Words of Hope to Deaden the Works of Darkness | Tues., May 17, 2022

BIBLE VERSES FOR THE DAY
"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Acts 16:25-26

​Hello everyone…and how is your Tuesday? I'm enjoying a beautiful spring morning…and as I'm sitting here today, I'm also enjoying a beautiful view outside my window, as I'm preparing to write you today! As a new day begins, so does everything outside this window. When I see the tree branches being lifted up in the wind…and when I see squirrels jumping and doing backflips; I can't help but think that they are praising their maker, as they begin another new day. What inspiration I see outside this window…and what an example for all of us to follow! Life may not always be good; but if the squirrels can jump for joy…and if the birds can join along and sing beautiful songs of praise and thanksgiving…knowing that they may not have anything to eat, from one day to another; then why can't we do the same?
This morning, as I've been thinking on all of this; God has also reminded me, as to how a heart of praise can deaden the works of evil. There are days when I go through a lot…just like you, and these hard and difficult days of life can make it almost impossible to find a reason to praise God. In fact, the other evening, I was talking with God about this…and I said to Him…"How is it Lord, that a heart of joy and praise used to come about so much easier for me than now?" Then I was reminded, as to how my life has changed so much over the past 3 years. You know what…I think that this is another test. In other words, is our love and devotion to God still as great as it once was, when life didn't seem to be as difficult to get through.
You know…as I've been sitting here…thinking on this more; I not only think that these moments of affliction are a test of our faith, love and devotion to God; but I also believe it's Satan's way of weakening us in spirit, so we end up becoming more in tune with the problem…and Satan knows that if he can get us to that level; then he also knows that we are going to find very difficult to praise God in the midst of it all.
Quite some time back, God gave me a quote that has helped me a lot through the rough and rugged moments of my life, and it simply goes like this… "A heart of praise becomes a weapon that destroys the works of darkness." Just think of it this way…Satan afflicts us; but it doesn't stop there. Instead, he's waiting to see what kind of a reaction he can get from that moment of affliction. In other words, will we react in a negative way or a positive way. If he can get us caught up in the negativity of it all; then he can pull us in…hook, line and sinker; and from there, he can control those moments of affliction even more; but on the other hand, what happens when we rise above the affliction with a heart of praise? Well, I would say that this wouldn't be quite what Satan was expecting to happen, which would deaden his ways instantly…bringing him to a fall; because a heart of praise holds more power, than the so-called power of affliction.
This morning, I got up after experiencing a night of pain. Believe when I say…I didn't want to get up; but you know what…I knew that if I didn't get up; then Satan would have won this battle…so I got up and began to get around. Even now, as I'm writing you, I am not feeling the best; but these words that God and I are sharing with you…heart to heart, has become my weapon back at Satan.
Let me ask you something…are you throwing a weapon back at evil through a heart of praise…or have you allowed Satan to have his way with the problem and your life? One thing I can tell you today…when we give into the hard and discouraging moments, then they are only going to worsen with time; because Satan now has control, due to the way that we once responded to the problem.
Today, if you feel stuck in the muck and mire of your problem and you want to be free from these moments, just get into God's word and give Him praise. Maybe the problem still remains; but you can praise Him for sustaining you through it all.
Oh, how I praise God for the reminder; that praise can become the remedy to deaden the works of evil! I also praise God today for another great visit with you…and I sure hope that you will come back and visit me again tomorrow! Until we meet again, may the God of love and mercy be there for you in your darkest hour…and may you come to see that by praising Him…the works of darkness can be destroyed in your life! God bless you so much!
It's Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
​*If you haven't yet accepted Jesus into your heart, I would like to invite you to check out… "Come to Jesus."

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​GET YOUR FREE E-BOOK COPY OF "TIME ALONE WITH GOD" HERE
GET YOUR FREE E-BOOK COPY OF "DEVOTIONS THAT WILL EXCHANGE WEAKNESS FOR STRENGTH HERE