Believing in God’s Love for You

I was purging and tidying up my music studio, and I realized that I had begun to write a new song with the same name as another called “Your Lovingkindness.” It’s on my A Soul’s Worth album. And as I listened, the words to the bridge stuck out, and I thought about Easter.

“You died for me
You rose for me
You’re glorified in heaven for me
I believe
Now I see”

Bridge – “Your Lovingkindness.”

I remember fleeing our property in South Australia, demon-possessed with Leo and the girls. God showed me a vision of a giant wooden cross and said, “I died to help you with what is happening.” Jesus died for us. He rose from the grave for us, defeating our enemy, the Devil. And glorified above everything in heaven is Jesus with all authority in His hands.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:15 –

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—”

It has yet to be determined precisely when this will happen. But what I want to concentrate on is the word “desolation.” “The abomination that causes desolation” is the power of the spirit of the Devil. And it is what will bring the anger of God upon this earth when he stands in a place only meant for God. It is like my demon-possession. I was made for the glory of God, not for trickery and lies to overcome me. And Jesus died to help me receive my freedom from this spirit that causes desolation and give me a new and fulfilling life in Him that leads to eternal life.

The dictionary says desolation is “a state of complete emptiness or destruction.” It also describes it as “anguished misery or loneliness.” Here are some words the dictionary also uses to describe it – “barrenness, bleakness, starkness, bareness, misery, sadness, unhappiness, melancholy, gloom, grief, mournfulness, woe; broken-heartedness, wretchedness, dejection, discouragement, devastation, despair, anguish, distress.”

Jesus came to save us from these – Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

I recall the emptiness, my complete anguish, and the distress I felt demon-possessed. I fought with all my strength to get free, but nothing worked until I cried out to the mercies of God. My heavenly father then led me to Jesus and the cross, and Jesus taught me how to have freedom and become new.

In my song, “Your Lovingkindness,” I sing about depression in Verse 2. I recall when recording this song and these lyrics, almost feeling embarrassed, ashamed that I was admitting depression sometimes came to attack my faith after everything Jesus had done for me to rescue me out of the darkness and the Devil’s hold.

Depression is completely opposite to God’s character and intent for our lives. Jesus reveals in Matthew 24:15 that Satan and his warriors bring the spirit of desolation. The Devil will attack our minds with fiery arrows of doubt, hopelessness, and fear. But it is what we do about these attacks that counts.

“YOU are where I come when the sadness around me is strong.
YOU are where I come when depression weighs down.”

Verse Two – “Your Lovingkindness.”

COME TO CHRIST JESUS!

So, as our minds think about the cross this Easter, let our thoughts be firmly rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and His love and victory for us.

“You died for me
You rose for me
You’re glorified in heaven for me
I believe
Now I see”

Bridge – “Your Lovingkindness.”

Knowing Jesus Christ holds power.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 11:25-27 NIV

Nothing beats depression and the antics of desolation than God’s loving-kindness and the cross of Jesus Christ – His blood, His love, and His victory over the grave and the one who once held the power of death – that is, the Devil.  (Hebrews 2:14 – Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—)

Jesus has compassion for us. He holds relief and power to lift us above our thoughts and into His and the truth of His victory accomplished on the cross.

I hope this post is an encouragement to you, especially at Easter. Don’t get caught up just attending church, a tradition many follow. But be filled with the power of knowing Christ Jesus and a personal relationship with Him, victorious over the Devil and the spirit of desolation. Come to Jesus! Don’t let negative thoughts fester, breathe, and have life. Banish them with the hope of Christ, the love of God for you, and the truth of the gospel and your Salvation in Jesus and His love. Restore your faith, and the Devil with flee from you!

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand 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.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT