"Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
2 Timothy 2:3 NLT
The blazing heat of summer mixed with days of oppressive humidity has taken its toll...
2 Timothy 2:3 NLT
The blazing heat of summer mixed with days of oppressive humidity has taken its toll...
For weeks now, I've been feeling exhausted and zapped of strength. The entire month of July has been like this, and August has started out the same.
Even the nights have been difficult. I usually sleep with only a tee-shirt on and a pair of boxer shorts. I don't wear pajamas. And I almost never sleep with a blanket over me, not even in the winter. I just sleep on top of my mattress. But it's been so humid that I'd wake up in the middle of the night with my tee-shirt soaked with sweat. We've no air conditioning in the housing units. So a good night's sleep does not come easy.
While my biggest challenge, however, is not with the weather, but with the devil. And he's been coming against me hard. Which is to be expected. With the increase in television and media coverage of the so-called "Son of Sam" case, which they're back to focusing on, comes the increase of stress from within.
While adding to this, is the emotional pain of being forced to relive the horrors of my crimes, and to be reminded of them, which is never easy. But God is faithful to remind me that He has forgiven all my sins and evil deeds, which were many.
He knew of the struggles I had in my childhood and into adolescence, as well as the satanically placed attacks that Satan, the prince of darkness, had so cruelly directed against me. But I didn't have a personal relationship with Messiah Jesus at the time. So I was easy pickings for demons who placed me under intense levels of demonic control. Thankfully, this is all in the past now.
The Lord has since given me a new heart. He has cleansed my mind of toxic emotions such as depression, resentment, anger, and more. He has replaced my heart of stone with a heart of love, kindness, and compassion. So that no matter what negative forces may come against me, because Jesus Christ now lives on the inside, I will be victorious over them.
Therefore, by the grace of God, I will welcome whatever hardships that may come. I will endure them because Father God is allowing these things to help strengthen my faith so that I could endure even more intense trials in the future.
D.B.
Even the nights have been difficult. I usually sleep with only a tee-shirt on and a pair of boxer shorts. I don't wear pajamas. And I almost never sleep with a blanket over me, not even in the winter. I just sleep on top of my mattress. But it's been so humid that I'd wake up in the middle of the night with my tee-shirt soaked with sweat. We've no air conditioning in the housing units. So a good night's sleep does not come easy.
While my biggest challenge, however, is not with the weather, but with the devil. And he's been coming against me hard. Which is to be expected. With the increase in television and media coverage of the so-called "Son of Sam" case, which they're back to focusing on, comes the increase of stress from within.
While adding to this, is the emotional pain of being forced to relive the horrors of my crimes, and to be reminded of them, which is never easy. But God is faithful to remind me that He has forgiven all my sins and evil deeds, which were many.
He knew of the struggles I had in my childhood and into adolescence, as well as the satanically placed attacks that Satan, the prince of darkness, had so cruelly directed against me. But I didn't have a personal relationship with Messiah Jesus at the time. So I was easy pickings for demons who placed me under intense levels of demonic control. Thankfully, this is all in the past now.
The Lord has since given me a new heart. He has cleansed my mind of toxic emotions such as depression, resentment, anger, and more. He has replaced my heart of stone with a heart of love, kindness, and compassion. So that no matter what negative forces may come against me, because Jesus Christ now lives on the inside, I will be victorious over them.
Therefore, by the grace of God, I will welcome whatever hardships that may come. I will endure them because Father God is allowing these things to help strengthen my faith so that I could endure even more intense trials in the future.
D.B.