One Sunday morning during my junior year of high school, I went with my youth group to a small Christian campground nearby to serve and help with their church service. The only thing I remember about that morning is one little boy with mild cerebral palsy who sat in the back. Each time the leader would ask a question, while everyone else would guess the answer or try to remember from the last lesson, this boy would light up with a great big smile and call out "JESUS! IT'S JESUS!" until his mother quieted him down again.
Now hold that picture in your mind, because I'm going to switch thought trains for a second.
I confess that spiritual warfare isn't something that I think about often. But this week, I have felt extra discouraged and very, very tempted in areas that aren't normally an issue for me. I've fallen. I've gotten back up. I've fallen again. I've gotten back up again... and so the cycle goes. Each time I fail, I can hear Satan whispering those negative words to me - "You can't do this. You must be such a baby Christian to keep messing up like this, on something so small. How can you expect to make an impact in Nicaragua when you can't even seem to get your own life straight?"
It's that last one that hits me the hardest, and it hurts to have those thoughts planted in my head. But I know the answer to that one. Guess what, Satan? Like that little boy at the campground, I can say "JESUS! IT'S JESUS!" HE will make the impact in Nicaragua, not me. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength... without Him I can do nothing. Because of that promise, I can release those lies from my head and keep my focus on Christ!
Stay strong, my teammates, and keep your eyes on Jesus. Don't become discouraged, and remember that I'm praying for you. Two more months until we meet!
Comments
Comment created and will be displayed once approved.