Facets of Faith

Conversations about life, faith, and friendship.

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Bio’s
  • Contact Us

This is War! And the Enemy Has a Plan

04.14.2020 by Jennifer Howe //

Hey, friend, welcome to FACETS. Have you checked out our topic this month? We’ve been wrestling with the question deeply because the war with this enemy has meaningful implications. This is war! And the enemy has a plan. Tracy shared here thoughts here, and you’ll have the opportunity to read Megan’s post next week. I’m super-excited to welcome back our guest, Tammy Chapman, this month, so don’t miss her thoughts the fourth week!

This is War! And the Enemy Has a Plan. (Jennifer J Howe)

It’s “puppy time” in my world this week, and I’m asking for grace. The timing of my post is a little off, but—you know, puppies! *Giggle* I hope you find the words thought-provoking. (I know I did, the whole time I was writing it!)

How does the enemy try to silence you?

Ahhh, there’s the rub. Look at all the assumptions made in that single question—that there is an enemy actively and nefariously working in opposition, and (in this instance) he is working to silence me.

We have an enemy.

Once upon a time I was oblivious to the reality of the two kingdoms at war in this world. Not surprising, since the unseen is often completely ignored or decidedly focused on with misleading information. One of my favorite reads on the subject is The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. The beauty of the short book is to present a dialogue illuminating the existence of an evil empire and the plans of the enemy. If you haven’t read it, I recommend the 31-letter correspondence between a senior demon (Screwtape) and his nephew (Wormwood). As a point of clarification, when Lewis refers to “Enemy,” he is referring to the main characters’ enemy, God.

I’m quoting Lewis and Scripture because both point to a reality—we have an enemy, and he has a plan.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Our enemy is at work.

When an enemy wages war, how does he do it? Two words: tailor made. Warfare goes after the target’s physical and emotional safety through geography, resources, and most basic needs. Every target has slightly different territory, means, core beliefs, and essentials. The “wise” enemy sizes up the situation and leverages everything to his advantage. Wouldn’t you?

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,…Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.” ― C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

If I had no belief in the God Who Saves, why would my enemy need to be concerned with an attack on that front. He would, in my opinion, spend more time keeping the reality of the Kingdom of God from entering my mind altogether.

“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” ― C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

How destructive to our enemies’ plans if we knew and trusted completely in God, the Lover of our souls! And that has little to do with the perfect life, rose-colored glasses, or every answered prayer. The greatest warfare we wage on our enemy is through love and obedience in response to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

“Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” ― C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

How does the enemy work in a life?

The enemy builds a strategy from the same playbook; there’s nothing all that novel. Identifying tactics you’ve seen before may be a window to the current attack. That’s definitely true in my own life. If the enemy can get me to distrust the goodness of God, doubt my core identity, or ride the spiral of pride and shame down to the pit, he thinks he’s got a successful plan.

And he might…if I begin to believe the lies and question the trusting faith that reunites me with my heavenly Father and saves me from sin and death.

“A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.” ― C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

The lies are passing thoughts at first. Over time, Christianity becomes “weak.” The Bible becomes a dusty book on a shelf. My life becomes “a shameful story no one would want to hear”—and I wouldn’t dare share! And that is the desired effect, isn’t it? Moderated Christianity portrayed powerless, culturally irrelevant, and heaping guilt and shame.

I could become the silent observer in this world waiting for the next. After all, if anyone knew what really goes on in my mind…heart…life. It would be too easy.

Unless—

Truth wages war on lies and the “father of lies.”

When I think of the enemy’s warfare, I know one thing: truth trumps a lie. A mind occupied with truth doesn’t fall for the lie.

My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Psalm 62:7 NLT

Think about that.

God is victorious, so we are.
Any honor we have is from God.
And He is our safe place!

No harm or condemnation. We are loved, honored, and cherished. If we choose to join His life, He joins us in ours.

Who wouldn’t want to tell the unsuspecting sojourner in this world that there’s a good God who saves us from sin and into the Kingdom of light?

It’s a battle.

It really is a battle between two kingdoms, but it’s not as if the Kingdom of God is in jeopardy. We can and do know how the story ends. Until that time, I pray for you the way Paul prayed:

…I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14b-19 NLT

Friend, do not be silenced! We have the honest truth, the real good news! I pray that we will know the truth, and that truth will produce freedom for each of us and the people in our lives. It really is something to talk about. We cannot stay silent.

Thank you for reading all the words. It is a blessing to know some of you personally, both face-to-face and at a distance. It would make my day to hear your thoughts in the comments below or at the Facebook Page.

And please, consider introducing the Facets to your friends and family. We’d love to meet them!

Signature: Jennifer Howe

Categories // How Does the Enemy Try to Silence You?, Jennifer Howe's Perspective Tags // 1 Peter 5:8, C. S. Lewis, Ephesians 3:14-19, Psalm 62:7, Spiritual Warfare, The Christian's Enemy, The Screwtape Letters

How Will You Spring Forward with God?

03.06.2019 by Tracy Stella //

Welcome to FACETS of Faith and our team of friends, who also happen to write with one another. Our goal remains to engage in authentic friendship and life, often explored through writing.  We were friends first. We have met new ones like you who read and engage with us.  Thank you!  We are blessed to have you stop by, and we pray God meets you each time you do. Like a seed, we pray God brings His work in and through you (and us) to full blossom.

This month we mull over the topic:  How Will You Spring Forward with God?

How Will You Spring Forward With God? (T. Stella)

In like a lion, out like a lamb.

It’s right about now we hanker for melting snow, warmer weather, and spring blossoms, not to mention color variation which includes a spectrum other than white.  However, we have a few more weeks of fluffy (or frozen) white stuff and winds that still cut to the bone no matter how many years we live to see a season change.

We can get a sense of false hope the weather has broken and spring’s arrival is surely here with an unseasonably sunshine infused warm day. But then March roars like a lion to remind us spring is on its way but hasn’t sprung yet. Winds fierce and strong cause us to wonder whether we can hold out for spring’s tulips to greet us as they gently wave in the wind. Oh, fragrant flowers and lush green grass we long for you to come!  Will the weather ever shift?

Doesn’t our walk with God sometimes feel like that?

We want roses, no thorns.

We want run the race, not perseverance.

We want Jesus to calm the storm. No winds. No waves.

We want what we want when we want it (especially if we’re from the western world comprised of short attention spans and instant gratification).  We’re all for, how to lose 10 lbs in 10 days. We don’t want the wait to lose the weight. We don’t want the work to lose the weight. If the wind wanted to do anything useful, it could blow those fluffy extra pounds off.

Oh, if wishes could only do that, we’d all have the self-image we want.  (Or would we?)

I’d like to talk about three strategies to help us spring forward with God in spite of life’s storms, because when storms arise, we need a good plan to weather them well!

Pray in Advance of a Storm to Spring Forward With God

While wishes won’t do us much good, prayer will. We can pray for things big. We can pray for things small. And then we can lean in with God and do the work He calls us to do – the stuff that requires perseverance even when the winds seem as if they might blow us over.

We’ve all had those moments. Earth shaking. Soul piercing. The experiences that require digging our feet deep into nutrient rich soil, so we won’t get blown over during a storm that comes into our life like a lion.

There is a lion. He seeks to destroy.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.─1 Peter 5:8 NLT

There is a lion who loves stirring up a good storm. We need to prepare ourselves in the quiet, restful seasons of life for the storms the enemy will surely try to send our way.  We need to create the muscle memory of going to God each day with our prayers and petitions.

The habit of prayer during quiet seasons helps us when the weather shifts. We won’t have to wonder what to do or who to run to. We’ll already know. We will have established a healthy rhythm of connecting with God each day.

And sometimes our prayers can help us avoid a storm all together!  After all, it’s in prayer we learn to hear God’s voice. We can seek Him and His wisdom and avoid a pitfall or two because we listened and obeyed, and  He lead us to green pastures.

But sometimes the storm still comes.

In those instances, we can run to our habit of prayer, where we know God is at the helm of our lives.  He is our Lighthouse. He helps us weather storms well.

How will we get out of inclement weather? God speaks to us through prayer as we seek Him. His answer may be in that moment. His answer may come another way, or at another time.  Because, remember, we are to run our race with perseverance.  That means sometimes the answer isn’t right now, in the moment.

Why wouldn’t God answer a heartfelt prayer in the moment? Is He just trying to be mean? Is He an authoritative, domineering, do what I say or else type of God?  Hardly!  He’s God – full of grace and mercy, long-suffering and compassionate. He is Authority but rooted and established in love.

Sometimes His love allows the storm (or a delay for the weather to break), because He needs us to see something about Him, ourselves or others.

What do I mean by that?

Well, I have come to know God’s faithfulness only in times when I needed Him to show Himself MOST faithful. I got to know Him best when I was at my worst. The hard times have helped me to know how sweet and good God truly is, Love immeasurable as He ministered to my heart in a tenderness that is indescribable unless you experience it.

The best way to describe it:  fully known, fully seen.  God is aware of me.

God is aware of you.

He loves us immensely!

When God has allowed storms (plural, yes plural for us all), He has shown me I am stronger than I ever imagined. He has shown me areas I need to work on. He has revealed to me how much I have grown over time with Him. He opened my eyes to how my reaction to a situation isn’t the same, because with Christ I’m not the same. I can have peace. I can have joy. I can love.  You can too.  They’re all choices possible because God dwells in me and in you.

And if you ever want to be a part of God revealing His glory to a non-saved world, weather a storm well and let them see what a difference Christ makes in our lives.

Life with God is a GAME-CHANGER! 

It’s how we help others most.  Let them see the face of God show up for us in a stormy season.  They might not understand it, but they’ll definitely notice it. When they do, we’re giving them a glimpse of God. What greater gift is there?

Prayer is relationship, conversation with God. Those special, often private talks with Him help us hold steady in a storm.

Rest To A Storm and Through A Storm to Spring Forward with God

The second idea to explore is rest. We need to rest to a storm and through a storm to spring forward with God.  Two things come to mind: literal rest and peace.

When we are well rested, we are at our best. It’s not lazy to take a break. We all need one. Even the seasons show us by their example. Grass lies dormant for a time, so it can grow strong. There will be a season for it to absorb rain. To grow. Quickly. And then there will be a need to weather another dry season. Us too. We rest. We grow quickly. We weather dry seasons.

Rest to a storm is a part of natural rhythms. 

For a do-er like me, this one isn’t always easy. I have to be extremely intentional and hold a strong boundary for myself. I know it. I know I need rest, that I’m not always great at it, but I am at my best when I grant myself permission to do so.

Crash and burn one too many times and a woman learns.  If I attempt life like a whirlwind, I will be an emotional wreck.

Rest allows me to better roll with life’s punches.

I can play. I can create. I can enjoy life. Those things are part of God’s design too.

I am the worst task master of my life. When I allow God to assign tasks, He makes sure to include the ever-important one of rest.  Otherwise, we’re just trying too hard and in our own strength.  An awful combination that is certain to help us self-combust.

When we commit to follow God’s command to rest, we convey trust in Him.  When we don’t? We’re saying we don’t.

Now that will cause us to sit up straight and think.

When we feel we can’t rest, we feel we can’t trust God with an outcome, with our future, with our life.

When we rest, we say to God, “I trust you and I know you have this, because you have me always in Your sight.”

When we rest to a storm we have enough energy to endure a storm.

Rest to a storm is how we rest through a storm.

When we are well rested we are able to process emotions in a healthier fashion. Well rested women make wise decisions.

Well rested women know well the power of running into the Prince of Peace’s arms to let Him do the heavy lifting.

One of my girlfriends comes to mind. She is a prayer warrior, a spiritual ambassador for so many as she fights for them through prayer. She uses those same weapons in her own life and for her own family. As I watch her navigate a difficult storm right now, you wouldn’t even know she had a care in the world.

If a care tries to creep in, she lifts it to the Lord and keeps in His perfect peace.

We’re not talking a little mole hill.

We’re talking a mountain.

She’s faced several. (You too?)

But still, she prays and fights the spiritual battle.  She’s a beautiful spiritual sister to have in your circle of friends. I don’t know if she knows how brave she is …. I’m sensing I have an assignment: to tell her. “You’re brave!”

Perhaps there’s nothing braver we can do: rest in God’s perfect peace when we’re in the middle of a storm.

If that’s you, you have an assignment. Cuddle up into the lap of Jesus. Let Him keep you and sustain you. Let His comfort and provision guide you to the center of His perfect peace.  Breathe. Breathe again. Breathe Him in. Deeply.

I imagine you won’t just spring forward with God when you do. Rather, you’ll launch your life forward further and faster than you could fathom. It’s odd how peace does that. But it does.

Peace.

Sit in it a moment longer.

Peace.

Know That You Are Rooted & Established in Love to Spring Forward with God

If I could write about any verses in the bible, it might be these.  I’ve written about them many times before, because they have such significance to our spiritual formation. We can only spring forward with God when we understand the depths of His love for us.

I can’t say it better than His Word.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge─that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.─Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV

Filled to the measure of all God’s fullness.  It’s hard to imagine how full that actually is─ at capacity, no more room, overflowing. God’s love for you and me is abounding, stuffed and stretched beyond understanding and uncontainable. There isn’t a vessel big enough or space large enough to hold His love for you or for me.

When we know that and believe it in our heart, we spring forward with God no matter what life throws our way.

God’s love gives us THE competitive advantage over life’s challenges.

I wrote this in my prayer journal recently and want to share it with you in closing.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know You hold me in it.

You might not know what tomorrow holds, but know that you are held by God in it. He is the gentle Lamb of God who guides us in life and helps us see and enjoy the tulips waving to us in the wind. Their fragrant aroma reminds us of Him. His promise to be with us in every season.

How is God calling you to spring forward with Him? Prayer, Rest, Knowledge of His Love? Which one resonates with you  most today? Turn it over. Explore it. Hold it up to the Light of Christ and let Him reveal Himself and His purposes to you.

And remember the Lamb has already defeated the lion, no matter how much the wind blows.

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page.

Signature Image: Tracy Stella

Categories // Faith, Tracy Stella's Perspective, Trusting God When Afraid Tags // 1 Peter 5:8, Courage, Ephesians 3:16-19, Lamb, Lion, Love, Peace, Persevere, prayer, rest, Spiritual Battle, Spring Forward, Storm, Trust, Waiting on God

Search this website

Subscribe

* indicates required

FACETS is on Social Media!

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Blessings—as You Go…
  • The Blessing of Knowing God
  • The Blessing and the Battle
  • January 2021: The Blessing
  • A Weary World Rejoices: Pondering and Remembering

Recent Comments

  • The Blessing of Knowing God – Facets of Faith on The Blessing and the Battle
  • Maryfrances on The Blessing and the Battle
  • The Blessing and the Battle – Facets of Faith on January 2021: The Blessing
  • Reawakening the Invitation to Dream – Facets of Faith on The Trinity: Intimately Knowing & Growing
  • Rudy Euceda on Finding Jesus Next to Me

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2015

Categories

  • A Weary World Rejoices
  • Blooming in Marriage
  • Changes
  • Connection Before Correction
  • Desperate for God to Do?
  • Difficult People
  • Do They Know They Are Loved?
  • Do They Know They Are Loved?
  • Do You Believe God?
  • Do You Give Her the Royal Treatment?
  • Do You Kow You Are…
  • Do You See What I See
  • Expecting the Unexpected
  • Faith
  • Finding Family
  • Forgiveness
  • Freedom
  • Freedom on the Road to Calling
  • Friendship
  • Going Through Change
  • Going Through the Change
  • Guest Perspectives
  • How Do You See 2020?
  • How does God respond to me?
  • How Does Prayer Fuel Hope?
  • How Does the Enemy Try to Silence You?
  • How to Love When It's Hard
  • Intimacy
  • Jennifer Howe's Perspective
  • Joy/Humor
  • Kim Findlay's Perspective
  • Life
  • Life Lessons
  • Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Surrender
  • Mama Guilt
  • Megan Abbott's Perspective
  • Perspective
  • Precious Attributes of God
  • Resurrection Power
  • Safe to be Really Me?
  • Say No
  • Say Yes
  • Singing in April's Showers
  • Spring Forward with God
  • Thankfulness: How do we serve?
  • The Blessing
  • The Blessing: January 2021
  • The Do Over
  • The FACETS Team
  • The Lion the Lamb and the Mirror
  • The Story of Christmas
  • The Trinity: Intimately knowing and growing
  • Thelma! Who's Your Louise?
  • Tracy Stella's Perspective
  • Trusting God When Afraid
  • Truth and Denial
  • Turning Little into Much
  • Uncategorized
  • What are You Going Back to?
  • What Do I Have to Offer
  • What Do You Do for Fun?
  • What Do You Dream About?
  • What has God rescued you from?
  • Who Burnt My Turkey?
  • Who Do You Love?
  • Who Do You Say I Am?
  • Woman of God?

© 2025 · Facets of Faith · Built on the Genesis Framework