Devotional #12     

Victory in the Midnight Hour (part 2)                                               

A Friend Greater than an Enemy!

             Jesus asserted, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).” Although he has been very clever in deceiving those who are living in sin, even to the knowledge of his own existence, convincing many in the present day that he is little more than a fairy tale, be certain that Satan is very real and he hates you! Hollywood may portray him as a bumbling fool that is easily outwitted by anyone. But, the truth is that you or I cannot defeat him in our own strength or goodness. If he’s come to visit, it’s definitely not to peacefully attend your tea party. As the scripture says, he’s coming to steal from you, kill you, or destroy you. Conversely, Jesus’ desire is to bring to you the best quality of life imaginable. Actually, even better than you can image.

           

  Here’s a trick of Satan that many people are unaware of: if you have not received God’s grace through Christ’s finished work on the cross and are not living to please God, than you will not be able to perceive the Devil’s attacks. Once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and start following Him, God makes you privy to what was once unseen.

For example, when I was a child, I often dreamt of a werewolf type creature coming out of my closet to get me. Its saliva-dripping, sharp fangs and sharpened claws were the stuff of my reoccurring nightmares.  After many years of trusting in God, I was revisited by my unwelcomed childhood terror once more. In Christ’s authority, I stood up within the dream, and moving toward the creature I declared something to the effect of, “I rebuke you Satan, in the mighty name of Jesus, you have no power over me, the blood of Jesus is against you, be gone!” Immediately, the beast ran into his closet and the closet began shrinking and moving further and further away from me until in disappeared in a flash of light!     

Also, on many occasions, Satan attacked me in my dreams. In most instances I felt as though I was being choked. Several times I heard demonic voices. Sometimes I had the sensation of being held down on my bed, unable to move at all. Each time, I rebuked the Devil in Jesus’ name! I found that saying the words alone didn’t work. I had to say them believing in the power of Jesus’ name.

One night, the Lord directed me to worship Him for a certain amount of time. I disobeyed, feeling very tired I went to sleep, then the familiar choking attack commenced. I woke up and worshipped the Lord for a short time, going back to sleep it started again, only with less intensity. This continued with the attacks dissipating more and more until sweet sleep finally came. It would have been better for me if I just obeyed from the start. I felt like the disciples who were unable to stay awake to pray as Christ suffered in the garden of Gethsemane. Like them, God had mercy on me despite myself! When your enemy comes after you, remember you have a greater, more powerful friend on your side. Believe in the Lord! Call out to Him, and He will help and protect you! Also, when you ask Him for help, obey Him. Obedience certainly has its rewards! To whom do you run in the midnight hour?

See It for Yourself: John 10:10, 1 John 4:4, Matthew 26:40, Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:11

Prayer Focus:

Dear Lord,

“Surely (You) shall deliver (me) from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. (You) shall cover (me) with (Your) feathers, And under (Your) wings (I) shall take refuge; (Your) truth shall be (my) shield and buckler. (I) shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” (Psalm 91:3-6)  Rather, I will call upon You and trust in You!       

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Working It Out: 

Believe that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!”