A Pastoral Letter to someone drawing closer to God but feeling Spiritually attacked
A Pastoral Christian letter for anyone drawing closer to God but feeling Spiritually attacked; drawing closer to God may bring challenges and spiritual resistance, but He equips, protects, and stays with you always – so you can stand firm, knowing nothing can separate you from His love.
—
Dear Susie,
People and relationships can indeed be very complicated. Even just at the human level, we’ve all seen how jealousy and criticism can quickly divide friendship or family circles if there’s ‘a new person on the block’. It has a lot to do with control, continuity and insecurities. When it comes down to someone choosing to draw close to God, there’s not only those things at play but it can seem to open up a barrage of unexpected unpleasantness – a ‘spiritual attack’. Let’s take a look at that.
Schemes – a Christian is a Target
- We have an enemy who wants to bring us down: ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you’ – James 4:7-8
- The enemy schemes and may even use those who are close to us: ‘This is so that we won’t be taken advantage of by Satan, because we are well aware of his schemes’ – 2 Corinthians 2:11
- We have protection against the attacks: ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil’ – Ephesians 6:11
God’s Will for You – Always Good
- Unshakable plans: ‘”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”’ – Jeremiah 29:11
- Immense blessing: ‘What marvellous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who He is or what He’s up to’ – 1 John 3:1 (The Message)
- Unchanging call: ‘I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand’ – John 10:28
- A continuing work: ‘God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him. After God made that decision of what His children should be like, He followed it up by calling people by name. After He called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what He had begun’ – Romans 8:29-30 (The Message)
Your choice
Attacks on our relationship with God may be full frontal direct assaults through circumstances or indirect (comments through people or doubts cropping up). Either way Susie, you should not be surprised by them but know that God is with you to help you through.
Looking at circumstances or calling to Jesus for help? A sudden storm blew up threatening the survival of the disciples. Looking at the wind and the waves brought fear but when they called for help from Jesus, He dealt with the circumstances. As the wind and waves were calmed by Him, their faith in Him increased.
Don’t listen to your enemy. Nehemiah was taunted by Sanballat and Tobiah as they tried to stop him following God’s call on his life. Every time he felt threatened, he sent ‘arrow prayers’ and refused to listen to his enemies’ threats (Nehemiah chapters 4-6). Throughout Job’s suffering, he trusted in God to deliver him. King David told Solomon to be strong and courageous for God would never fail or forsake him (1 Chronicles 28:20). These promises are true for you to take hold of too so don’t let yourself get distracted by looking the wrong way or listening to the wrong people.
Assistance – God gives you all you need to press on through
A Roaring Lion and Accuser: ‘Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does’ – 1 Peter 5:8-11 (The Message)
Strength at Hand: ‘Come near to God and He will come near to you’ – James 4:8
The Author and Finisher of your Faith: ‘Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God’ – Hebrews 12:2
God knows that we will face attacks as we follow Him. He knows that we are not strong enough in our own strength to face such a formidable enemy as the Devil so God gives us all this assistance plus spiritual armour on top of it.
Spiritual Armour: protection for every direct and indirect assault
‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power’ – His strength not yours (Ephesians 6:10)
‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full Armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’ – Take your stand in the struggle which is common for every follower of Christ (Ephesians 6:11-17)
‘And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people’ – The power of prayer brings the power of God to confront every direct and indirect attack that you will ever face (Ephesians 6:18)
Just when you might think it couldn’t get any better! Read what Paul writes to persecuted and struggling followers of Christ:
‘So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us’ (Romans 8:31-39 The Message)
You might also find Merry Usman’ story helpful: https://connect4life.org.uk/c4l-boosters/from-religion-to-relationship-my-journey-to-knowing-jesus/
Well Susie, that’s it for now. Know that the Lord is for you especially when others are against you – because He is always with you, you can’t lose.
Feel free to be in touch again,
Oggy
—
For future reading and encouragement: https://connect4life.org.uk/c4l-boosters/always-there/