“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  – Romans 8:37

When I was about ten years old, growing up in Bossier City, LA., we had a family which lived on our street that just didn’t seem to get along with anybody. They had a son whose name was Ricky which was about the same age as I was and he was always attempting to start some sort of trouble with me for some unknown reason. I could neither walk nor ride my bike past their house without him either shouting some obscene gestures or even pretend like he was going to chase me down the street. At times we would try and get along but it always ended up going south in the process.

My dad finally had enough of this and decided he would set up (in our front yard mind you) a miniature boxing ring where the two of us could duel it out in hopes of getting it out of our system. He set up the ring and we even had boxing gloves to boot. He rung the imaginary bell and we took turns swapping punches until my dad thought we had had enough. Thinking back, I should have bitten off his ear lobe..Mike Tyson style! I’m sure that would have gotten his attention. In the days that followed, our relationship did seem to improve just a bit but he still had that “mean streak” so to speak about him that made it impossible for us to become best of friends.

We as believers also have enemies that attempt each and every day to wreak havoc in our lives and families as well.

We are told to “Stay Alert!” in 1 Peter 5:8 and to “Watch out for our enemy, the devil for he prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Many people miss the part in this scripture that he (satan) prowls around “like a roaring lion”. My friend, satan is limited in what he is able to do in your life. The only power that he has it what you give him access to. Jesus stripped him of all power and authority when he died on the cross and has given you the power of attorney to use his Name and rebuke every evil wicked scheme that he attempts in your life. When Jesus said “It is Finished” on the cross, he was essentially expressing that the work that the Father had given him to do, was complete. Colossians 2:14-15 reads, “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” Again my friend, please know that you have the right and authority as a believer in Jesus Christ to walk in freedom over the enemy.

Another enemy I believe that many people deal with daily is the enemy of the mind and their thought life. Proverbs 23:7 reads that “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. Our daily thoughts can become our worst enemy if we’re not careful. Many people have difficulty in forgiving themselves for a past sin or wrong that they have committed. Others may be dealing or carrying an extremely hurtful secret from their past that they’re ashamed of for fear of facing rejection or embarrassment. When these emotions and thoughts go unattended, they can bury us eventually in a world of pain, discouragement and possibly even depression. My dear friend, Jesus came to set the captive free and break the chains of captivity for all who would desire to be released from their bondage. In Isaiah 61:1 we read “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.“ That time is now my friend! You can begin today to walk in newness of life if you so desire. The choice is yours, the choice is mine. I choose to receive and walk in victory! Receive it as well and live a victorious life over all your enemies!

Remain Blessed,