The Enemy

The Enemy. 

So in a previous post , "F.O.E", I spoke a little about friends being called family and those people we call frenemies/enemies. In this post, I want to be a little more elaborate about the term "ENEMY." 

From generation to generation there have been all types of terms used to describe an, "ENEMY." In this 21st century, I believe our most favorited word to describe an enemy would be "HATER." Now to be honest, yes some of us do have real live haters. But in the same token, it also true that some of us use the term extremely too lightly. So first off, let's clear it up. EVERYONE that isn't your friend or in your close circle is NOT a hater. Because as I stated in an earlier post, EVERYONE is NOT supposed to be in your circle. You & God  determine your friends. Haters are generally people who just seem to dislike you for NO reason at all or for petty ones. You may have not even done anything to the person & sometimes you don't even KNOW the person but people will dislike you for no real cause at all. & honestly, it's not the them...it's all because of our ultimate enemy. The 1 & only true ENEMY. 

God speaks about this enemy in scripture, John 10:10 KJV states; ⁽¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.) Now God makes it very plain & simple as to what the plan of THE ENEMY is.

• To steal: The enemy/enemies come to STEAL. & yes this could very well be material things. Me & a friend were talking today about how we've had people close to us steal money & other personal belongings from us. So if you are thinking materialistically that's fine. I want to take you a little deeper than that tho. Let's talk spiritually & mentally! Have you ever been having a GREAT day just all smiles, laughs, & giggles until you get around that one person who just sucks all the life out of you. Either they are just very negative or very nasty. People with these types of attitudes are a form of an ENEMY. They are sent to steal your peace, your joy, & your positivity. Don't let them! It's not theirs to give nor take away.
• To kill: I know that all of you have read my 2nd post entailing about my life story & how the enemy was using people I loved so much to try & kill me (literally). But not only were they trying to kill me in the physical they were trying to kill me mentally & spiritually. I was young when I was in these relationships & purpose/destiny definitely weren't things that I were thinking about at the time. The enemy knowing this was taking total advantage of this fact & using it for his own personal benefit. See not only does God know the plans He has for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV (For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.) But the enemy does too. He knows the potential you have & all the great things that God has for you & intends for you to be. & he'll stop at nothing to stop you & attempt to kill you & your purpose. Don't let people, situations, or circumstances come in between the things that God has for you & your destiny.
• To destroy: Last but certainly not least..he wants to destroy you. So he will send people, places, & circumstances to do just that. See the enemy doesn't care who he uses. If you or anybody else is willing to make a decision to live opposite of what God is telling/asking of you then you are a perfect employee for the enemy's business. Bad relationships, quitting job after job, & promiscuity were all things that I walked into that were set up to destroy me. But I thank God for a Man named Jesus who wouldn't let it be so. "For I have work to do." 

So now that we know who are enemies are, what they look like & smell like we know what to be on the look out for. I believe the next thing we need to know is how to fight your enemy/enemies when they "come for you." 

IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND! 

(For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ) 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

This scripture is letting us know that the war & the battle between you & your enemy begins in your mind. Although, the attacks & things we see are very much in the physical & in the nature. The war is really internal & in our minds. So since we are in a war..I believe we need a couple of weapons.

 

Loving this visual :)

As you can see as Christians we have some serious weapons. (Yeahhhhh....we packing too!) But seriously, Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us a breakdown of these weapons that we are blessed to have. The Belt of Truth, Helmet of Salvation, Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, & the one I love...THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT!

Which just so happens to be the beautiful Word of God. This is our most DANGEROUS weapon against the enemy & his shenanigans. Hebrews 4:12 KJV lets me know (¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.) Did you hear that?! Sharper than a TWO-EDGED SWORD! & it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. So see with the Word of God you can not only WIN the battle with your enemy/enemies but you can see the unclean motives of those hiding behind the term,"friend" who are really your enemies.

I mean GOD is just like so seriously amazing. Not only did He tell us who are enemy was, what's his plans & how he's going to achieve them..He gave us instruction on how to handle him/them! I mean could Kierra Sherard have said it any better when she titles her song, "INDESCRIBABLE!" I really don't think she could I mean because He's all of that & more. Not only is the Word of God a weapon of warfare, it also includes THE GREATEST LOVE STORY ANYONE COULD HAVE WRITTEN! I dare you to open it up & read it...I promise it has something in there JUST FOR YOU!


Kisses, Latrell

Single

 

Yesss honey w/ two snaps! & I love it! It just occurred to me the other day while on my way to work just how CONTENT I have become with being single. It led me into a praise because God knows it has NOT always been this way. 

It doesn't seem too long ago that I was laying in bed holding a stuffed teddy bear in hopes of filling that void of having someone hold me at night. Here I was 22 years of age sleeping with a stuffed animal that I had named & everything! Quite crazy wouldn't you say! But what's even more crazier is that I took it with me when I stayed with friends & everything. So you can say I had it pretty bad. I was so used to having someone sleep next to me & holding me that I couldn't imagine being without it. For awhile the teddy bear did the trick. But somehow someday I just suddenly stopped putting it in my bed with me at night. 

It wasn't a hard transition to not sleep with my teddy bear anymore it didn't even bother me. I was so relieved! I could go to sleep peacefully without any sleep aid, which is something I struggled with after my last break up. Because we had slept together so much, when we broke up there were nights I couldn't sleep! That was like the worst thing ever for me because me & sleep have our own personal relationship so that was cutting all up in that. So when I was able to sleep at night BY MYSELF it was such a great feeling! 

Now on the real April Latrell tip even tho I was good sleeping alone & stuff it probably wasn't until the end of last year that I actually was like, "You know what I'll be single for the rest of my life before I end up in another bad relationship & waste my time." I was only 23 & had (to me) felt like the relationship history of a 30 year old! After speaking with my mentor one day & her saying, "April you are just like white carpet. Whenever something gets on you or defiles you, you can see it all over you." Along with all the other things she spoke to me that day, I had to wake up & smell the smoke! Baby girl, you are way too precious & you're time is much too valuable! 

After many & much & much & many tears, I FINALLY came to the realization that I AM A VIRTUOUS WOMAN! Far more valuable than rubies. So I should walk, talk, & become the royalty that I was created to become. So I started really pursuing my passion. Trying to find out the WHY behind my being here & me going thru so many traumatic things in my life. I've found out & I'm running with it. 

Instead of wasting my time trying to figure out where the next boy is I'm trying to figure out what my next GOAL is. I'm chasing my DREAMS while getting money at the same time. I'm living life on PURPOSE. I'm PURPOSE-DRIVEN. I'm AMBITIOUS. I'm getting ready to CHANGE the WORLD & CHANGE LIVES! This is what being SINGLE is all about! Finding yourself & what you love. & falling in love with that girl in the mirror behind all the flaws & mistakes! Falling in love with your Creater & knowing that He is your FIRST LOVE! 

I really am so in love with who I'm becoming & the person I know I have the potential to be that I wouldn't trade this time for anything. Not even a white dress, diamond ring, & a couple of kids. Now in a couple of years my mind may be changed. But honestly, the way I see it is...WHAT GOD HAS FOR ME IS FOR ME!