Fish on!” I’ve heard those words shouted many times while trolling for salmon on Lake Michigan. It’s the traditional way anglers announce that a fish has been hooked and the fight has begun.
On one occasion, the angler who grabbed the pole that was dancing wildly in the rod holder was my buddy’s teenage son, Jake. For 20 minutes, Jake battled the fish valiantly. As his arms tired from exhaustion, he wondered if he would ever land the fish. Near the end, the fish nearly got away when it wrapped the line around the base of the boat motor. But after we thought he had lost it, the nearly 30-pounder surfaced still hooked. Within minutes, it surrendered to our net.
Jake’s experience in fighting the salmon illustrates the ups and downs of our much more difficult battle against the forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). At times, it’s exhilarating to join God in taking back ground from the evil one. We feel a deep sense of purpose as we do battle in the ongoing war against evil that started long before the world began (Revelation 12:7-9). But there are also times when the battle takes its toll on us. Weary, we become vulnerable to falling for lies such as you can’t go on anymore or this isn’t worth the fight.
Satan is a crafty enemy. If he can’t defeat us head on, he’ll often switch to a more subtle tactic to outwit us—the lie (John 8:44). But rather than agreeing with his lies, we can keep the devil at bay by refusing to believe his words and reminding ourselves of this truth: “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Standing on the truth doesn’t get you out of the fight, but it does give you the strength to stand your ground. Listen to God’s words, not Satan’s lies.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Nehemiah 5:1-19
More:
Read Romans 12:21 to learn how we should conquer evil.
Next:
Has Satan been getting the best of you? What lies of his have you entertained? How will you stand up against his attacks?
alegria on April 30, 2011 at 5:50 am
Needed the reminder to keep fighting the fight today. Thanks Jeff. Hubby loved the fishing illustration.
Jeff Olson on May 2, 2011 at 9:20 am
thanks alegria…there will be more fishing illustrations to come as long as they allow me to write for ODJ
pampauley65 on April 30, 2011 at 8:43 am
Thank you! I’ve been through this battle. I was buying into Satan’s lies and was ready to give up. But with the help of family and friends and prayers of a friend who wouldn’t give up I finally got victory through Christ. Now I feel like I’m fishing for trout, not salmon. There are still struggles but I am not alone in fighting them.
Jeff, you are right on with the last paragraph.
jon_sumner on April 30, 2011 at 7:29 pm
This maybe a different angle than the writer had thought of but what I am stuggling with is reconzing God’s voice from the other voices in my head.
daisymarygoldr on April 30, 2011 at 11:39 pm
jon_sumner, unlike other voices, God’s voice will not contradict what He has already said in the Bible. God will not tell us to do wrong—to harm ourselves or others. His voice will not make us to fear, doubt or feel ashamed. His words are never accusing, condemning, confusing and will not leave us with a sense of dejection or hopelessness. There is love, compassion, grace, mercy, forgiveness, comfort, peace and healing in the voice of our good Shepherd. Hope this helps you recognize God’s voice…
winn collier on April 30, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Jon_Sumner: I think that is an important direction that Jon’s piece would offer us. I find it helpful to remember that God’s voice sounds like Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus is God’s best revelation. God talks to us the way Jesus would talk to us. If the voice we’re hearing isn’t Jesus’ voice, it isn’t God.
jon_sumner on May 1, 2011 at 5:19 am
ah that is the problem if one voice was telling me to do something that is conerdicter to God’s voice sure I would just igorn it for clearly it if the enmy, but it my case both voices could be in line with God’s will. How do I know which is God and which is just my own fears and earnness to do something.