RECOGNISING, BUT NOT HIGHLIGHTING, WE HAVE AN ENEMY,

I   noticed this morning that I have written and posted 851 blogs, and those who have read them know that over the years  I have NOT  mentioned much about the Christian’s enemy the devil. Partly because I have lived and worked amongst some people that literally blamed the devil for everything, and spent more time putting the spotlight on him, and not on Jesus. My goal was and is to be JESUS CENTRED, not devil centred.
Recently, I have been thinking that the devil is happy not to have any prominence in the Christian’s thinking, and he can get on with his deceptive subtle business of  seeking to cause  Believers to stumble and fall.
Jesus often mentioned him, we read in John 10:10 NKJV He says The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Look at those 3 adjectives, to STEAL, to KILL, and to DESTROY. He not only wants to rob us of our joy and peace, but wants to try and kill and destroy our relationship with God.
The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV we need to Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The MESSAGE Bible says Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.
The devil wants to scare us just like a lion would sure scare us, if we were unprotected in the jungle.
Because of not wanting to highlight this enemy, I have often failed to realise that it has been and can be his insidious work impacting me, rather highlighting the “dealings of God”, and “all things are  working together etc. Rom.:3.23 NKJV. Let me give you an example, because of aging and its typical effects plus in my case Osteoporosis as well, I had read somewhere in the past that this and other things  result in some hormonal imbalance,  causes the emotions to be effected (which I have recently found out is not correct). So I have been blaming the imbalance for emotional stress and worry, (that I have been experiencing) and so I had to RECOGNISE there was another reason for my doubts and fears and worry, and sometimes unbelief and I came to see  it was the enemy, I did what James tells us to do in James 4:7 NKJV Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you, The MESSAGE Bible says So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.
I of course, regularly SUBMIT, and re-affirm Christ’s Lordship over my life, so I did the second part RESIST, I used the authority I have “In the Name of Jesus”, I claimed the protection of the blood of Jesus over my mind, I confessed the Word of God (The Sword of the Spirit) and as the Word of God says the devil ran away.
I lost a lot of peace and joy for some time because of the deception, I am ashamed I have had to share this today, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, but maybe my testimony will help someone who is struggling in this area.
Have an awesome, blessed and anointed weekend.