TODAY’S INSPIRATION: SPIRITUAL PARASITES

This life is full of parasites that can suck the life out of us if we let them. It seems every day we are ducking and dodging these parasites. They can even be found in our homes, where we should be safe. I am not speaking of insects. I’m talking about spiritual parasites. To name a few, there is low self-esteem, jealousy, lying, despair and guilt. There is immorality, corruption and greed. There is fear, who nurses itself in your thought life, feeding off your inner struggles and hang-ups. And last but just as deadly is our past, which is hard to let go. I could go on, but you get my point. These parasites will attach themselves to our life and destroy our purpose. They will paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. We all have had to deal with these parasites at one time or another. Spiritual parasites can destroy our souls. If we allow them, they will literally suck the life out of us. The devil uses these parasites to try and defeat us. He uses them through our families, coworkers, neighbors but especially our minds. Spiritual parasites love our minds because that is where the spiritual battle begins. Scripture tells us not to be ignorant of the evil’s devices.  

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9)

If we are honest we will admit that there have been times these spiritual parasites have attached themselves to us or someone we love. The devil will use them to put doubt in our minds about who we are, who God is and how much He loves us. We have to be careful not to open ourselves up to them. We must keep our focus on God and His promises. We must live by the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Martin Luther King JR said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.” When we allow the light of Jesus to shine on us and within us, spiritual parasites will die. The light of Christ chases away all darkness! Spiritual parasites hate light because they come from darkness. The good news is we serve a God that is greater than the enemy and his parasites. This same God will give us the strength to reject, overpower, and defeat the enemy’s parasites. Yes, they may come for us, in our mind, in our homes, at the workplace, even in our relationships, but if we stand strong in the Lord they will eventually die. Because the Light overpowers darkness.  

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46)

“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” (Micah 7:8)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

We cannot rid ourselves of these spiritual parasites on our own. We need Jesus to do so. The light of Christ is our only hope. I encourage you to press on and continue to seek the light first and foremost. Darkness (spiritual parasites) may win the occasional battle but will eventually lose the war. We have the power through the Holy Spirit to release the grip of the devil and his parasites. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit provides us with all the weapons we need!  Love and Blessings…

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

“For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lights up my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)  

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

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