An attack that the devil brings against children of God is an attack against your REST.
Rest is not inactivity, it is living in a state of peace of mind, knowing that we are under the Protection of God and have access to His Provision. Often the thing that hinders rest is the lack of understanding of our identity.
Did you know, that by what you confess, by the words you declare in faith, about yourself, about who you are and who God has called you to be, you can access God's power and have victory over the areas that the devil has brought against you or your children.
There is an awesome story in the Bible that gives us an example of this. Remember that every story in the Bible is a testimony to you and I of how Almighty God deals with man. It is a history of God's interactions but often gives us examples and patterns to follow.
Mark 7:25...a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
A few facts that stand out to me are:
1. Little Children can become possessed by demon spirits.
2. We don't know what the demon was
3. We don't know how or why the demon got there?
4. Parents have a responsibility to seek deliverance on behalf of their kids.
This woman came to Jesus begging him for his help. Lets quickly define the obvious. What do we call it when a person goes to Jesus, talks to Jesus, and Jesus who is God, responds back? We call that Prayer!
How interesting it would be to look back on the gospels and see some of the conversations that people had with Jesus not just as conversations but as prayers...
This is how Jesus answers her:
27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “...for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he told her, “For such a reply (because of what you said), you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone!
Again we know the little girl was possessed by a demon, we don't know the demons name or how it got there, the mom comes to Jesus and prays to him for deliverance for her daughter.
In her conversation with Jesus she says a statement of faith! She declares that she knows she is unworthy in her own mind but she believes that she also has access to the blessings of God that fall from His table. I just need a crumb of bread. In this simple response... a declaration of identity; JESUS I HAVE ACCESS, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECIEVE FROM YOU, EVEN SOMETHING SMALL. I HAVE ACCESS TO A CRUMB!!! For this statement of hers, the demon was cast out, and rest came to the little girl where there was once torment! There was no negotiating with the devil, no need to get into a dramatic standoff with the demonic. (At times that happens in the gospels and still happens today)
This is such an encouraging story. If a family member or a loved one is going through an oppression or a demonic attack, we need to bring that need to Jesus and declare the access that we have to His Power & Provision. The victory over the demonic is not about our qualification but it is about the power that you have access to. Today bring your child's needs to Jesus. Declare who you are and declare who He is. That enemy that has tried to steal your REST will be cast out!
