Do you ever notice how, whenever you draw closer to God, the more Satan attacks you from everywhere and everyone around you?
Seems Satan doesn't like it when we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord. Oh sure...he's always busy trying to trip us up. But the Christian that's going through the motions is a safe-bet to him. On the other hand, a Christian who commits to drawing NEARER to God and really, REALLY, ask to "know Him more intimately than ever before", and decides to TRULY DEDICATE themselves to God? Watch out.
I'm finding it's a true test of your character; a true test of your heart. God says "seek me, and you will find me, when you search for me with all of your heart..." Jeremiah
He doesn't say "search for me a few minutes a day". He doesn't say "fit me into your schedule". He doesn't say "in between the things your wrapped up in most of the rest of the day".
He says "ALL OF YOUR HEART".
So...when you decide to do that, to REALLY do that, it takes change. It's not easy and it's painful. Change is challenging. Because ALL of your heart? ALL OF IT? What exactly does that MEAN?
It means...
MAKE ME MATTER MORE THAN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. PURSUE ME. AT ALL COSTS.
And then?
YOU'LL FIND ME.
So in attempt to do exactly that, Satan takes notice. And spends extra time disrupting your life and creating more chaos than you ever had before all in an attempt to discourage you and sway you off course and back to the safety of just "fitting the Lord into your schedule for devotional time in the morning and night-night prayers at night."
Discouragement by and through others. Doubt. Hopelessness. Trials and Tribulations from everyone and everything.
But I choose to trust the Lord. I choose to be shielded by His power.
"Who through faith we are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time". 1 Peter 1:5
And I choose to continue to pursue understanding and experiencing what Paul meant when he said we can still have "joy" even in the midst of pain and suffering and chaos.
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5
When rain clouds threaten, we seek shelter. We are not shielded from the storm until we go through the door. Similarly, faith is the door, and when we go through that faith-door we are going to Jesus and into the loving and safe power of God's hands.
"All-Powerful Lord, shield me and my family from Satan's attacks; encircle us with Your strength and power. Draw each of us nearer to you; strip us of our selfish nature and cause us to hunger for yours. Amen".