May 16th, 2022

Untouchable

1 John 4:4 NIV

"You, dear children, are from God and have already overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

      When you wake up in the mornings, how do you usually start your day? If you're like most people, you probably brush your teeth, check your phone, and start the coffee. You may have even thrown breakfast into the mix if you're an overachiever, but I can't get on that level until about 10am (Ha!). How we start our mornings can make or break us for the remainder of the day. The moment our feet hit the floor; we are vulnerable to attack from the enemy. If we're not careful, spirits of depression, anxiety, addiction, sadness, loneliness, hopelessness, shame, and guilt may sneak in and open fire on our unsuspecting minds. When our guard is down, our minds can easily be seized by the enemy and taken captive causing us to live the rest of our day in distress over the lies he's feeding us. While we're only human and can't always prevent the enemy from securing our territory, which is our mind, we can send him fleeing in the opposite direction with a little faith.

      John expresses to us that, not only do we have it in us to fight these spirits that we're up against (the spirits of the antichrist v. 3), but the spirit that resides within us is GREATER than the spirits of the world. So how do we know what spirit comes from God and what spirit is of the world? Well, John didn't just leave us hanging. He lets us in on a little secret that can aid us in our spiritual warfare, "This is how you can recognize the spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." Though the devil may prowl around the world, looking to turn the hearts of God's people away from him, we are not of this world. We are children of God, whose bodies are temples housing the spirit of God. Though we may be weak, He who lives within us is strong. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we share in the victory over evil once and for all, making us untouchable.

I want to express to you the importance of a morning routine that includes Jesus. Before you go for the phone, news, or in-depth conversation with people, make time for prayer, worship and even digging into the word. Put on your armor before you go out to fight this day.