“I think for so many of us we do all too well forget that we do have an adversary..who is alive and very well..but I think that we fail to see this because we think it is not relevant to us today..we think that it is maybe some kind of myth..but guys let me tell you all this very thought that the enemy is alive..and as the word of God speaks and as I am myself going to remind you that as a roaring lion that he walks about seeking whom it is that he may desire..1 Peter 5:8..so he is always moving and never is he lazy when it comes to trying his best to stop us in our very tracks for the Lord..to make us of no use whatsoever in our walks for Christ..Amen..as well the word says that he is a liar and the father of them all..John 8:44..so what does he do towards us?..well, he begins by speaking lies into our lives..he begins by telling us false truths..and somehow we begin to believe the lies more so then we as children of God believe the truth of what our Father says about us..Amen..so we get weak..we get frustrated..we get torn between what’s real and what’s not..Amen..we begin to murmur in our walks..we begin to complain..we begin to live into the very thoughts that the enemy speaks over us..and in turn we become weak..we become bitter..and we get mad..angry..and upset..thinking that the Lord doesn’t hear..that the Lord doesn’t care..that we really need not to pray..and on and on..we lose footing and we lose our standing..so yes we have an enemy..but as well I have come to remind us and encourage someone this very day as well we have a living God..who defeated death, hell and the grave..Amen..who as well gave us a spiritual armor..that we are supposed to put on and daily so..Amen..for it tells us in Ephesians that we are too put on the whole armor of God that we can stand against the wiles or schemes of the devil..Amen..have our loins grit about with truth..and what is the truth guys?..the truth is the word of God..Amen..that is how we line up..we don’t believe every single thing that ole devil says because we know the truth..we are to have on the breastplate of righteousness..Amen..and we do this by holding it closely to us..not far away..not down by our side..but close to us protecting our hearts..Amen..for the word tells us that above all to protect and guard our hearts for out from them flows the issues of our lives..Proverbs 4:23..Amen..and having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace..Amen..the word says blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God..Matthew 5:9..Amen..for the Lord fights our battles..the battle doesn’t belong to us..but it belongs to the Lord..Amen..so abide and live in peace..as you are standing..the word doesn’t say your fighting or you are too be fighting..but it says to stand..Amen..and above all it says taking the shield of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one..because without faith it is impossible to please the Lord..but with our faith all things are possible..so when we are filled with faith in Christ..we know who we are and we know whom it is that we serve..Amen..so when the arrows fly and when the darts from that ole wicked one comes they will fall down and be rendered harmless and of no effect on us Gods children..Ephesians 6:16..Amen..and as well it finishes by telling us that we are to have on the helmet of salvation and have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..in other words we are to protect our minds..for you see the mind is the place as either we will win or lose..Amen..for the word of God says that as a man thinks so is he..Proverbs 23:7..and of course we know that we have to speak the word of God and we know we have to have it..for it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathways..Psalm 119:105..Amen..for Gods word is what goes forth to accomplish what it was sent forth to accomplish it will not the bible says return void..Isaiah 55:11..so when lies are spoken..when the enemy comes..we know that greater is He that is within us then he that is within this ole world..we know that God is for us and not against us..we know that He is there holding us..keeping us and protecting us..we know that He does work all things together for our good..and that His eyes go to and fro throughout the land beholding it all..Amen..for nothing can separate us from the Lord..and as well we know that He is a very present help in our time of need..that we have total access to Him..and always so..for He says let us come boldly to His throne in our time of need..Hebrews 4:16..so in the midst of it all we are to stand..we are to trust..and we are to know who Christ is..for He is Lord..and He is Lord over all..and by no means does the enemy have any say in our lives..and he can do nothing to us..the only power he has is the power we give him..Amen..so you pray to Jesus..you trust in Jesus..and you believe and live out what Jesus says about you and who you are..for you are highly favored of God..so never forget that..know that Christ died that we could live an abundant life..John 10:10..does that mean it’s going to be easy..no that doesn’t..but it does mean that we can live a happy..blessed..prosperous..joy filled life..regardless of how hard it is..regardless of the circumstances and regardless of the situations..because we are Lords..and we belong to Him and Him alone..so have a great life..live a great life..and once again we ourselves, help ourselves, by helping ourselves to do what we know to do..too listen, honor and obey our Lord always..in everything it is that we do and in everything it is that we say..for it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi