Stepping Stones: War Trophy, Our Soul; Battlefield, Our Mind

Transformational Thought

We were born into a world at war, and you will live all your days in the midst of a great spiritual battle. Every day all the forces of good and evil, heaven and hell, God and Satan, collide. You have experienced and witnessed this warfare on an hourly basis, and sometimes, minute to minute.

Today’s scripture are words spoken by Jesus. He makes the choices so obvious, so clear. Unfortunately, few of us face this fact moment by moment. I know I’m guilty of not reminding myself each day that I’m in the middle of a monumental spiritual struggle.

Yes, there is a thief out there … he comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. And he’s not interested in taking a few things and leaving – he wants it all: your marriage, your job, your children, your relationships – your soul. Everything. Satan’s main strategy is distorting our lenses and disrupting our decision-making skills. Satan even went after Jesus with lies, trying to affect Jesus’ decisions.

We need to focus on the second part of Jesus’ during His encounter Satan. He tells us He has come so that we may have life and life to the fullest. The catch is, you have to choose this life; it will not be handed to you. You need to face the fact … every day … that you are smack dab in the middle of a war. Jesus used THE HOLY BIBLE as His lenses and reference for accurate decision-making, and that’s just what we need to use too.

Jesus’ offer to us is life, but you had better be ready to fight for it. Because the bad guy on the other side, your greatest enemy, is all-in and relentless, and fights dirty. It’s not pleasant news, but it is news everyone needs to hear.

Today, when tempted to stray, stop and calm yourself with God’s word and Jesus’ promise of abundant life so you don’t fall for Satan’s lie. Also, think of one or two people at this moment that you can alert or remind that there is a thief stalking them. Call them, forward this email to them … pray for them. The battlefield is your mind, so start guarding it diligently by making strong and Godly decisions. WITHIN REACH was developed to help this very purpose. Your decision, choose your side well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I choose life! Thank You, Father, for providing such a beautiful alternative - life. I ask for Your help, Father God. I need Your help to face the fact that I am in the middle of spiritual warfare … and to help me remember that You sent Your Son so that I may have abundant life. I have seen what this enemy is capable of, Lord, in my life and in the lives of others. I pray that You help me and the Stepping Stones praying community accept the fact that there is an enemy out there trying to steal all we have … to destroy and kill. Lord, help me as a Father to protect my children from this thief and to protect all those I love. I pray in the name of the Conqueror, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10

And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’"
Matthew 4:3-10

Watch over your heart (mind) with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23