I'm offering up this quick post to any of you Christ followers out there who are feeling like forces are aligning against you as we enter into another 'ministry season'. To be completely frank, you're not imagining it. Dark forces are aligning against you. I've been doing this long enough to know that they always do. However, Jesus says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The following is from my journal entry this morning. Take a moment to pray over yourself and your ministry, whatever that may be (you all have one!), this morning.
Keeping the "joy of the Lord" in the midst of any circumstance; staying in HIs peace as I place my faith in and my eyes on Him; controlling my tongue and mind to keep from constantly grumbling about the situation(s) I find myself in; these are my focus, and my struggle. Especially the past couple of years as it seems that just as we're picking ourselves back up from the most recent hit, we're knocked back down on our asses by something else coming out of left field. It's hard. My anxiety is rising and trying to occupy my every thought. A lot of the time, it wins, if I'm being honest.
I'm not oblivious to the fact that I've been picking up steam in my work for the Lord lately, and that always brings trouble. I pray, Lord, that you make me like Paul: resilient because of his faith in Christ and relentless in His work for you. Help me, Holy Spirit, to fix my eyes on the Father, regardless of what is going on right before them. It is only by Your power, God, that I can do anything; especially this. Peaceful assurance is not my default. You know this. Cover me and my family in the blood of Jesus and place a hedge of protection around us all. Surround us with Your warring angels; keep the enemy far from us. He has no power besides that which You have given him; give him none against us. May the kingdoms of darkness, the kingdoms of this world, may they fall in total devastation when I and my brothers and sister in Christ approach. May we all be warriors for You, in Christ, fueled by the Holy Spirit. Allow us to bring Your love to every corner of this planet; preaching at all times through our deeds, without the need for words. Keep us on Your path. Illuminate the way so none are lost in the darkness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
