thief

I should totally be working right now...there's a lot to get done. But sometimes you have to stop, ya know? And I felt like He was telling me on the way to the offices that I need to stop...if only for one afternoon.

Because I'm so...frustrated. And I just need to vent a little bit. I'm so angry at my enemy. I'm so fed up with the one who exists to steal, kill, and destroy. And today...he's totally after my joy.

I'm so angry at this one who attacks the hearts of God's children.

Who tells young girls that they are only worth what a guy thinks about them. Who pushes them to do things that lands them in a pit of lies and destruction.

Who tells people that they should condemn and "punish" those who are caught in sin. Who convinces them that that is exactly what they deserve and should receive (...as if that's going to draw them back to the Truth...)

Who gets in the middle of relationships and tears them apart with meaningless and trivial things. Where people pull away from one another and worse, leave the church because of each other.

Who attacks the Bride of Christ (the church) by lying to her and telling her that following Jesus is all about going to church and putting on a happy face. Who distracts her from LIFE with the temporary, comfortable American dream.

Who convinces teenagers that they don't have time for the things of God. That there are more important and more fun things that they could be doing with their time.

And let's be honest...I'm frustrated with how he attacks me. I hate the selfishness and the pride that I see in my own heart so often.

I'm so OVER him. I'm so over this punk who knows that He can't get to God because God has already won the war, so he resorts to attacking that which God loves the most - His children. He's a spiteful loser.

But I'm sitting here typing and in the background, I'm listening to Hillsong remind me...

This is my prayer in the battle,
when triumph is still on its way.
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ.
So firm on His promise I'll stand.

I will bring praise, I will bring praise!
No weapon formed against me shall remain.
I will rejoice, I will declare,
God is my victory and He is here.

All of my life, in every season,
YOU ARE STILL GOD.
I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship.

God is still God. He's still on the throne. And He's bigger than anything I'm facing or frustrated with. My enemy is simply bitter. And he will not debilitize me with discouragement. He will not steal my joy. He will not tempt me to give up. He just won't win this battle...