Shut the Mouths of Lions

Warrior's Arise: August 2nd, 2020

John 20:28 (NKJV) And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Last week I blogged about the power of our testimony and how important it is to remember the prayers God has answered. One of the points was about the enemy trying to bully us to keep our mouth closed. The devil does not want us to remember what God has done or the prayers He has answered nor does he want us to praise God for the answered prayers. The devil will throw his weight around by putting thoughts into our minds, "If you share what God has done then I will hit you with something worse."

About two and a half weeks ago Josiah, my son, was being afflicted by dusts and pollen. Nothing seemed to help. We sent him to the doctor about 12 days ago. They said it was just allergies and he needed to take an over-the-counter allergy medicine. That didn't work. He seemed to be getting worse. Not a real problem, just frustrating to constantly blow his nose but his breathing got worse. He was scheduled to leave for church camp on Monday. I wasn't sure if they would let him come because of the drainage and coughing up gunk. Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday he did double breathing treatments. I was at work Monday morning when he left for camp, so I didn't know how he was doing. I prayed he would get to stay at camp. He thoroughly enjoys church camp and would be totally bummed if he didn't get to go. I was pretty upset he didn't take his nebulizer with him or Benadryl. What was the boy thinking!

He texted me when I was at break, happy that he was the first one to get to his cabin so he could get the bunk he wanted. He texted me in the morning and night telling me about his experience at camp. He was loving it!

I continued to pray for his healing and his time at camp. Then we got a call Thursday late afternoon. Josiah was being sent home. On Monday his counselor had arrived only to receive a call a few hours later that his daughter tested positive for COVID. The counselor packed up immediately. Thursday afternoon the counselor's results were positive. So everyone in Josiah's cabin had to be sent home, just in case. They had only been with him for a few hours but since the counselor tested positive there was a chance others in the cabin had been infected. The camp handled the situation well. Josiah had driven up to camp so he could come home as soon as they told them but he opted to remain with his cabin friends until their parents arrived to take them home. Josiah was disappointed. He had a fabulous camp experience.

In the meantime, Scott, Lydia, Selah, and Charis went to my parents to make sure they were not exposed. We had church Sunday and Scott would need to be available to preach. Josiah was so disappointed they left. I went over the ground rules. He was to spray and wipe everywhere he touched. That night he asked if he could give me a hug. "Absolutely not, son." He has been staying in the basement since he got home. Yesterday he got tested.

The devil had the nerve to whisper in my ear, "Josiah has COVID because you said God protected you and your family in your blog." The devil tried to gain power over me. Every time I told him I wouldn't change a thing. There is nothing that says Josiah has COVID. As unbelievable as it is, Josiah is actually breathing better since he got home than when he left. He has run 4 miles each day in preparation for cross country starting. He is not taking Benadryl nor the breathing treatments.

Whenever the devil would put a thought into my head in regard to Josiah having COVID, and that he made sure to ruin Josiah's time camp, I would declare Josiah's immune system to rise and be stronger than ever before. I went to my God and entered His courtroom reminding Him that the devil stole two days of camp from Josiah and is threatening him with COVID. I reminded the devil that the Bible says when a thief is identified he has to give back double what was stolen, seven times what he stole or everything he has. I told the devil I would remind him the restitution he owes us every time he tried to cause fear that my son might have COVID.

I was not going to play his game. If the devil wants to play then he will play my game. The devil started it but my God gives me the power to finish it. In Psalm 107:2 the Lord tells us, "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom has redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Therefore, God has redeemed me and everyone in my family is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are redeemed from the curse of the law and hold the power of grace.

How do I have authority over the enemy. Because Jesus said so. I did not deny that the threat was real. The threat was real and so is the devil. But Jesus did not leave us powerless. He gave us the Word of God. In the Bible we are given the tools we need to defeat the schemes of the devil.

Romans 16:20 (NKJV) And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 10:7-8 (NKJV) And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 19:26 (NKJV) But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

When the devil tries to bring fear into my life I remain steadfast in my adoption in the kingdom of God. I am His daughter and I will act like Him. I am royalty and will not offer a seat to the enemy to entertain his lies. When he threatens me, I remind him Whose I am and who I am. I am the daughter of the Most High God and His power is second to none. I am loved with an everlasting love that will never fail. I will release His power to shut your mouth. Devil, you may roar but it doesn't scare me. As God's child, I will imitate Him and release His power to remove the doubt the fear you spew out of your mouth. I will not entertain your words, I will put them under my feet and they will become nothing because of the blood of Jesus who gives me authority over your wicked schemes.

Every Christian has been given this authority over the devil. When you have your moment and make the change, as in yesterday's blog, you begin to live in the fullness of the salvation Jesus died to give you. It is more than your ticket into heaven because you have declared Jesus as, "my" Lord and "my "God".

Ephesians 6 tells us we are in a battle for our lives, the destiny we are to live out. We are to be alert and ready to fight the devil, the roaring lion. Jesus gave us the power to shut the mouths of the lions. There is only one devil but he does have his demons. Therefore, wield the Word of God and shut the mouths of lions.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Your greatest weapon is the Word of God. Use what you have been given to defeat the enemy. The song, "Famous For" has been another source of strength. The words express the Word of God clearly.

There is no fear 'cause I belive

There is not doubt 'cause I have seen

Your faithfulness, my fortress over and over

I have a hope found in Your name

I have a strength found in Your grace

your faithfulness, my fortress over and over

Make way through the waters

Walk me through the fire

Do what you ae famous for

What You are famous for

Shut the mouths of lions

Bring dry bones to life and

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

I believe in You

God, I believe in You

Release Your love inside of me

Unleash Your power for all to see

Spirit come and fall on us

Over and over oh Lord

God of exceedingly God of abundantly

More than we ask or think

Lord You will never fail

Your name is powerful, Your word's unstoppable

All things are possible in You.

Late this afternoon we were notified. Josiah does NOT have COVID! Praising Jesus tonight! I gave Josiah a hug and he held me! Then when he came into the kitchen he said, "I touch it! I don't have to wipe or spray anything!" And we laughed!

Father God, I am so thankful You have given us Your Word. It is powerful for tearing down strongholds and shutting the mouth of the lion who seeks to intimidate and cause fear in Your people. All throughout You Word we are shown the authority we have in Christ Jesus. We understand and receive our place as Your child. Your love is amazing. I am thankful You have given us a way to fight and to overcome the enemy. I rebuke the lies of the enemy. I release the truth in Jesus's name. I speak death to all diseases related to COVID-19 and release healing to all who have been infected. I bless their bodies to be restored to perfect health in Jesus' name. I ask for You to reveal Your love to people all over the world. I pray they would know You and make Jesus their Lord and their God. I ask for Your kingdom to come and will to be done in the lives of Your people. I pray they would rise up, take a stand against the enemy and use the authority You have given them to defeat the enemy in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.