Let Him Win

If you all don’t believe it, let me let you in on something fundamental: the devil is alive and well and working. He loves to tear us up, make us question, bring anxiety to an extreme, and so much more. His primary strategy is to attack our minds. Yes, that is correct. He wants us to think negatively about ourselves, others, and situations. He goes after our minds with false things. He likes to have us believe the opposite of what God wants us to know.  

For example: 

If we are afraid, he doesn’t tell us, have no fear- God does (Isaiah 41:10)

If we are sick, lame, feeble, he doesn’t tell us you will be healed- God does (James 5: 14-15)

If we are weak, he doesn’t tell us we are strong- God does (Joshua 1:9)

If we are grieving or suffering, he doesn’t tell us he will be near us- God does (Psalm 147:3)

Satan tells us through many different avenues and vessels the opposite of what God wants us to know and believe.

 I love the song by Jelly Roll – “Liar. “It is so true. The devil is a liar, and as Jellyroll states, we let Satan drive around in our minds and make us feel like nothing. Then the chorus is this:

You ain’t nothing but a liar

Yeah, I walk right out of the fire

Yeah, you try to keep me down, try to put me underground 

But I’m only going higher

I can hear you in my head, in my bed when I’m dreamin

You try to be my friend, but you’re blowing smoke

Oh, and now I ain’t scared of telling you where you can go

‘Cause I know you’re nothing but a liar

Satan is a liar and a deceiver. Since the beginning, he has been attacking and lying about God and His Word. He has been twisting words and making all of us believe some of the ways he twists them.  

He started in Genesis with Adam and Eve. He told Eve, “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”. The devil knew that the biting of the apple would bring harm —sin — into the world. But he did it anyway because that is what his mission in this world is.  

He is at work everywhere trying to get us to question the bible.  

At times I will be down on myself and let that stinking thinking work in my head. 

 Last week was one of those weeks. I almost “Let him Win.” I let words that were delivered from others work on me and get my mind in a tailspin, but those words were the work of the devil. I let insecurities and fear strangle my breath. I was letting Satan rob some of my purpose, gifts, and talents because I was barely clinging to the hem of His garment.  

But then on Sunday, I sang in church – ‘This Is My Prayer.’ It was something about that song that drew me back to where I needed to be. I realized what I would have missed out on and what others would have missed out on if I had let the devil win. I almost let him win, but I am not going to let the devil win. Christ will win- He will win, with a capital H. 

At Jack’s Easterseals graduation, one of the little girls came up to the microphone to tell everyone what their teacher had them repeat every day. I remember at the beginning of the year when TT recited it to me one day and how awesome I thought it was. You can add or take away anything from this, so for me it goes like this:

I am loved

I am safe

I am smart

I am important

I am strong

I am special

I am loved by God.

This is how we let God win: starting our days with the reminder that we are loved, safe, smart, important, strong, special, and loved by God. We are letting God be in control and we aren’t letting anything else influence us.  

This week, take a moment to remind yourself to find joy. We need to let God win and kick the devil to the curb. You need to:

1.             Show up for JESUS – Start your day in the Word.

2. Show up for OTHERS – Serve others, whether they are like you or not, whether they annoy you or are difficult to understand. That is what Jesus did; He showed up for everyone.

3. Show up for YOU – You need to fill your cup before you can help fill others’ cups.

WE WILL FIND JOY WHEN WE SHOW UP FOR JESUS, OTHERS, AND OURSELVES.

As Father Mike says, “You pray for me, and I will pray for you.”

Have a great week, Cupcake loves you.