Life Plan Devotion #98 [God's Armor--Helmet of Salvation, Part XVI]

Hi, Everyone.
When I began to write about the 5 most common fears of Satan, God told me there were 5 but only gave me the first 4, so I spent time yesterday seeking Him and listening for the fifth one. Knowing that God is faithful and this is His project, I knew He would come through. :)
Today we begin the fifth and final most common fear of Satan, which he uses to try to discourage and defeat each believer. I hope to hear your thoughts on this fear.
Tomorrow, I'll post the next Flashback Friday Devotion (from my personal journal), and on Monday, we'll pick up with the fifth and final fear of Satan.
Have a great day!

Life Plan Devotion #98 [God's Armor--Helmet of Salvation, Part XVI]

     We have looked at 4 of the top 5 most common fears used by Satan, to try to discourage and defeat you, the believer: the fear of want/lack, the fear of peril/danger, the fear of sickness/disease, and the fear of death/dying. Today, let's look at the fifth and final most common fear used by Satan, the fear of powerlessness/helplessness.
     If you have ever felt like a victim of cir****tances or had thoughts similar to, "Poor thing. Everything bad happens to you. It's just one thing after another, and you're powerless to change it," you've experienced the whispers of the enemy, to try to get you to fear that you are powerless or helpless.
     The apostle Paul, when he sought help from the Lord 3 times for a "thorn in the flesh...a messenger of Satan sent to buffet [him]" to be removed from him (II Corinthians 12:7), the Lord said to Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (II Corinthians 12:9a). Paul understood (the 3rd time) that there is purpose in times of supposed weakness, "so that Christ's power may rest on me," and he even went so far as to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses" and "That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties." How could that be? Paul sums it up by saying, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12:9b-10)
     Paul experienced something that God wants each believer to experience, that though Satan "meant it for evil, God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). Satan had been going crazy, ever since his right-hand man, Saul, the one who had imprisoned and caused to be killed more believers than any one person, had himself come to know Jesus, so much so that God changed his name from Saul (which means "asked for") to Paul (which means "small" or "humble"). Satan wanted Saul back, so he tried over and over to put fear of powerlessness/helplessness on Paul, hoping that Paul would revert to his old Saul (and sin) nature. But it didn't work, because Paul knew the power of God's grace, not to "put up with" but to "conquer all."
     Paul said to the Corinthians, and God says to you today, that He (God) "is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8). In what things? In all things. When? At all times. How much will God give you, of what you need? All that you need. How much grace will you experience? All grace. Why fear that you are powerless or helpless? You shouldn't, for you, as a true believer, are anything but powerless, far from being helpless.

Philippians 4:13 [Amplified]
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]."

What this has to do with weight loss: How many times, on the weight-loss journey, have you asked yourself, "Can I really do this?"  For the believer *****alizes who he/she is in Christ, the answer is a resounding YES, not because the believer has personal strength or fortitude, but because his/her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. When you feel weak in your ability, and find yourself giving in to the fear that you are powerless and helpless, remember that you "have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers [you]."

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, Satan wants me to fear that I am powerless and helpless, and sometimes it's true. During those times, help me to know that when I'm weak, I'm really strong in You. On my own, I can't do it, but in You, there's nothing I can't do! I praise You for that, and I pray that I'll live it out. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, choosing the power of God over the fear of powerlessness.

Blessings,
Mary

Good Morning, Mary.

I really enjoyed today's devotional.  I think that this 5th fear is my personal number 1.  Your words immediately brought to mind a quote from Marianne Williamson that I have very much enjoyed.  (I like it so much that I actually have a copy of it taped in my scriptures as a reminder of the thought.)  At first this may seem to be the exact opposite of what you are saying, but really it's not; it is just a new perspective on weakness.  Nelson Mandela used the quote in his 1994 inaugural address.  That is how I came across it.  I hope that you enjoy the quote:

Our Greatest Fear

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.


I do think that often we think we are very weak, and especially as "people of size" we try to "shrink" ourselves mentally as well as physically.  Actually, as you said though, God has promised us His strength.  I am very glad that you are one who has chosen to let your light shine, as it has definitely given me, and I'm sure many others, the "permission" to do so too, as Marianne Williamson said.

Have a beautiful day,
Vickie

Hi, Vickie.
I've read the first 2 lines of that quote, and I love the whole thing! It is so true. We do fear that we are, indeed, powerful. I think it's because we know that if we are powerful and allow others to see that, their expectations of us will rise. If we remain helpless, no one will expect much from us, and we won't disappoint them. What a sad existence, though, for we end our life with wondering what might have been.
Thank you for reading and replying, and thank you for sharing the extended quote. I'm going to save it. :)
Blessings, and Keep Shining!
Mary