

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”   Ephesians 6:12

Whether you like it or not, Satan is a real enemy who is plotting against you.

He wants you to feel discouraged.

He wants you to feel like you’ve messed up, yes, one more time.

He wants you to believe that your fellow Christian is out to get you.

Do you see it yet?

Satan knows his destiny… eternal separation from God. He knows it! And he’ll do whatever he can, sister-in-Christ, to make you feel like a failure in this world, because he knows he doesn’t have your soul. If he can’t destroy your soul, he’s going to go after any and everything else he can get from you.

He has nothing else to lose, so he’s going to go after you hard! He is going to come after those you care about, your future, your mind, and your emotions.

He will do what he wants to make you futile and to slander our Lord and Savior through you and through me. If through us, he can hinder another soul from becoming a believer or to make us lethargic and ineffective for God’s kingdom, he’s gonna jump and pounce.

Priscilla Shirer says in the “Armor of God” study,

(And I love it!)

“Satan will predictably want to cripple you in the area of your life where doing so will most directly defame God and hinder his church.”

(Ugh! Those are tough words.)

“Everything that occurs in the visible, physical world is directly connected to the wrestling match being waged in the invisible, spiritual world.”

We are in a battle!

“If you look carefully, you’ll notice that the battle your enemy wages against you – especially the most acute, consistent ones – possess a personality to them, an intimate knowledge of who you are and the precise pressure points where you can most easily be taken down. These areas of greatest fear and anxiety in your life are clues to some important spiritual information.  They reveal, among other things, that a personalized strategy has been insidiously put in place to destroy your vibrancy and render you defeated.“

Since it’s clear that the strategy of telling Satan to “go sit on a tack,” isn’t really going to stand up against the strategic and personalized attacks from the spiritual forces of darkness (this is just scary to me thinking of such), a plan is needed.

• Our enemy will not get the ultimate win!

“All your words are true.”   Psalms 119:160

“We are blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Ephesians 1:3b.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

Priscilla says:

“Believe and receive first; then utilize what you’ve been given.”

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  Ephesians 6:10-11, 13.

God’s Word is truth! His Word equips you. His Word identifies you. His Word gives you strength to walk each day.  The Word of God is living and active; sharper than any double-edged sword.  God has given you every tool you will need to live a victorious Christian life, characterized with joy.

But, to know what God’s Word says about facing your adversary, the Devil, you have to be familiar with what it says.

You must read it.

You must learn it.

Try writing scripture on note cards and post it in your cupboards, in your car, on your mirror…wherever you are going to see it…and let God’s Word soak into your spirit. (This definitely helps me.)

In our culture, there are abundant ways to have access to God’s Word. No excuses! Through reading, study, listening to sermons, perhaps through music, to name a few… God’s words will speak to your heart and soul. You’ll know it because the scripture will resonate with you and you’ll think, “Yes, this makes sense. I get this! This is beautiful.” His words will be personal to you and your life.

The essential component necessary to stand against Satan’s attacks is prayer. Daily battles will be won in Jesus’ name. Calling out to your Heavenly Father, in prayer and asking Him to open your eyes, spiritually, is an action plan.

Priscilla says,

“Prayer is the mechanism that brings down the power of heaven into your experience. It is the divinely authorized method that activates your spiritual armor and makes it effective. Prayer alerts the enemy to your awareness of his intentions while safeguarding you from his attacks. It is his kryptonite. It is what weakens and unravels all his ploys against you.”

Be real with God when you talk to Him. It’s just you and Him. He created you (Psalm 139); He knows how you are wired.

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

As you continue in “The Armor of God” study, you are going to become so much more aware of Satan’s strategies, but yet so much more confident in the spiritual armor that you have as a Child of the King. Some of the pieces may take more spiritual discipline to engage than others for you.

That’s O.K.

You’ve got what it takes to be ready. God is on your side. Each day.

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! Where? Down in my Heart! Where? Down in my heart! I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay.

Really? Yes, really!

As we “put on” our spiritual armor, we will be prepared for the spiritual battles that Satan has intended for our harm, but that our Lord has equipped us to fight to have life and have it to its full.

Julie

Hello sisters! Here we are…week 1 of our 7 week summer study, The Armor of God! I am so excited that you have decided to join us! Together, we are going to learn to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, as Paul tells us to do in Ephesians 6:10. We are going to find out how the enemy works to destroy us and how we can stop him by putting on the full armor of God.

On Monday’s we will post a video from our guest for the week and on Wednesday’s an article from them as well. Throughout the week we will post questions and/or discussion starters.  So stay posted here during your study and share with us your thoughts and questions or what God is teaching you. We want to hear from you!

Priscilla Shirer’s videos are optional. They are not required for the study. The videos can be purchased at Lifeway.com if you would like to watch them. If you decide not to watch the videos, click here for the answers to the viewer guides.

If your participant book has not arrived yet, click here for a copy of week 1.

Here is Julie Jackson to kick us off for week 1 – Sizing up the Enemy. Let’s get started!