Under the Influnce (3)

Day 4

Memory Verse

James 4:7 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Intro

Welcome to todays devotion called Under the Influence. It is a reality that we have an enemy who hates God and His people. He wants more than anything to destroy all that He loves and that includes the people of God. We all will experience spiritual war against the enemy but we don’t have to fear him. Because we can find victory in Jesus.

Pause

I enter Prayer by taking a moment to pause….. to breathe deeply and meditate on God's truth, allowing it to travel through my mind, will and emotions. As I slowly inhale…. I refocus on the goodness and faithfulness of God and….. exhale….. I release anxieties, worries and fears that have already entered this day. (pause)

As I steal my mind I pray James 4:7 for the Lord is the spirit (that lives in me), and wherever the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (pause)

Reflect: As followers of Jesus, The bible lets us know that we battle against the spiritual forces of darkness. Satan, the adversary of our souls, seeks to oppress and hinder us in our walk with God. His primary aim, is to steal, kill, and destroy our faith, joy, and effectiveness as believers. But take heart! The Lord has equipped us with His Word and the power of His Spirit to overcome the schemes of the enemy.

Satan's oppression can takes many different forms, and understanding his tactics is important in our journey of faith. Lets spend a few minutes today and explore some of the ways the enemy seeks to oppress follower of jesus and how we can rise above his schemes.

First Satan likes to use Deception. Satan is a master deceiver. He distorts the truth, leading many away from God's Word and His purpose for their lives. He tempts us with worldly pleasures, false ideologies, and counterfeit spirituality. The key to overcoming this oppression is found in immersing ourselves in the truth of God's Word. By studying Scripture, meditating on Gods words , and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can discern the lies of the enemy and walk in the light of God's truth.

Secondly Satan wants us to be discouraged .Satan loves to attack our minds with discouragement, doubt, and negative thoughts. He intensify our failures, weaknesses, and past sins, attempting to make us feel unworthy of God's love and forgiveness. But remember, in Christ, we are new creations, made clean by His blood. When discouragement strikes, we need to remember the promises of God, who declares that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). We can find strength and encouragement in God's presence and the support of fellow believers.

Thirdly Satan loves division. God is all about unity. Unity is a very important part of how God calls his people to live in relationship with one another. Satan too understands the power of unity within the body of Christ. Therefore, he seeks to sow seeds of division, strife, and discord among believers. By attempting to causing conflicts and misunderstandings, his goal is to weaken the Church's impact and stifle its growth. As followers of Jesus, we must be vigilant, striving for unity, love, and forgiveness within our local churches and the broader Christian community. Let us be peacemakers, seeking reconciliation and embracing the love of God overcome the oppression of division.

fourthly Satan wants to create Distraction. In a world filled with noise, distractions, and competing priorities, Satan wants to divert our focus from God and His purposes. He tempts us with worldly pursuits, materialism, and the busyness of life, robbing us of intimate fellowship with our Creator. To combat this oppression, we need to develop a heart of devotion and prioritization to growing our relationship with God. Through prayer, worship, and intentional time spent in His presence, we can direct our hearts and minds to what truly matters and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.

as we journey through life as devoted followers of Jesus, we must be aware of the enemy's schemes but not overwhelmed by them. We serve a God who is infinitely more powerful than any in this world and the unseen world. Through Jesus , we have the victory! So let us hold firm in our faith, clothed in the armor of God, and resist the oppression of Satan. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us, and His presence will overshadow any attempts of the enemy.

Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord. In Jesus, we are conquerors. May our lives reflect the victorious power

Ask: Lord show me where in my life have I not cultivate a mindset of victory and confidence in the face of Satan's tactics?

Ask : God Reveal to me ares in my life where Satan has been working to causes oppression in my home and life.

Yield : Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping us to overcome the oppression of Satan. Help us to be alert and of sober mind, standing firm in our faith. Fill us with the knowledge of Your truth, that we may discern the lies of the enemy. Strengthen us in times of discouragement and help us to walk in the unity of Your Spirit. Guard our hearts from distractions, enabling us to prioritize our relationship with You above all else. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.