Over many months, my friend kept breaking my heart as she told me story after story of her life: parents in addiction, living in her car with her children as she moved to Las Vegas in the middle of summer, loss of jobs, lack of healthcare, difficulty maintaining a steady home. Finally, she said, “Satan just won’t leave me alone!”
Have you ever felt that way? Like trouble just kept coming, no matter how much you tried to avoid it, go around it, and ignore it altogether? Have you seen a pattern in your life where you’ve done the same wrong thing, gone to the same wrong place, said the same wrong thing, overeaten or overdrank the same wrong things…like you just couldn’t get away from the temptation or actual sin?
Did you know Jesus was tested in this way, too? Even a quick look at Matthew 4 shows us that Satan kept prodding Jesus when He was physically at one of His weakest points after a 40-day fast from food. A fast like Jesus did allowed Him to focus on God, to gather His spiritual strength, and to remember God’s promises and faithfulness so He could better navigate the next season of His life. But Satan just wouldn’t leave Jesus alone!
How did Jesus get through it all? Jesus had diligent dependence on God. He relied on what He knew, believed, and memorized in scripture to reaffirm and remind Himself of God’s love, power, protection, and provision. God’s words from scripture infused Jesus’s fight in a way Satan could not deny, and those proved to be powerful.
God’s words are a powerful resource you and I can also use today!
Do you have pieces of scripture or God’s promises memorized? Memorizing God’s words and promises will remind you who He is and what He will do for you when temptation wants to travel with you, opportunities to fail overwhelm you, and sin stops you from living the life God has for you. An easy start for those who attend Central is the second part of Romans 8:31, which says, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” For believers, this verse gives us confidence and comfort that despite what may happen in our lives, God is for us! Ultimately, God will always win, and because He is for us, we will always ultimately win, too!
Will everything go the way we want? No; our lives won’t always be smooth and easy! It can feel like Satan is relentless; however, we have to know he is defeatable! Our diligent dependence on God can consistently remind us He is with us and can reaffirm that He will ultimately win every fight for those who faithfully believe in Him.
Do you need help? Finding a community to be honest with, accountable to, and challenge you might be a great solution for you! Central Church has community groups where we meet in homes and around our communities to do just that. You’re invited! To get started, speak to someone in the lobby of your Central Church location. You can text or call 24 Hour Church at 888-805-2778 to connect with a team member who is committed to providing prayer, scripture, access to helpful resources, and finding the right people at your location for whatever you need (whether it’s community, serving, baptism – you name it!).
Central Church offers the opportunity to participate in Celebrate Recovery. This vibrant community faces the challenges of life head-on and provides resources to help every step of the way through hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Click here for more information on Celebrate Recovery.
Maybe you’re like my friend, or maybe you have other things that keep holding you back. Believe and commit scripture to memory, and find ways to unite with others who can help you. God really is for you, and He is the one who won’t leave you alone!