Darkness of Thought
“Did you notice the first word out of Satan’s mouth was the word “if” ?Satan is going to make you question God and yourself. Even though just a few verses earlier God told Jesus “You are my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” Satan takes out the period in God’s statement and inserts a question mark.
And he does the same thing with us. He did it with Adam and Eve. “Did God really say this?” Satan wants us to doubt God and doubt ourselves with God.” - Pastor Tony Walliser
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” - Matthew 4:1-3 NIV
I don’t know about you, but sometimes late at night I lay awake and contemplate and wonder and question and think. Usually, it happens after a disturbing dream or a fitful night’s sleep (if sleep has come at all).
Sometimes the thoughts are deep and confusing, and I have to catch myself and remind myself of that moment in time that I accepted Jesus as my Savior. That I know that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I trusted and believed.
Because sometimes, in the depth of those thoughts, the enemy invades wreaking havoc in my mind and my soul bringing even more questions, even more disturbing thoughts:
“Did Jesus really do that on the cross? Really take and forgive all your sins?”
“How could He possibly know you and what sins that you might commit?”
“Son of God and Son of Man? Virgin birth? Really?
“Is God really out there? Did He really create this mess?
“Does He really have time to care about someone like you... or anyone else for that matter?”
“How can He forgive someone like you?”
“Why has He remained silent for so long?”
“Does He really hear and answer prayers?”
“What if all this is just some made up story?”
“How can a loving God allow all this to happen?
And I have to make myself stop, knowing that these thoughts and innuendos are all lies of the enemy. I have to remind myself of the truth and the truth of what the enemy is trying to do. I have to remind myself that I am more than a conqueror and that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus our Lord.
Then, I’ll stop and think of, really dwell on Jesus. Dwell on The Word. Reminded of His truth. Reminded of who He is and what He has done. Reminded that He is who He said He is and He did what He said He would do. And He brings peace and hope to all that seek Him and find Him... and trust in Him.
And the darkness of thought disappears, replaced by the light of Jesus.
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” - John 1:5 ESV
