We are under attack.
I’m not a pastor. I haven’t been trained on how to teach the word of God. I am a Christian fashion blogger and while I’ve always been open about my beliefs I don’t ever really talk about the tough stuff – the confrontational stuff. I avoid conflict at all costs (particularly on the blog and social media where it is so easy to offend or be misinterpreted).
But I can keep silent no longer. And pre-warning this isn’t going to be a pretty post – it’s going to be dark and heavy – and I’ll probably have a lot of people who won’t like it but it might just be the most important post I’ve ever written. Know that it’s written in compassion.
I say it again… WE ARE UNDER ATTACK.
Over and over again on Facebook I read: “Why is this happening?” “What is this world coming to?” “How do we stop this?”
I’m gonna be real with you and I say it with love and respect… Wake up people.
We’ve already been told THIS would happen. We’ve been fully warned. We’ve already been told what to do. It’s ALL in the Bible. Satan is waging war against us.
The shootings. The hate. The mass murders. The terrorism. The racism. It is ALL him. As John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.”
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – Peter 5:8
The BOTTOM LINE ISSUE is…he is undergoing spiritual warfare on our minds. I know it sounds dramatic but our minds are a battleground.
Orlando. Baton Rouge. Dallas. Sandy Hook. ALL of this is Satan’s influence and actions. And, unfortunately, the Bible tells us it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5
So what do we do?
- The first thing we need to do is turn to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. HE is our refuge. When Satan attacks your mind – turn him away. Satan is able to take root in unbelievers and then proceeds to attack us externally. Spread the Word to others so he is moved from the root of our society.
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” – Psalm 18:2
2. Pray and keep praying.
3. Teach our children the ways of God. That we LOVE REGARDLESS OF COLOR, RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AGE, GENDER… I could continue but this one is simple. JUST LOVE. The way of God is NOT VIOLENCE. NOT REVENGE.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink….” – Romans 12:19-20
4. Do not give up hope. There is soo much GOOD in this world. It’s not as readily covered in the news or talked about on social media but it’s there. BE PART OF THAT GOOD. ADD TO THAT GOOD. PROMOTE THAT GOOD.
Can you do me a favor? Take a quick moment today and listen to Francesca Battistelli’s “If We’re Honest” (CLICK HERE). The chorus says:
Bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest.
We are all broken. I am broken. BUT I know that through HIM we can be repaired.
We are a NATION divided. We are a WORLD divided. HUMANITY itself is divided. WE ARE SHATTERED. But LOVE heals. And at the end of this world…mercy awaits us.
sTORIbook readers – I truly wish I had never had to write this post. In fact, Satan has filled my heart with fear over this post. The fear of being judged or misconstrued. Of someone twisting my words in to negativity. Or of me not being able to communicate the message that my soul longs to speak.
Please give me patience and grace as I try to find the words. Please know my heart.
I don’t want my children to live in fear. To be surrounded by a world of violence. I don’t want to keep reading about someone else gunned down or another terrorist bombing. I don’t want to have to explain this to my sons one day.
I’m not a preacher but this is my sermon. I humbly kneel before you. I’ve been driven to my knees. Know this is written in love, hope and frankly desperation for US ALL TO WAKE UP! I want us all to see the light in this dark place that we have found ourselves.
This is the first comment I think I ‘ve made on your blog and I make it because I’d like you to know that I truly loved reading this post. I agree with you 100% and I am with you. Do not let fear stop God’s work to be done through you!
Laura – I wish I could truly tell you how much your comment means to me. Thank you so much for the reassurance from the bottom of my heart.
You speak truth here! The truth sets us free!
And more importantly, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but if POWER, LOVE, and A SOUND MIND! We have to renew our minds daily in The Word of God!
Do not fear! This is truth!
Thank you so much for helping me with this post and for being an example Christian in my life. I love you!
Very good scriptures Tori & I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you, Alicia. It was very important to me that everything be backed by scripture. Such a hard topic but I felt it needed to be discussed.
Thank you for this blog and having the faith, trust and courage to hit the “Post” button. I share your thoughts and really appreciate your message, especially with the references to scripture.
Tori, that is, without a doubt the most powerful “sermon”, posting , I have EVER heard. You are SO right on, and you have backed it up with the word of God!! This is something we ALL need in the absolute critical times we are living in. And, yes, He warned us about what was to come. Thank you SO much for posting this! Personally, this is exactly what I have been needing to hear! Thank you for standing up, and speaking up. I am very proud of you.
I love you dearly,
Grandma Joyce
I just found your site, loved this. LOVED THIS! I too am a Christian blogger and you wonder how many readers loved it and how many you lost when you post your beliefs, (my current post is one of these!) but putting yourself out there in true form is most important. BRAVO!
Elizabeth
Completely agree and love your courage!
So grateful to have you as a fellow friend in faith!
Wow! Praise God! Miss Shanda shared a little bit of this and the day you had a stroke with us at our Christian Book Club last night. What a truly amazing and inspiring testimony! I am not ashamed to say that tears came to my eyes the moment I saw God working in your story. Happy tears, the overflowing of the Holy Spirit! God has big plans for you! May He continue to bless you and keep you!
Hi Brian – Thank you so very much for taking a moment to read my testimony. I definitely have to give the glory to God! Many thanks for the blessings! God bless you as well!
Tori, there IS so much GOOD in this world, and you are part of it! This message actually makes me take heart & i found encouraging. Thanks for sharing!
I heard of your stroke through a Christian Ladies’ Prayer Group led by Debbie Russell in Fairview. (Not sure of your relationship to her, but remember you are family.) She is keeping us up to date on your progress so we continue to pray, even as you recover from surgery. I am so happy Debbie sent us your blog site today and was blessed beyond measure to read your sermon. It is most surely “like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11) – a timely, valuable and beautiful thing. So grateful you had the courage to follow your heart and write the words God gave you. Your sermon is one we all, young and old alike, need to hear these days. It is no wonder the enemy tried to take you down with the TIA, but what the devil “meant for evil, God is using for good.” (Gen. 50:20) “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Is. 55:11) Many will read your testimony(s) of God’s glory and be saved. Thank you for boldly declaring the Glory of God. He has you in the palm of His hand. (Is. 62:3)
Hi Leslie – I’m so sorry for the late reply as I went in to surgery the day before you commented. During the weekend while in the hospital. I’m going to send you an email as I’m not sure if you will see this. 🙂