ways

Satan’s common scheme against wives

Squadron of Sisters (Debbie Chavez) Leave a comment

Something I’ve learned over my many years of being a wife is that Satan is out to destroy marriages, especially Christian marriages.  Therefore, you must be on guard.  Just as 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, we must “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.“

Here is one of the most common schemes of the devil to take out Christian marriages:  getting one or both spouses isolated from other believers.  You must not be like an antelope that strays away from the rest of the herd out on the prairie.  Apart from the herd, that antelope is easy picking for that hungry mountain lion lurking in the high grass.  But this is exactly what many believers do.  We allow ourselves to get overly busy, so we drop out of the women’s Bible study.  Perhaps your husband spends too many hours at work or in pursuit of hobbies, and slowly drops away from the men’s fellowship at church.  We drift away.  We no longer hear the encouragement and admonishment of other believers to stay the course.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing”   Hebrews 3:13 says “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  You MUST fight to remain in close fellowship with other believers.  I have seen too many marriages begin to crumble when one or both spouses drift away from regular weekly fellowship with believers of the same gender.  Are you staying connected with godly women every week?  Maybe it’s time to get back into a weekly Bible study meeting and/or the fellowship at Squadron of Sisters.

Don’t cooperate with the devil!

Squadron of Sisters (Debbie Chavez) Leave a comment

Your enemy has plans to blow-up your marriage.  The Bible says in John 10:10 that Satan is out to “steal, kill, and destroy“, so make no mistake.  The devil is working diligently to take down both you and your husband.  He may relentlessly tempt your husband to view pornography, and your husband may cave into the temptation.  Your heart will definitely be bruised if your husband falls into that trap.  But Satan wants more than that.  The enemy will relentlessly tempt you to treat your husband with scorn and disgust so that your marriage implodes.

This is where you have a choice.  You can cooperate with the devil and give in to his temptations.  You can allow him to have the victory.  You can align yourself with his evil plans and watch your marriage get flushed down the toilet.  Or you can refuse to cooperate with the devil.  Even when your husband does something that seriously disappoints you, you can tell your husband that you are still “for him”…that you believe he has a good heart…that you are not giving up on him.

I remember the time several years ago that a friend of mine found out that her husband had slipped up and viewed porn after over a year of being free from pornography.  Of course, she was devastated, but she chose wisely in that moment.  She chose to speak words of life to her husband.  I’d love to share the text she sent me shortly after his confession:  “So thankful he was honest.  Still hurts.  But the enemy will not win!  My marriage is worth fighting for”.  What a fantastic attitude!  She refused to cooperate with the devil.  How about you?

3 big lies Satan uses to oppress

Squadron of Sisters (Debbie Chavez) Leave a comment

Over my many years of ministering to women, I’ve come to realize that the devil effectively whispers 3 huge lies to women in an attempt to depress them and oppress them.  We should not be surprised that Satan whispers lies to us.  He’s been doing it since the first man and woman were planted by God in the garden of Eden!  He lied to them then and he’s still lying today.  In fact, Jesus describes the devil this way in John 8:44 He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

As I was thinking about some of the common lies that Satan whispers to women, God gave me a vision of women recognizing those lies, and then dragging them off to the burn pile and setting them on fire!  Yes!!  The first thing we must do is recognize the lie, but then we totally destroy it (set it on fire) by replacing the lie with the truth from God’s Word.  So, here are the 3 common lies and the corresponding truths from the Bible!

Lie #1:   God is disappointed in you because of the things you’ve done in the past so He doesn’t forgive you, and you can’t forgive yourself either.   Truth:  Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  Also,Psalm 103:12-13  He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.  The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Lie #2:  You can’t really trust God to watch over you and take care of you so you better work hard to control every aspect of your life and you’ll probably always be plagued by anxiety and fear.  Truth: Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Also, Matthew 10:29-31 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Lie #3:  You’re entitled to resent that person who hurt you, and you should never forgive them.  Truth:  Ephesians 4:31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Also, Hebrews 12:15 Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.