Relentless. I want this to be a word that describes my pursuit of God, and I pray that I continue to move in that direction. What I’m finding, though, is that the more we actively pursue God, the more the enemy ratchets up the attacks on us. He’s relentless in his battle for our soul. I was thinking tonight about how we fight back with God’s Word and with the testimony of what God has done in our lives, and I wanted to share a story, and an idea, with you.
A year or so ago (maybe longer, time does seem to pass more quickly as I get a little older) my daughter seemed to grasp hold of God’s love on a deeper level. She was so eager to express her love for God, her understanding of salvation and her knowledge that other people needed this salvation.
She got a pack of heart-shaped post-it notes and told me how appropriate they were, as hearts, to express God’s love. I remember thinking that was a nice sentiment.
I was out one day and noticed the transformation almost immediately upon my return home.
Pink hearts.
Everywhere. Kitchen, dining room, living room, doorways, walls, near the ceiling, by the light switch, beside the TV, bedroom doors, a dresser. Everywhere.
With a variety of messages on them expressing her love for God.
She was relentless in expressing her love for God, and in sharing that as best as she knew how. There was no doubt, based on the evidence she left, that she loved Jesus.
How about us?
How relentless are we in sharing our faith out loud?
Not just that, though, but how relentless are we in standing up against the enemy when he comes to battle for our soul?
When I’m struggling and the enemy seems to be lurking nearby, I know the right answer is to speak out in faith, and to remind him of the One to Whom we belong.
The enemy is relentless, though. If he can’t take us down - and keep us down - he’ll try to attack in another way. No doubt you’ve stood up time and time again after his attacks, only to be knocked over by a stronger, more powerful hit. It gets exhausting to have to stand back up each time he tries to knock us down, doesn’t it?
Sometimes I can’t think of anything else to say in the face of his attacks other than to say the name of Jesus - and that is certainly THE most powerful thing we can say during a battle with the enemy.
What if…
What if my sweet girl has it right?
What if we took our thoughts about God, our love for Him, our favorite Bible verses, and wrote those on paper to place around the house?
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates…
Deuteronomy 11: 18-20
Do those who come to visit your home know that you love Jesus? Asking that question of myself.
When the enemy comes knocking, can he see God’s Word lived out in your home, or is it just a book that sits on a shelf? Asking this question of myself, as well.
When he becomes relentless and we’re soul-weary from battle with him, wouldn’t it be wonderful to just look up - to the door, the wall, the light switch - and see a reminder of God’s faithfulness?
To see a reminder that we love God?
To see a reminder that the battle we’re in truly matters?
To see a reminder that the battle we’re in truly matters.
I’ve done this on a small level and it’s worked well. I’ve posted a few favorite verses in various places from time to time. The more I read them, the more I committed them to memory and they have become a part of me.
But I haven’t done this on a large scale like my daughter has done. She was relentless in her acknowledgement of God.
So what am I going to do?
I’m going to be intentional with choosing Bible verses to hang in my home. I want to be more intentional about committing God’s Word to memory. I want my kids to learn these verses, I want them to be etched on their hearts as they continue to learn and grow. I want to point to these verses in our tough moments and say, “Remember this? God is faithful!”
When the enemy comes knocking, as he will, I want to be relentless in my battle with him because I serve a God who is relentless in his love for me!
original photo source
The enemy does seem to hang around, trying to pull me away from God. God always lets me know he is there, either by answering a need that is weighing heavy in my life or by reminding me that my life has beauty in it. A blue sky, a sunny day, a smile, any positive thing.
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Rebekah Reply:
August 12th, 2014 at 7:56 am
I love those reminders that God is still there, faithful in His love for us! Thanks, Vickie!
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