Today I had the opportunity to talk for squad church with one of my other teammates. I was nervous about speaking, but I knew God put the message on my heart, and I needed to share it. God helped me to step out in leadership and boldness. Sure I may have stumbled over my words or talked a little fast, but I shared what God put on my heart, which is what matters. So for today’s blog, I will share what I shared with the squad. I’m so excited to share it with you, so here it is!
Have you ever had such a great time doing something, and then bam! Either someone says something insensitive, or something sad happens. Let me tell you about one time in preschool. We were at recess, and I was playing with one of my friends. Suddenly, she asked if I wanted to see her house. I said, “sure, after school,” but then she replied, “no, now.” She pointed to the hole under the fence. I agreed, and we crawled under and out. We started walking, and she told me it was straight through the forest. Some TA’s noticed that we were out of school property and told us to return. My friend turned to me and said, “Run!!”
We started to run but keep in mind we are little preschoolers. We have little legs that barely get us anywhere. The TA’s quickly catch up and ask, “What was that?!” Then my friend started crying and said, “Grace forced me to come with her. She wanted to show me her house through the forest. Then when you said come back, she told me to run.” While the crying continued, she said, “I just don’t know what to do.” The TA’s brought me in front of the class and said, “Don’t listen to Grace. She’s a bad influence and will make you do bad things you don’t want to do.”
Meanwhile my “friend” was smiling at me in a mean way. Then they brought me to a little red chair and had the class sit around me in a circle and laugh. It quickly went from a fun adventure to a sad time. As you can guess, I was pretty discouraged after this. Similarly, after I have a good quiet time, day of serving, or freeing night, bam! Satan is there to discourage me in any way he can. For example, when I feel confident in myself, then someone will say something insensitive, or my skin will break out. When I find a good routine, then my schedule will get messed up, or I’ll get busy. When I’m feeling healthy, then I’ll get sick or injured, or when I feel like I bring something to the team, I’ll get hit with inadequacy. Satan sees us getting closer to God and being more dependent on Him, and he doesn’t want that, so he targets us. As we get closer to God, our target gets more prominent, and the enemy will use anything to get us off track. Around the time my back got bad, I was playing lots of sports and connecting with people through it, and then that was shut down. When my back got really bad, I was more in my bed. I never found myself questioning because I knew it was happening for a reason, and God was going to use it for good. I leaned into him for strength and found my love for worship. The enemy didn’t like this, so he tried to make me feel not included through sports since I couldn’t play. He told me that all of my friends were going to get scholarships, and I was going to be stuck with nothing. He also tried to make me feel weird for having the back of an eighty-year-old at fourteen. But I didn’t let him discourage me. I knew it wasn’t from God and that Satan had no power over me, so I didn’t let it affect me.
Another example was at the beginning of this year. I felt like I had it all together. I was doing well in school, building into the basketball team, growing so close to God, and I signed up for the world race. Then I was hit with a rough patch of depression and anxiety that lasted a month. I found myself so down and felt unworthy. It was a tough time for me. But then, one day, I was like, no, I don’t want to deal with this anymore. I prayed that God would take it off of me, and the next day I was back to normal! Sometimes when hard times hit, it doesn’t faze you because you’re so dependent on God, like in the first example. Other times it’s like the second situation where you don’t feel like you can get out and are so discouraged. Well, I’m here to tell you that Satan has no power over us in Jesus’ name. As Matthew 28:18 and Colossians 2:15 say, he has already been defeated. With the Holy Spirit in us, we can tell him to leave in Jesus’ name. Ephesians 4:27 says we don’t have to let the enemy discourage us anymore. He can sure try, but as long as we’re leaning into God and in the word, then Satan won’t have a chance. As James 4:7-8 says, keep in the word and keep a short account of sins, then Satan will have nothing to hold over you. Each day put Ephesians 6:10-18 into action. God has you and has equipped you. Are you living as though you’re equipped?
Verses mentioned above:
-Matthew 28:18 “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.’”
-Colossians 2:15 “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
-Ephesians 4:27 “For anger gives a foothold to the devil.”
-James 4:7-8 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
-Ephesians 6:10-18 “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
