Several months ago I received a text late in the night from one of my fiercest prayer warriors and friends.  It read, “Jill, God woke me and told me to tell you to write this verse on the bottom of your shoes.  I’m sorry if this sounds weird.  But I couldn’t go back to sleep until I did what He told me to do.”  It was 1 Peter 5:8-10.  When I woke up the next morning and read the text, and then read THE TEXT, my heart kind of stopped a little bit.  NIV version says it like this, “Be alert and of sober mind.  your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  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.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Deep Breath.  It literally took the breath out of me.  That is a super serious and powerful Word to be delivered with such specific instructions.  I didn’t think it was weird one bit, but I did know God was not messing around.  So I did it.  I went right to my closet and stared wondering which shoes to pick.  And how was I going to get all of that on my shoes? Then I saw them-my little gold flats that had been given to me as a gift for my birthday.  They are a pretty special pair-perhaps my very favorite.  And I knew, I was going to write that on my one and only pair-my silly beloved Tory B’s.  As you can see it was quite the challenge with all that tread, and I couldn’t get all the words on the soles.  But as I did, I knew God was writing those Words clearly on my heart and my soul.  The words on the shoes have long since worn off, but His Word and instruction to my soul is vivid alive and active in me and will never fade away.

As I’ve walked out the last few months I can see that the enemy truly has launched an all-out assault on the very thing that anchors my soul-my faith.  I know that in many circles that’s probably  a not a “Christianese” thing say out loud and admit, much less write about.  But it’s the truth.

Here’s where the clarity of this 1 Peter verse starts cutting through all of lies.  When the enemy launches an attack at the very core of who we are and what we believe, we have a powerful choice to make.  We can either continue in the dismal and never-satisfying place of entertaining those ridiculous lies, or we, can do what this verse says.  We have the power and authority over the enemy that was won on the cross over 2000 years ago to do one simple thing…RESIST.  The greek word for Resist is anthistemi.  It means to establish one’s position, holding one’s ground and refusing to be moved.  It means don’t give up and strongly resist the enemy.  The enemy absolutely gets a kick out of beating up believers.  He loves to convince believers that we are powerless and that God does not love us and that we are failures, or that God is not who He says He is.  Perhaps it’s his most favorite and ruthless thing to do.

Here’s your invitation.  Maybe it’s time you get out your favorite pair of shoes and write this amazing verse on the soles.  You don’t have to walk in defeat. Trust me, it’s the yuckiest and ugliest place to walk.   You don’t have to believe the enemy’s lies that you aren’t good enough, you’ve messed up way to much, that God isn’t going to come through for you…I’ve probably heard all the same lies you’ve heard.  Are you ready to make the choice with me to establish your position in Jesus Christ, hold your ground and refuse to be moved by the lies of the enemy?  Resisting the temptation to come in to alignment with the lies of the enemy will get your precious feet on the road to victory.

Here’s some powerful truths to choose to believe over those nasty horrible lies.  You are Holy and Dearly Loved.  You are beautiful.  You are His favorite in the whole wide world.  There is nothing you can do that will cause Him to take His love from you.  He has beautiful and amazing plans for your future.  Plans to prosper you.  He is a God who redeems and fulfills and satisfies the soul.  He is absolutely who He says He Is.  He is a faithful God.  I am saying all of things truths out loud, and in speaking His truth over my heart, soul and future, I am using one of the most powerful weapons of all to RESIST the enemy.

My Prayer

Jesus, thank you for speaking your truth so clearly and beautifully to my soul.  I choose to RESIST the enemy and all of the lies he has launched upon my soul. I will not walk in defeat or doubt.   I put on my shoes of faith and get myself grounded on the Victory Path. You are a good good Father.  You are my soul’s keeper and I step in to the refuge of You Jesus-into your truth.  Thank you for loving me in and  through the midst of the battle.  You have never left me nor forsaken me and you will faithfully see me through.

Your very Word is written on the Soul of my Heart.

8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
10In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11All power to him forever! Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11

Joshua 1:3 (NLT)
I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you

Jeremiah 31:33

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the LORD. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.