The Unseen War

We just finished week 2 in our sermon series on the Unseen War, also known as Spiritual Battles. I must admit that I have been looking forward to this series as it has been promoted because I have seen our adversary, the devil, try and do a number on me more than once.
I was amazed to learn in yesterday's sermon that (I hope I quote this right) only 27% of believers believe that satan is alive and active today. I was shocked, I guess, to hear that statistic. Do I think that satan is way over-blamed in some ways, yes I do. But I know that he is alive and active and seeking to destroy us. He hates our faith, he hates our marriages, our families, our children and he wants nothing more than to destroy them all. He lies to us in our thought lives and he thrives when we are alone, in the dark, depressed or anxious.
I have seen first hand how he takes our fears and runs. After our accident, there was not one road-trip that I took that he didn't strive to bring that fear to me in ridiculous ways. Whether it was a semi trying to pass and being reckless, to an accident or two every trip. It would immediately take me back to our accident and I would come home a disaster. Until one trip to KC, that I will never forget. My sweet husband, listens to sermons and podcasts at work and he had just finished one of Chip Ingram's on Spiritual Warfare. We were driving to KC and he said he wanted me to listen to it so we started it. About that time the kids just went to nuts and so I tended to them and we actually had to listen to it again so I could hear it (another one of satan's distractions). As I listened that day in the car it all fit together, I was under attack in that area and I recognized it. Here is where it gets really ridiculous. As we approached the neighborhood where Ian and I lived, those feelings started in me. I hadn't been by there at all since we had left but we had to in order to get to where we were going. Right before the corner where we turned there was a big wreck, I started to cry...Robert started to pray. As we both recognized what was going on, I really began to see this battle as real. Then we turned at the light and at the next block what do you think we saw? That's right, another accident. At this point I was laughing through the tears as Robert and I joined together and laughed. That was when I saw first hand that he is living and active. Since then there have only been a few times that we have seen that as we travel. I am thankful that God always wins. He has already fought the battle and won, He is the key to winning.
My mother-in-love :) sent this little cheat sheet to me one day when I was struggling and I want to share it with you all. It is how to determine if it is God's voice we are listening to.

God's voice stills me......Satan's voice rushes me
God's voice leads me.....Satan's voice pushes me
God's voice reassures me....Satan's voice frightens me
God's voice enlightens me....Satan's voice confuses me
God's voice encourages me....Satan's voice discourages me
God's voice comforts me.....Satan's voice worries me
God's voice calms me.....Satan's voice obsesses me
God's voice convicts me.....Satan's voice condemns me

This is something that I go back to a lot when I am struggling. As you go about your day or your week just be aware and mindful, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12