Do you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries… I have to tell you that this will not happen regardless of what you bring, because today I lift my voice and sing, that I rise into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, can you hear me? Still I rise! As much as I love Maya Angelou, the words of her poem cannot compare to my testament of how "I still rise.” It’s meaning and it’s significance for me is the strength, joy and peace, regardless of what I face, can only be found in Jesus and that enables me to still rise above it all.
The enemy is pulling out all the stops, in every area, and in every aspect of our lives, whenever and wherever he can. In our homes, our children, our families, in our churches, and on our jobs. He moves on our bodies and tries to keep us down in our health. Case and point for last week: this is the first year (and it’s only April) that I can remember being completely bedridden with issues of sickness in my wonderful 50 years plus. Twice, in two months, I’ve been attacked in my body and unable to barely get out of bed, while experiencing pain like never before. Surely, he is on a mission but so am I. Because I am praying while laying! Sometimes, you have to let the enemy know, that no matter what you bring to discourage, dissuade, hinder, or try to make unpleasant, there is no weapon, no device, no tactic, or infliction formed, that will prosper against us!
Sure, we’ll get wounded, but we get up and get back on the field; not to mention that while we are down, we have to remain prayerful. Not letting the enemy take control of our mind or permeate and control our thoughts. He comes in to keep us down and keep up depressed. He would love to see us full of anxieties, worrying about every little thing, our situations and our circumstances to throw us off course and our focus off, our Help. Staying focused and keeping the word in our hearts is a must, so that we have something to draw from when a word is needed. And remembering and knowing that our light affliction is only for a moment (2 Cor 4:5-17). Also, remembering that we are going through and coming out because of His mercy and His grace.
We must learn to stand on God’s word because it’s powerful and if Jesus used it on the devil, I’m sure that it is a must for us as well. Throw the Word at him, let him know “for it is written, that No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper” and “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25) or “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings, Selah” (Ps 61). There are so many scriptures that we can quote and stand on to keep our minds in perfect peace. An idle mind, a mind with no peace is the devil’s playground, he will begin to work there non-stop once he gets you down because his goal is to keep you down. It’s imperative that we learn to fight him with the word of God.
I had to laugh at myself this past Saturday morning, I felt better but not quite a hundred percent, yet I got up out of bed and yelled, “oh yeah, baby I’m back!” With the power and the authority, as well as the intensity, in which I intended. I don’t care what comes against you, whether it’s sickness, family, children, no finances, just to name a few, we must remember that NO weapon, device, tactic, or affliction formed or appears, or raises its ugly head will or can prosper against us, why? Because not only is this God’s promise to us but this is our heritage as servants of the most High God. No matter what befalls us, God is there, our refuge, our protection and our very present help at all times and types of trouble. We are safe even when the enemy rises up against us so yYou can let him know today that although you seek to destroy me, my faith, my joy, and my peace, and you may have me down for a moment but I still have the victory and today, still I rise!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde