Happy New Year, friends! I hope your year is off to a great start. Nationally, the USA has already experienced a whirlwind with two attacks on New Year’s Day. As the news stories broke, I found myself listening to the ever-changing narratives being presented. Honestly, I struggle to trust the details of any story from any news outlet, given the history of misrepresentation and bias.
With that said, I want to encourage you not to simply accept narratives that attribute these tragedies solely to mental health struggles. I’m not denying that these men may have faced mental health challenges. However, I firmly believe there was an outside, evil influence driving these acts. I’m not merely suggesting terrorist organizations but rather the powers of darkness, principalities, and spiritual forces of wickedness described in Ephesians 6.
We can no longer settle for surface-level explanations. We cannot merely blame mental health struggles or individual human terrorists. As Christians, we must think biblically and recognize the innate evil stemming from the enemy of God that lies behind such atrocities. Satan and the forces of darkness hate humanity and seek to kill, steal, and destroy. Consider the disinheritance of the nations and the rise of evil principalities at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. These same forces continue to influence nations and sow darkness today.
So, when you hear these stories, pause and pray against evil. Plead the blood of Jesus. Pray for protection against the powers of darkness influencing our nation and others. Push back the darkness by shining the light of Jesus’ love in every corner of your life. Share His truth and grace with all you encounter. This is how we combat spiritual darkness.
Finally, do not allow darkness a foothold in your life through sin, disobedience, or unforgiveness. Whether it’s engaging in witchcraft, harboring bitterness, or straying from God’s commands, these actions invite darkness into our lives. We overcome by following the one true God and standing firm in His truth. This is the ultimate reality—question everything else!
