There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord is doing great things here in Auburn. I know that my previous years of ministry and pastoral experience, mentoring, counseling, working with young men from a variety of backgrounds has prepared me for the role of Character Coach. It's inevitable that when you are doing the Lord's work Satan will attack.
1 Peter 5:8 reads, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
We often fail to remember that we have a very real enemy who is out to steal, kill and destroy. The truth is that once we accept Christ, we are no longer on Satan's side. The moment we start living for the LORD, making moves for the Kingdom, we are in a spiritual fight against Satan. Thank God, we are on the winning side!
Satan wages war with believers on many fronts. I struggled for many years with various sins. Some of them nearly destroyed my life, my marriage and the ministry God called me to. However, through confession before the Lord and others, God was gracious and strongholds were removed from my life. Praise God!
You cannot let your guard down as when one battle is won, the battlefield shifts to another area.
In October, our oldest son, Josiah (4) had a seizure. We had never experienced this before. In fact, we had no signs leading up to it. While at practice one day I got a call from my wife, Sharon, saying she thought Josiah was having a seizure. The seizure lasted over 20 minutes and he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then taken to the children’s hospital in Birmingham, 2 ½ hours away.
We were released the next day with the diagnosis of a Febrile Seizure, something precipitated by a high fever. We were optimistic that with an early dose of medication we could prevent a seizure from occurring again in the future.
However, on December 3rd, Josiah had a second seizure. This episode was unprovoked with no fever. This seizure lasted much longer and again, he was taken by ambulance to Birmingham. CT scans, an 8-hour EEG and MRI produced no findings and thankfully no damage to his brain but the doctors had no answers.
I am convinced this is a spiritual attack, but we should not be surprised. In fact, 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Don’t be surprised at the fiery trials (ordeals) that has come on you to test you, as if something strange were happening to you.
This has led to unexpected emotional and financial stress on our family, but we are trying to take the approach of James when he says in James 1:1-4,"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
When difficult times come James reminds us to trust in God because he has a purpose. Verse 12 says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
You may read this verse and expect that if you simply hold up under the test you will receive the crown of life. But, you can’t miss those last 6 words, “Promised To those who love him”.
He’s speaking of those who love Christ even through tough times. They will receive the crown of life.
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Joshua 21:15) in spite of the trial. We have a mission and God has placed us here for a reason. More trials are certain to come but we know who fights the battle for us and we know the victory is already won.
We are believing for complete healing for Josiah. We ask for your prayers for him and our family.
God is good.
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