Under Attack

There was someone in my room this morning watching me sleep and wringing his hands in anticipation of me waking up. He, the enemy, was perched upon my nightstand leaning over me and cackling over the plans he had in store for my day. When my alarm went off he jumped in excited fury that our day was beginning. I rolled out of bed and felt him throw a heavy yoke on my shoulders. No sooner had the yoke been fastened that he picked up his bow and shot a flaming arrow at my back. He cursed as he missed and then quickly followed me downstairs. He ran around me to take another shot. He made contact this time and struck my hand to distract me from where I was headed. It worked.

I walked to the counter and grabbed my phone to check messages and emails. Something I normally do not allow until after my quiet time with the Lord. But my hands were tingling this morning. I wanted to pick up my phone and just check...The tingling wore off and I was back on track. I sat down to begin my Bible study but didn't realize I had been struck again, this time it was near my foot. Just a little irritation to keep me from completely focusing on what I was reading. I ignored the feeling and read on. He slithered into a corner to regroup and plan his next attack. I finished my study and said a quick prayer and heard him growl. He was getting angry. As I began my daily activities he came out of the corner raging. He added more weight to my yoke then raised his bow and struck me in the leg. It hurt. I began feeling a little more than irritated. I was frustrated at the annoying pain and felt the burden I carried weighing me down. I limped upstairs and was struck again, this time in the center of my back and I fell to the ground. I reached for the handrail and pulled myself up. I now had four flaming arrows in me and was feeling the pain but had no idea what he had in store.

I went to wake my children to get them ready for the day and was struck three more times. Once in the head, once in the heart and once in the gut. I lost control. I yelled, I screamed, I threw things. All the while he stood in a corner watching and laughing hysterically. He was enjoying every second of the kill. I gathered the energy needed to get the boys off to school but as I was driving home, barely able to focus because of the weight and pain, I began to hear him whisper in my ear. "You're pathetic. You're a horrible person. You will never change. You are going to always feel this way. You have no hope. Just suck it up and bear it, your life will never be good." I began to cry. I knew he was lying but I couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth in what he was saying. I was horrible this morning. I was feeling hopeless. I was wondering if I was ever going to be able to break away from my chains.

When I got home I walked through the door and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There I was broken and bleeding covered in arrows. I fell to the ground and realized I needed to seek shelter. This attack I was facing was not an attack of flesh and blood but a spiritual attack in full force. I dragged myself into the lap of my Lord and asked for his help. One by one he removed the arrows and bandaged my wounds. He took my face in His hands and told me I was worth dying for and that he loved me. Then He took off my yoke and replaced it with his. He told me His burden was light and that He would give me rest. He told me to learn from His gentle and humble heart and that He would satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places with His lavish, unfailing love.

I looked around but could not find the enemy anywhere. He had retreated in defeat. And though I still feel the pain of his attack this morning I am determined to make a complete recovery for I know the plans God has for me. They are plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans to give me hope and a future.

This morning Satan was really "whooping" up on me. I have been participating in Beth Moore's Breaking Free Bible study and am not surprised at all that Satan, the enemy, would stop at nothing to keep me from completing the study and learning everything God would have me to learn. I have been breaking strongholds I didn't know I had and am in the process of breaking through some pretty tough ones. I will take this morning as a sign that I am getting ready to bust through and PRAISE THE LORD that though the enemy is trying his hardest, he is still being defeated! I have struggled with a particular stronghold for a few years now that has changed who I am as a wife, mother and woman. It has led me to make wrong choices, seek fulfillment outside of God's will and give in multiple times to feelings of anger and despair. But today I am claiming Jeremiah 29:11-14a and know freedom is just around the corner.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."

And because prison food is not appealing here's an easy recipe for homemade Chicken Pot Pie.

Chicken Pot Pie
3 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 10oz pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 stick of butter, melted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread chicken and vegetables in the bottom of a shallow 2-quart dish. Stir soup, broth and pepper together and pour over chicken and vegetables. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, milk and butter then pour on top of chicken mixture. Bake 40-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes then serve with a salad and sweet tea!