I just finished a letter to a dear and precious friend who's 72-years old...
She lives in a housing project in New York City. She and I have been corresponding for more than
twenty years.
Jane has a grown son who's heavily addicted to drugs. She has her own health issues to deal with, as well. Life has been a struggle for her of late, and she wrote pleading for prayer.
My friend lives alone and there are days when she's in too much pain to leave her apartment and make it to church. In her letter, Jane told me how "dark" her life is now.
After praying for my friend I sat down in my prison cell and wrote my letter of encouragement and hope. I told her that Satan is a liar, and that her present feeling of darkness is a lie and a trick on his part, and she needs to recognize this.
I told Jane that because Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior, no weapon that is formed against her can prosper (Isaiah 54:17). I added that a Christian cannot be in darkness - spiritual and mental darkness - because the Lord Jesus is the "Light of the world" (John 8:12). He's the One who lights up our lives, I wrote. Therefore, if she thinks she's now living in some kind of darkness, her belief is a false one; it's a lie from the enemy of her soul.
I also gave Jane several other verses from John's gospel, such as, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness; and the darkness cannot comprehend it" (John 1:4-5). And how Messiah Jesus is the "true Light" which enlightens every one who comes into the world (John 1:9).
The letter wasn't a long one because I wanted to get right to the point. The light of Christ, I wrote, is greater than the deceptions of the Devil. In fact, the Light of the Lord shines upon Satan's lies and exposes them.
I know my friend will be fine. Her faith is strong. Even now, although she may not fully realize it yet, Jane is in victory (I Corinthians 15:57).
D. B.
twenty years.
Jane has a grown son who's heavily addicted to drugs. She has her own health issues to deal with, as well. Life has been a struggle for her of late, and she wrote pleading for prayer.
My friend lives alone and there are days when she's in too much pain to leave her apartment and make it to church. In her letter, Jane told me how "dark" her life is now.
After praying for my friend I sat down in my prison cell and wrote my letter of encouragement and hope. I told her that Satan is a liar, and that her present feeling of darkness is a lie and a trick on his part, and she needs to recognize this.
I told Jane that because Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior, no weapon that is formed against her can prosper (Isaiah 54:17). I added that a Christian cannot be in darkness - spiritual and mental darkness - because the Lord Jesus is the "Light of the world" (John 8:12). He's the One who lights up our lives, I wrote. Therefore, if she thinks she's now living in some kind of darkness, her belief is a false one; it's a lie from the enemy of her soul.
I also gave Jane several other verses from John's gospel, such as, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness; and the darkness cannot comprehend it" (John 1:4-5). And how Messiah Jesus is the "true Light" which enlightens every one who comes into the world (John 1:9).
The letter wasn't a long one because I wanted to get right to the point. The light of Christ, I wrote, is greater than the deceptions of the Devil. In fact, the Light of the Lord shines upon Satan's lies and exposes them.
I know my friend will be fine. Her faith is strong. Even now, although she may not fully realize it yet, Jane is in victory (I Corinthians 15:57).
D. B.
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