Attacks To Our Soul

Photo by Road Trip by Raj

A week or so ago, my husband and I were discussing how our souls are attacked in so many ways through the trials of life. For instance, there are times in our spirit when we feel high, on top of the world, then there are times when we feel low in spirit! I call these times spiritual highs and spiritual lows!  The highs:  when we are on the top of the mountain.  Life is good we have won the battle of life and enjoying the victory of that battle. The lows: when we come down from the mountaintop and suddenly like Moses, we come down faced with chaos and confusions to deal with.

Then there are times when satan attacks us with oppression.  That’s when we feel uneasy in our spirit which leads us to experience deep mood swings and uncertainties about our life’s circumstances.

Then there’s depression!  Depression is a terrible hit to one’s soul.  Depression causes one to say terrible things to others or makes them act out in ways they wouldn’t normally behave.  Our poor wounded souls begin to live in constant doubt and fear, along with many ups and downs in our emotions.  Maybe you haven’t suffered in the area of depression, but many of us work with individuals or live with family members whose behavior makes you want to zap them to the moon; or how about dealing with difficult people in the marketplace?  Or how about receiving negative words or comments from others leaving wound to our souls (emotional well-being).  Friends, people everywhere, including self, are going through something that pushes us to the edge, so we need to remember, we wrestle not with flesh and blood.  Ephesians 6:12 tells us “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This means there are evil forces named satan and his demons who are causing havoc with the purpose of destroying our lives, the lives of our friends, our family, our co-workers or individuals we come in contact with in the marketplace.

Everyone needs to be reminded that quite often all of us as we journey through this life, are faced with one or multiple circumstances that overwhelm us, causing us to fall into pouts of depression.  These life circumstances can fall into one or more of the following areas: money management, love, personal relationships, abuse, and let’s not forget our health physically, emotionally, and mentally.   All of these areas pose great problems in our lives when we react toward them instead of responding toward them from a stance of victory that is already ours.  Emotional wellness (our soul) is one of the greatest battles many struggle with.  Why?  Because emotional battles if not dealt with, fairly quickly, can lead to depression, in which some individuals have a hard time recovering from.  When adversaries come our way, there are three things we need to know when these life challenges attack us:

1.  As we read in Ephesians 6:12 above, there is a devil that hates us and wants to destroy our soul and our testimony!  He will use people or circumstances as his tool, so people are not our enemy, and circumstances can be resolved!

2.  A trial is a “test!” All tests come to pass!  We can chose to pass the test with victory or defeat!   Jesus is our victory and He has given us “ALL AUTHORITY” over the devil.

3.  Satan wants us to doubt God and God’s Word!  Once again, he will use people against us.  They are not our enemy, they are victims satan will use as a pond in his hand.  The devil, who is our real enemy, wants to kill, steal and destroy what God has blessed us with and he uses discouragement and distraction as his weapon to accomplish this, if we allow him.  He wants to wound our soul hoping we will doubt God and His word (read Ephesians  6:12).

All trials the enemy attacks us with are designed to wound our souls!  He loves to destroy our sense of well-being by causing us to have feelings of loneliness and unhappiness along with feelings of being unloved.  When we feel lonely, unloved or unhappy we start to feel abandoned by God more than with people.  We begin to think God has forgotten us or He is angry with us.  Friends, that’s what the devil wants us to believe, but we need to know and believe in our heart that Father God has not given up on us nor has He forsaken us.  These wounds to our soul, need to be dealt with quickly by using the “authority” given to us by Jesus.  So, let’s look at God’s word to defeat those negative feelings of abandonment.  Psalms 37:28 (KJV) assures us as follows:

The Children of God Are Preserved and Not Forsaken:
“For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off” (Psalms 37:28). Read this scripture more than once.  Father God loves His children and rewards us with His presence and protection, whereas those that that reject Him will be doomed forever. What does the scripture read?  We are preserved forever to live with Him forever in eternity!  Forever is a long time my friends!  God will take care of our needs NOW according to His riches in glory!  Notice this scripture says we are not forsaken! He cares about us and we are forever in His thoughts and plans.

1 Corinthians 10:13 is a great reminder that God is with us always to help.  It reads “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”  Paul is telling us any temptation we are faced with others have already gone through it with God making a way of escape for them and giving them the strength to go through the temptation victoriously.

He Is Our Comforter
John 14:17-18 (KJV)  “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”  The children of God are privileged to have the Living God dwelling within their spirit. God’s indwelling Spirit is our seal (mark) until redemption.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us!  He is there always to carry us through our trials of life as we trust and believe He can and will.  Faith is our answer!  We need to use our faith to believe God can do the impossible in your lives.  Faith is the “key” that opens heavens doors. Father God only goes where invited!

Jesus Knows Our Suffering
Jesus has shared in all our sufferings so He knows our pain!  When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He told Peter and the two sons of Zedebee “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”  Did you read that?  Jesus’ soul was exceeding sorrowful!  His soul was suffering and His mind was being attacked by satan!  Jesus prayed to Father God, then he cried out  “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39 KJV).  Jesus knew the pain and agony He would suffer for the sins of the world and for Believers to receive redemption and reconciliation with Father God.  So, in the Garden of Gethsemane He cried to God not once but three times “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”  Also, when Jesus suffered on the Cross, He cried out “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Friends, Jesus shared in our suffering and can relate with us in our suffering!  Allow Jesus to help you and comfort you through your life’s trials.  Remember, all trials come to past!

We don’t have to live a life of depression or loneliness, these negative emotions are an attack from the devil.  King David knew the pains of a wounded soul and cried out to Go to “restore my soul,” read Psalms 51.  Friends, we will suffer with trials and adversities, but if we keep our minds on God, He will keep us in perfect peace.  Father God will deliver us from the enemy of our soul.  What the devil meant evil for us God can turn into good.  Suffering, my friends, can make us stronger and mature us for the Kingdom of God, don’t grumble or complain, instead seek Father God’s face for help and wisdom to persevere through the trials of life, and as you persevere you will find yourself standing in the “steps” of victory, which is Jesus, who is also cheering you on, every step of the way!

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