Inevitable

Choose this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15

The definition of inevitable is something that is certain to happen and is impossible to avoid, prevent, or escape. The word crossed my mind when I read a paragraph in Experiencing God, Day by Day.

“When you first became a Christian, your Master’s instructions were probably fundamental, such as being baptized or changing your lifestyle. But as you learn to trust Him more deeply, He will develop your character to match bigger tests, and with greater tests will come greater love for God and knowledge of His ways. Are you ready for God’s next revelation?”

Many times, we hear the saying that the more you experience God in your life, the more the enemy will attack, and to be honest, I think that prevents many of us from venturing out and living in the power of God that is readily available to all believers. I find myself cowering down and taking the beating from the enemy because it feels inevitable, then afterwards, when I’m licking my wounds, I ask God for help to stand again.

The bible says in 1 Peter 5:8-10, Be self -controled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. But God’s Word continues with, Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.  To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. God’s Word also tells us to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in us through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

The battle over our souls will continue until Jesus returns or calls us home, so settling the matter in our minds that there is a war that is being fought daily, sometimes moment by moment, allows us to choose which side we will serve.

God’s testing and the enemy’s tempting are two very different things. One is for my good. To learn about God’s ways and character and to develop faith and trust in Him while growing in love for Him. The other is to steal, kill, and destroy all that God’s will has in store for me. The enemy doesn’t want me to trust, love, believe, or hope in God. He wants to create fear, anxiety, guilt, distraction, and ultimate surrender to him.

Both experiences will have their own level of discomfort, tears, joy, and the need to know God’s Word to discern whether it’s testing or tempting. To be very clear, God will not tempt us. (James 1:13) When we are tempted, it’s our own evil desires that drag us away and entice us. God has given us the power to resist, and when we do, the enemy flees. (James 4:7-8)

To prove this truth, God had me write out several events over the years where I have experienced His power, provision, peace, faithfulness, and hope. On one side of the event, I wrote what I learned about God during that season. On the other side, I wrote how the enemy tempted me. For example, I had to have a biopsy a few years ago, and just the mention of the procedure struck fear in my heart. While at the hospital, I prayed in the waiting room that God would give me strength for whatever may come. As I walked down the hall to where the MRIs would take place, I felt God walking with me. I was not alone, and the peace I experienced quieted my soul. The enemy had tried to steal that peace by instilling fear, but that day I chose to believe God, and I was blessed with perfect peace.

Another event that involved finances taught me to take God at His word and to trust in His perfect timing. The housing market had crashed, and we were about to lose our home. I prayed for God’s provision, and He gave me the words, “Don’t fear. Watch and see what I will do.” Oh, how I wish I had trusted Him. Instead, I chose to let fear devour me. For the next nine months, I desperately tried to save our home. Every day was filled with anxiety and fear. Then, on the day that the house was to be auctioned off, I finally chose to surrender my fear to God. In doing that, I felt the peace that He had offered all along, and I knew that no matter what happened, God always had and always would provide.

Later that day, I received a letter from the attorney. I laid the unopened FedEx package on my bed and prayed that whatever God’s will was, I would accept it, and I asked for forgiveness for not trusting in Him. When I opened the letter, I was expecting to receive instructions on vacating the home and all the details involved. Instead, I read that the bank was being prosecuted for fraud and that our home was reinstated for the original agreement with all the equity in tack. God knew this would be the case all along, and He had offered me the opportunity to trust Him from the very beginning. I chose to listen to the enemy, and I paid the price by living in misery when peace was offered.

Doing this exercise strengthened my understanding that the battle is real. It’s inevitable. It’s happening whether I want it to or not. Every day we have choices to make, and each will have its own consequences and outcomes. Testing and temping are going on at the same time, because there is a battle for our obedience, and each day we have to make the choice of who we will serve.

Choose God!