The thief cometh not but to steal, kill, and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  – John 10:10

In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and Hopeful get trapped in the dungeon of the Giant Despair for a long time.  Giant Despair, along with his wife, Diffidence, beat them, starved them, and constantly encouraged the pilgrims day and night to end their lives.  They were miserable and constantly wishing they hadn’t stepped off the narrow path.  Christian and hopeful finally began to pray.  As it turned out, Christian had a key all along called Promise hanging around his neck.  Christian used the key to unlock every single door necessary to escape Doubting Castle.  They quickly got back on the road to Celestial City.

I have seen far too many people lately weighed down with fear and doubt.  Despair has attacked me an awful lot in the past year and a half.  I believe Satan has a goal for every believer who makes an honest attempt at following Christ; his goal is to keep the Christian defeated.  If there is never a smile on our face, never a joyful moment of the workday, always complaints coming from our mouths, always a focus on the things that are wrong, then he wins by keeping us defeated.  The lost, unsaved people of the world look at us and say, “Why in the world would I want to be a Christian . . . they are so miserable and unhappy.

Are you a Christian full of joy?  If not, I want to hand you a key today.  This key has already freed one of my friends from Doubting Castle.  At 10:10 a.m., I want you to read John 10:10, or speak John 10:10 if you have it memorized.  Then pray it.  Say something like this:  “Devil, you are a liar and a thief!  You are no longer welcome here!  I’ve allowed you to speak doubt in my mind long enough.  I will no longer be defeated by the lies that you speak.  By the blood of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I command you to leave!  Jesus, enter in!  Give me a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit.  May He reign supremely in my life and in my heart.  I want nothing more than to live the abundant life that you offer.  Help me always look to you and never at my circumstances.  Thank you, Jesus!  Amen.”

After you pray, you may or may not experience a breakthrough.  Well, we won’t let that keep us down.  In 12 more hours 10:10 pm will be here again.  Read or say the same verse, and then pray again.  Constantly speak life into your situation.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  We must constantly and consistently call upon His Name if we want the abundant life that He offers.  The life He offers does not happen by accident.  Some people don’t just “get it” while others are left out.  It is a life lived on purpose.  It is a life taken by force using the tools Christ gave us at the cross.

Begin unlocking those doors.  Leave Doubting Castle today.

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  – James 4:7

Later

Adam