Oh, what a weekend!

They traveled in from all over the nation. One woman drove from Canada. Others flew and drove from every corner of the nation. They came to the rustic, beautiful ranch on the OK/AR border because they want to walk with Jesus into the deep.

We rode horseback on a gorgeous, rugged trail. We zip lined. We kayaked and canoed and hiked. We worshiped, prayed, and laughed.

Leaving the barn. They braved the trail and loved it!

On Friday night, I shared a message. Afterward, I wanted them to know this truth:

For some of you, the enemy is messing with you. You feel the presence of Jesus so close, and yet he tells you that it’s not for you. He tries to convince you that you aren’t worthy. He brings up old wounds or tries to inflict new ones. He throws obstacles in your path, hoping to distract you. 

When that happens, I want you to tell him:

Not today. 

Not tomorrow.

Not ever. 

Greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world. That’s our truth. He doesn’t have ultimate authority. That authority was given to you as you follow Jesus. 

Tomorrow, as we are hiking and kayaking and walking through this beautiful ranch, when he dares to steal this beautiful gift God is giving you, I pray I see some of your fingers wagging in the air. 

Not today, satan.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever. 

New Life Ranch, taken by Tammy Smith

These words were unplanned. Yet even as I type them today I sense the sweet presence of God. We aren’t obligated to embrace the words of the accuser as truth. His lies are not our identity. They cannot distract us, because scripture has unmasked them and the truth shows us who we are, where we are going, and what we are capable of or not.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NIV)

I wish you could have been at the weekend Living Free Together retreat with us, but today as you and I sit with our Bibles and our hearts open, I want you to hear these words.

Not today.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever. 

Sweet powerful prayer.

Shut down those lies.

You are worthy, because Jesus makes you worthy. Ephesians 2:4-7.

You are capable, because the Holy Spirit equips you. Hebrews 13:21;

You are loved, because God says it is true. John 3:16; Romans 5:8.

Your past is not held against you. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Women conquered fear as they zip lined.

This is our truth. We walk in it as we follow Jesus, wherever he leads, whatever he asks, whatever miracle he wants to do in us, or through us.

Suzie

Related Resource

How do we discover the truth? We walk with Jesus in the Word. We discover who he is, and who we are to him, and then we live that.

Come With Me Devotional is a yearlong adventure in following Jesus. It’s short and power-packed as you hear his words five days a week and then soak them in over the weekend.

Learn through his example. Learn how to listen for your invitation — those he offered the disciples, and the same that he offers to you as a modern-day disciple.

Learn more about how to purchase this faith-changing devotional here.

 

[bctt tweet=”Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Those are the words we speak to the enemy, for greater is He that is in us. #livingfreetogether #ComeWithMeDevo ” username=”suzanneeller”]

[inlinkz_linkup id=741684 mode=1]