Not Your Typical Church Lady

"Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm."

~Ephesians 6:10-12 (CJB)

Hey there. How are you? Are you having a good week? Answers may vary depending upon the calamity du jour that has been thrust upon us at the time this goes to press. Every month and week we get a new issue to get a migraine over. It will be a miracle if I make it through this year without having an aneurysm. Luckily, I work for a universal entity that specializes in miracles so there is hope yet. Hope is the message I wish to convey to you today.

Divide and conquer: it's one of the enemy's best used campaigns against hope and humanity. I think it is actually the theme for 2020 (not that I've been privy to sit in on the Adversary's company meetings, but if I were, that's what I imagine they talk about, complete with a white board and laser pointer). Just to clarify, when I say "enemy" I don't mean a political power, or a particular person. This is something much larger than any of those things. The sinister forces at work here go beyond humans, though humans are a great conduit to get the dirty work done.

Let us go over some of the divisive points we've been handed, shall we? First, we got to fight over whether or not to shut the country down. Next we got to fight over whether or not to shut the states down. Then we fought about how long to stay shut down. Open? Stay Shut? There were the stay-at-home mandates. That divided us for sure, literally. We were divided from our loved ones in nursing homes and still are. (Hi Gram!) Masks divided us. Social distancing divided us (again, literally.) We divided ourselves politically. A big wedge is trying to be driven between us to divide us racially. Protesting divided us, looting divided us. Hang in there- we're not done yet!

If you've got kids, buckle in – the upcoming school year might be wild and wacky! There will be division among parents in the new school policies implemented, thanks to all the previous divisions listed. Churches that have begun to meet again are divided on re-opening policies. Should we sing or just sit there? Guidelines from the CDC and Department of Health divide us when they get involved in our worship service. The things I've mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. We don't have enough room to list all the crimes against humanity that are happening today.

Do you see? The enemy is up to no good with all of this. The intent is to divide us in as many ways as possible, separate us from God and then, slowly crush the light and hope out of our lives. Don't hug! Don't touch! Don't talk! Don't sing! Stay home! Live in a virtual world, not the real one! Don't get along! Don't love each other! Don't share! Listen to what we say, nothing good is left! Go curl up and die!

Guess what? The enemy forgot that I am terrible at math. I couldn't divide if I wanted to and it finally came in handy. During this whole thing, I've been talking to people, either individually or in small groups, moving around behind the scenes. Here is what everyone needs to know: Satan is a liar and you are NOT alone. You might feel like you are the only one who sees all this deception, but you're not. Others see it too. Many, many others. There are prayer teams at work, interceding day and night for this country, for souls everywhere. There are people standing in the gap between humanity and the forces of evil. Join them! God created this world. It still belongs to him, and all that is in it. He still loves it.

"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put snares alongside the teaching in which you have been trained – keep away from them. For men like these are not serving our Lord the Messiah but their own belly; by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the innocent. For everyone has heard about your obedience; therefore I rejoice over you. However, I want you to be wise concerning good, but innocent concerning evil. And God, the source of shalom, will soon crush the Adversary under your feet" (Romans 16:17-20a, CJB).

Yes, I know that some days feel hopeless. Hold your head up. You are not alone. Others are in this fight with you, beside you. You may not see them, but they are there. And God is there. Let us love the people that God brings us into contact with each day. If you are able to help someone in some way, do it. If you can be kind to someone in some way, be kind. If you can offer a prayer to a stranger, pray with them. Look with a critical eye at the things that cause division in our lives and ask who is behind it. Fight the good fight towards unity. God is on the throne, and you are not alone.