A Focus on Him

The Battle for Our Souls

PHOTOGRAPHY AND WRITING BY LILLIAN CUCUZZA

Recently a bald eagle, flying nearby, was attacked from behind by a boat-tailed grackle protecting its territory. The much smaller blackbird almost landed on the back of the eagle in mid-flight! Unfazed by the attack, the eagle continued going forward, focused on its journey.

The blackbird reminded me of Satan, constantly attacking and accusing us, but very small compared to our big God! We can either let Satan bring us down, or we can keep our eyes upon Jesus and remain yielded to God’s plan for us. Like the eagle, our confidence should never wane with God on our side. As Paul states in Romans 8:31, If God is for us, who can be against us? (NIV)

A huge spiritual battle is going on for our souls. God created us for fellowship with Him and He will never leave us alone. Although we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27 NIV), He gave us free will, meaning the right to choose to follow and obey Him, or not.

God is a loving and good father who hates to see His children stray and go down the wrong path. We think we know what is best for us, but we cannot see the big picture. But God goes before us because He knows the future, and His thoughts are higher than ours. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV) Being a good father, God knows what is best for us.

God is constantly drawing us to Him, and He is a gentleman about it. Yet, the devil is constantly attacking, just like the blackbird, trying to stop us with vicious lies. Jesus calls Satan a murderer, liar, and the father of all lies. (John 8:44 NIV) Therein lies the spiritual battle. God is drawing us closer to Him and Satan is trying to hold us back from God.

Satan has two plans: Plan A is to stop us from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and Plan B is to keep us from being effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. We are either in Satan’s Plan A or Plan B.

If we get down on ourselves, berate ourselves, feel inferior, have doubts and fears, have low self-esteem or a low selfimage, are rebelling against the good intentions of our parents, or against the will of God, please understand that these sabotaging things do not come from God. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7 HCSB) These constant attacks come directly from the enemy, Satan himself. 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 NIV) He is seeking to destroy us all with Plan A or Plan B.

God gave us the Bible as a defensive shield against Satan’s attacks. Here are just a few of the many promises of God to help repel and extinguish the flaming arrows of Satan:

• Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. (James 4:7-8 NIV)

• …but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

You are loved and valuable in God’s eyes and He beckons you to soar with Him on wings like eagles, with confidence. How beautiful His love letter, the Bible, is to comfort, edify, encourage, and give you hope versus the negative, despicable things Satan says and does to tear you down. Decide to spend time with God, the lover of your soul, in His Word on a daily basis, and Satan will have no choice but to flee and go elsewhere.

Lillian’s passions are nature photography and serving God. She is a best-selling author and a contributor to ‘Voice of Truth’ magazine. Lillian uses her photography and writing talents to glorify and honor God for His beautiful creation.

Visit, like, and follow her website www.HisCreationsLLC. com, Facebook and Instagram @HISCreationsLLC, or email her at Lillian.HisCreations@gmail.com.

Lillian Cucuzza