The Bible tells us “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Yikes, right? He knows our weak spots, he knows our vulnerabilities, and he knows how to manipulate our feelings and thoughts to pull us away from God. That is why we must “resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9) So how can we be proactive in preventing Satan from stealing our joy?
By memorizing scripture to combat Satan and prevent him from stealing our joy.
Impatience. Desperation. Selfishness. Anger. All have been emotions I have encountered in my journey thus far in mama hood, and in life really. I hate the last one more than I can eloquently explain, but it has been a very real emotion for me. It never fails too, I am my absolute worst in the wee hours of the night (or morning, you pick.) The “rational” me knows that crying is a baby’s way of communicating they need something, but at 12, 2, 3:15, and 4:08 am the “irrational” gives way to feeling sorry for myself and has caused some pretty harsh reactions from lack of sleep.
One night, when I was a brand new mama, I felt the Lord’s presence in the most tangible way that snapped me out of the frustrated, desperate for sleep, anger ball that I had inevitably turned into yet again. I felt the Lord whisper to me, “Memorize my Word, use it as a tool to help you through these frustrating times.”
I had always believed I was incapable of memorizing scripture, even though the real reason was just pure laziness. That changed that night.
The next morning I began to work on memorizing scriptures that I could recite in those moments of frustrating desperation to arm myself against Satan. You see the enemy wants to steal our joy. He wants to make the rough days (and even just mere moments) outweigh the good ones, and he thrives when we give him the power to do so.
But, there is hope my friend.
God’s Word is alive and oh so powerful. You can memorize it, then repeat it to yourself, or aloud over and over…and over again until you can feel that grip from the enemy loosen in your heart. This works, I’ve tried it.
Since that night I have memorized several scriptures. I have the best weapon of defense. His Word. And can you believe it, I have not become blood-boiling angry or wanted to curl in a ball since I felt the Lord prompt me to memorize scripture! Yes I still get frustrated, but I have trained myself to immediately recite a verse to prevent emotional escalation.
Praise Him friends!
Just try one scripture! Write it several times over, download an app like Scripture Typer, or recite it until you have it memorized, then put it to use! Pray it aloud or say it to yourself anytime you feel overwhelmed or discouraged. Don’t give Satan the power to make you feel helpless, allow God the power to give you strength through memorizing scripture.
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