Satan sure knows how to dangle the right bait to drag us away from the Lord. I think for the more mature believers, it’s no longer the obvious temptations like drugs, alcohol, money or sex. I realize recently that for many, including me it is less obvious and more acceptable ones like despair, unbelief, self pity, busyness, etc.

During thanksgiving break, when I saw that my Alex wasn’t delivered from her binge eating and I’d find hoards of foods gone from the pantry and fridge; I was starting to fall into despair. Again my husband and I had no idea what to do and we still differ in our opinions about how to approach this with her. Not having a likeminded spouse in faith really sucks during difficult times. Satan used this opportunity to hurl many doubts into my mind and without me realizing it, my heart was hardening in a matter of a day or two!

However because I have experienced this before in my mid-20s and unfortunately in my naïveté, took Satan’s bait and was dragged far, far away from the Lord; I was greatly alarmed and I cried out to the Lord for help.

God quickly answered and gave me encouragement and wisdom through this pastor’s message. His sermon was about the fig tree parable that Jesus cursed in Mark 11 and he taught many excellent principles. But what delivered me out of despair was hearing the late pastor David Wilkerson’s open confession and prayers for himself regarding the hardening of his heart. I learned how to pray for myself in my despair by hearing his example. His prayers became my prayers as I was crying out for help in the car. I weeped as I felt the Holy Spirit washing away all the filth of despair. It was a good cleansing.

If you wonder where the bait of despair drags you to; it’ll take you to a barren world of unbelief. I never want to go there again. I shared this message with my prayer group ladies because I know that many are in the land of despair and unbelief. How do I know? They have no fruitfulness. I pray that they will learn how to overcome their temptations of despair and unbelief by hearing these messages.

As for my Alex, I will continue to pray that she will see her need for help and she’ll sign up for the eating disorder group sessions that’s offered at her university. It’s free and I really think she’ll be greatly helped there. Please join me in praying this for her. Thank you so much. I learned recently that 10-20% of college women and 4-10% of college men have eating disorders. Here’s the article that offers good advice for parents. – https://childmind.org/article/eating-disorders-and-college/

Other than her binge-eating; Alex is back to her former self. She’s considerate, helpful, easy to get along with. She’s able to eat with others again. Her drawings are cute and sweet; no longer demonic and evil. Jesus truly sent His word and delivered her as the Holy Spirit promised me. The eating disorder is something that she will need professional help for once she reaches out. I pray that it’ll be sooner than later for my heart’s sake. Lord, have mercy on us. 🙏

Below is the message I shared with my prayer group ladies:

1. Please listen to this message by TSC guest speaker. It’s about the story of the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Mark 11. I heard this sermon twice because he had so many excellent points. Guest pastor also shared a powerful story of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson and both times it made me cry because I can relate so much to David Wilkerson’s heart condition and his prayers for himself. If you have been very weary and perhaps becoming calloused in your heart in these difficult times, please listen to this message and hear the prayer cries of the late pastor David Wilkerson, and let him lead you by example in how to cry out for help to Jesus and receive His mercy and grace.
https://youtu.be/gjnS6-huNechttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+11&version=NIV

2. Also please listen to this podcast from Proverbs 31 ministry. The guest speaker shared her story of overcoming drug addiction. I love testimonies where God delivers someone from their drug addiction miraculously and they no longer desire the drug. However, in this lady’s case, it was a longer and harder road to recovery and freedom. Yet I see that her dependence in God, in the body of Christ – the church, in the word of God, her hope in the grace and mercy of God; are deeper and stronger because of her longer road to freedom.
Even if you don’t have an alcohol or drug addictions, we all are tempted by other sins that are not as obvious. For me, it used to be anger and pride; and now, it is despair and unbelief. I don’t take despair and unbelief as a light temptation. I’ve been there before in my mid-20s and I took a totally different path because of despair and unbelief. I don’t want this to happen to you and so I’m telling you to cry out to Jesus Christ. Don’t take satan’s bait and be dragged faraway. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you.

Going back to the lady’s podcast, please listen so you can use the biblical principles that she uses successfully to overcome her drug addiction. She shares that she is still tempted for the cocaine drug. Listen to how she deals with her temptation and learn how to deal with your temptation too. We must teach our young people the how’s of overcoming temptations and also not make light of emotional despondent temptations too. Since children learn by observation and transparency; please be a good honest example as the late pastor David Wilkerson was. Let’s be the one who stops and wins the generational temptation to a specific sin so that our children and grandchildren will not have to endure and resist like we are doing. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-proverbs-31-ministries-podcast/id757953988?i=1000541273636

Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

James 4 is about submitting ourselves to God. It’s the best and safest place to be on earth. – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4&version=NIV