S) "10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."
John 10:10, 29 (NASB)
O) So, I'll be brief about a couple early points. First, you can't negotiate with satan. he only comes to steal and kill and destroy, so there is no mitigating, appeasing, or negotiating with him. Second, Jesus didn't just come to protect us, He didn't just come to give us life (i.e., heaven), He came so that we have it (present tense) and ABUNDANTLY. But, these first two points are only to set up the third point.
Thrid, no one takes anything from Dad. This brings up an interesting strategy, in terms of how I "defend myself" from the enemy. I put that in quotes because it's not really me doing the protecting. See, anything I keep for myself is subject to raids by satan. Anything I turn over to the Father is protected.
If my money is my own, he'll try to steal it. If my money is God's, it's protected.
If my health is my own, he'll try to destroy it. If my health is God's, it's protected.
If my life is my own, he'll try to kill me. If my life is God's, it's protected.
A) Only in complete humility and submission to the Father, is my life secure. I need to continually fight the consumer culture around me. I need to continually fight the entitled world around me. I need to continually trust in Him for provision, trust in Him for healing, trust in Him for my very life. It's not always easy, but it's definitely simple.
P) Father, help me trust You at all times with all things. Give me wisdom to know Your will and courage to follow Your plans for my life and for my family. Holy Spirit, keep my heart soft and continue give me the discipline of Christ. Please provide for my family financially. Bless us so that we can continue to bless others. Help me never doubt Your provision. Please heal me and my family of any lingering sicknesses or diseases that are trying to take hold. Please guard our very lives. Protect us from any attacks by our enemy; all according to Your will, not ours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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