“The enemy comes in like a flood.”
See Isaiah 59:19
I know the title of this devotional may seem like a downer, but let me explain. If you’ve decided to let Jesus live through you and you’re excited, well good! Praise God! Hallelujah! Awesome things are about to happen in your life!
…But let’s just keep things real about this new life of yours. When you first believed in Christ as your Savior, you were shoved to the frontline of a supernatural battle. Yes, you are in God’s family, but as a member of His family you are also a spiritual soldier for the Kingdom of God. Our mission is not to fight people, but demonic forces. To fight, all we have to do is be ourselves. Our focus is not to be on them, but instead, our focus is to be on who we are: holy saints (see Colossians 1:22).
I don’t use that term very often–soldier. God has taught me to fix my mind on simply being a branch who is connected to the vine of Christ (see John 15:5). But there are times in our lives–especially in the beginning of allowing God to live through us–when we must suit up to fight the enemy. The Holy Spirit of Christ wants us to shift our focus from people being our enemy, to Satan and his extremely intelligent demons as our enemy.
To fight them we are to “put on” Christ. He’s in us, so we have all of the armor and weapons available to gear up! (See Ephesians 6:10-17). But be sure to know, a flood of trouble is coming your way…from hell…so prepare yourself.
When you made the choice to begin living out who God has made you to be in your spirit–none of that “Sunday morning peek-in stuff”–the devil dispatched reinforcements from the darkest parts of hell. The flood is coming, but don’t be afraid.
These wicked troops are going to begin to wash over your life. They can’t touch you, but they can touch your circumstances as well as the minds of those around you. They want you to forget who you are! God’s own child! They want you to revert back to your former state of living! So be ready! A flood is coming! A tsunami!
The Bible says, “the enemy comes in like a flood” (see Isaiah 59:19), and what does a flood do? It covers everything! We can’t stop it from flowing in! It rushes quickly and tries to knock you over! It wants to destroy your home and your family–everything you’ve worked for! It’s desire is to ruin your life and then kill you by drowning!
But that’s okay. It can’t touch you–it has to go around you. You ain’t moving. The devil and his crew have no power over you (see 1 John 5:18, Luke 10:19). The flood doesn’t stand a chance! Instead, it will wash away all of the things and people that shouldn’t be in your life!
Friend, let that stuff go, let them go, if the flood is pulling them away. Stop being afraid to live without it! Stop being afraid to live without them! After all, the only people who will be washed away are those who aren’t rooted in Christ with you! Stop ruining your life trying to keep people in your life who don’t want anything to do with you or Jesus! Let the flood wash them away! It won’t be easy, but you have to let…go…
Addictions, habits, mindsets, and people, all will be washed away as the enemy pushes hard! But you won’t budge! As everything and everyone is drifting off into the distance, Jesus will gently remind you how to stay put:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
We hear His words in our spirit and we put them into practice! This is how we build up our confidence in the life we now live! This is how we build our house on the rock!
Consequently, Jesus tells us how a person can get swept away by the flood:
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:26-27).
We are not building our lives on sand, but on a firm foundation! We are building our lives on a rock–the Rock–Jesus! We learn from His Spirit in us day by day, and then we put our knowledge into practice through organic attitudes and actions of heaven-ready people! That is who we are!
What the enemy tries to use for our harm, that idiot is actually doing us a favor! He’s washing away harmful things and people who aren’t built on this rock with us! I know it’s painful! It’s okay, healthy, and normal to feel that pain! Feel it! Feel it, and bring it to Jesus! He will give you your comfort in the flood! But don’t you dare try to make things stay that are currently being dragged away by the flood! Let it go!
So today, my friends, know this: Jesus is making new things happen for you now. He makes all things new! (See Revelation 21:5). It may look like your life is falling apart, but it’s not. Everything is coming together! A cleansing is taking place! The loose, unnecessary articles are being washed away! Your mind is being sanitized by your heart, where God lives! Release your grip on toxic stuff, places, and people! Allow this flood to reshape the landscape of your life!
A prayer for you: Good morning, Father. I want to thank you for using the forces of hell in a positive way. As crazy as that might sound, you’ve done it, and you’re still doing it. Teach me more, and keep doing whatever you see fit for my life. Right now, I lift up all who are reading this, directly to you. So many of these dear readers are doing their best to allow you to live through them. However, they are experiencing very difficult times. Please, help them. Please, give them strength! You say in Isaiah, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” We know you are doing new things! We trust you! We know you are good! So bring on the rain and the flood! Let it wash away everything that you don’t want in our lives! WE WILL STAND STRONG AND FIRMLY ROOTED IN CHRIST–OUR ROCK! Thank you for everything. Amen.
This devotional is from 60 Days for Jesus, Volume 2. Get your copy here!