"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10a
There are three things that I have noticed that the devil tries to steal from us: our joy, our peace and our praise.
He tries to steal our joy because the joy of the Lord is where our strength lies. "The joy of the Lord is your strength". (Nehemiah 8:10) The literal meaning of this verse is, "The joy of the Lord is a well fortified place". If he can steal our joy then we are left exposed to whatever comes to attack us making us vulnerable and easy prey.
He tries to steal our peace. If he can steal our peace, again, we are left vulnerable because peace is like a garrison which guards our hearts and minds. Peace protects us mentally, emotionally and spiritually. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
He tries to steal our praise because God Himself- who is our strength and peace, and all that we need- inhabits the praises of His people. "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psalm 22:3) Praise draws Him near to us and when He is near there is nothing that we lack. He is our peace, in His presence is joy, in short, He Himself is our fortified place. He is that safe place to us. In His presence we are not vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. In His presence we can see more clearly when the enemy comes to attack. In His presence we have no fear. In His presence we have the power that we need to overcome the enemy. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (Psalm 91:1,2)
So when the enemy comes, be on guard and know that his goal is to destroy and kill you. And he does this by trying to steal your joy, peace and praise because without them, you are left vulnerable to his attacks and easier to defeat.
Have a great day. Do all you can to guard your joy, peace and praise, it is your safe dwelling place.
For further reading:
Psalm 91; 16:11
He tries to steal our joy because the joy of the Lord is where our strength lies. "The joy of the Lord is your strength". (Nehemiah 8:10) The literal meaning of this verse is, "The joy of the Lord is a well fortified place". If he can steal our joy then we are left exposed to whatever comes to attack us making us vulnerable and easy prey.
He tries to steal our peace. If he can steal our peace, again, we are left vulnerable because peace is like a garrison which guards our hearts and minds. Peace protects us mentally, emotionally and spiritually. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
He tries to steal our praise because God Himself- who is our strength and peace, and all that we need- inhabits the praises of His people. "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psalm 22:3) Praise draws Him near to us and when He is near there is nothing that we lack. He is our peace, in His presence is joy, in short, He Himself is our fortified place. He is that safe place to us. In His presence we are not vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. In His presence we can see more clearly when the enemy comes to attack. In His presence we have no fear. In His presence we have the power that we need to overcome the enemy. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (Psalm 91:1,2)
So when the enemy comes, be on guard and know that his goal is to destroy and kill you. And he does this by trying to steal your joy, peace and praise because without them, you are left vulnerable to his attacks and easier to defeat.
Have a great day. Do all you can to guard your joy, peace and praise, it is your safe dwelling place.
For further reading:
Psalm 91; 16:11
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