The next time Satan tries to bring you down, shut him down the way Jesus did – with words of Scripture! Hide the Word of God in your heart so you’re ready to fight.
Go to joniradio.org for a copy of our newsletter and for more information about the Beyond Suffering Bible.
Okay, I’m going to tell you something strange here.
And it’s strange, ’cause every once in a while, I talk to Satan. I don’t make a practice of it, but when Satan taunts or tries to terrorize me – trying to use my pain or paralysis against me – I don’t let him get away with it. I shut him down. I talk to Satan the way Jesus talked to him: using Scripture. Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and, like I said, I don’t make a regular practice of engaging the adversary head-on, but when he comes against me, like trying to get me to doubt the goodness of God because of my chronic pain, and it hurts so bad; or when the devil tries to wear me down, all these years, me living with quadriplegia, I know what he’s up to. I’m familiar with his way of operating. When it comes to spiritual warfare, I understand enemy tactics. And so, I will come against the adversary the way my Savior did. Like Jesus, I will use Scripture. I’ll say, “Okay, Satan, when it comes to my pain, you intend all this to harm me, but God intends it for good, for the saving of many lives.” If the devil’s interested, he could look that up – it’s in Genesis 50:20. But I have an idea he won’t bother. I mean, why would he? It’s true, and Satan hates truth. The Bible calls him the father of lies for good reasons.
Satan hates the idea that my suffering – my pain and paralysis – or your suffering for that matter, is intended by God as a way to reach others, for the saving of their lives. I mean, look at your own circumstances. Sure, you have your fair share of hardships, disappointments, aches, and pains. But according to Genesis 50:20, God intends all these things in your life, ’cause he’s a God of intention – these things aren’t willy-nilly; there’s a purpose, there’s a plan. God’s intention is for you go through pain and hardship with an eye to his glory, not complaining about your problems but trusting Jesus with them. Because when you do that, everybody – everybody in your family, the people with whom you work, your friends – everyone sits up and takes notice. They watch the way you persevere; they see your endurance; your submission to God, and it makes a difference in their lives. They then have courage to face their own circumstances. And the devil, he despises it when the Word of God shapes your response to hard things; he hates it when you push Scripture in his face.
And so, the next time you feel as though evil personified is lurking behind your circumstances, don’t let it terrorize you. Terrorize your adversary for a change. Tell Satan the truth; get rid of him with the Word of God. And speaking of the Word of God in our hardships, I’m going to take this chance to tell you about our Beyond Suffering Bible. Joni and Friends worked with Tyndale Publishers to come up with a special edition of the Bible that includes features, and sidebars, cross-references, and devotionals which specifically help those who suffer. And as one of the contributors, I took great joy in sharing insights which really help those who hurt find comfort and courage in the pages of God’s Word. So, hop online and find out more about the Beyond Suffering Bible at joniradio.org. Hide God’s Word in your heart so that the next time you are troubled by the adversary, you’ll shut him down with words of Scripture. Find out how to do that at joniradio.org. Again, that’s joniradio.org. Oh, and one more thing: I want you to have a copy of our Joni and Friends newsletter, so just go to joniradio.org. It’s filled with opportunities for you to serve people with disabilities – all in the name of Jesus!
© Joni and Friends