I need to wake up in 30 minutes for a 5:15am workout but the anticipation of needing to be somewhere so early has me sleeping restlessly. An active mind woke me up with something that’s been weighing on my heart…
The enemy…
The enemy steals joy, installs insecurity in hearts, plucks off all the fruits up the spirit and chucks them into the gutter… Those being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He attacks on a continuous basis often in the form of drugs and alcohal.. Addiction. I see and hear it in action with drunken fights, whether verbally or physically, sadness washes over a happy heart and anger begins to rage, people’s self control goes by the wayside and the next morning when the cloud disappates they have little to no idea what happened last night.
We’ve all experienced this is some way or another, whether it’s us in the drunken cloud or consoling a friend who is walking with the enemy. And it’s everyday and everywhere. Millions of unnecessary angry words leave mouths scarring one another causing insecurity and hatred when often, these words were created out of nothing but a seed planted by the enemy.
Our advertising and media contribute to this, promoting debauchery, enticing people to step into the sexy darkness.
The enemy takes over our television as millions of people tune in and watch reality shows of people wrapped up in watching strangers create drama out of nothing, hearts become lined with bitterness and sadness over relationships being forced to be played out the “reality” of life.
Whether we want to call it the enemy or not… It consumes and seeps into us, and we don’t even realize it.
The good news is that we can take control by our choices and our strength in practicing self control. We don’t have to consume and participate but instead we can grow our garden of fruits that feed and spread love with harvests that begin to grow over the darkness.
We can decide what comes through our ears and into our hearts and fill it with positive and encouraging words and thoughts and emotions. The darkness can be overcome with even just tiny speck of light. And we can be that light.
For we were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8.
I’m grateful for a night of little sleep to think about this change that we can create. I do think I’ll need a nap later though.
Good morning! Shine your lights bright! I’m excited to move my body!