My ex-Best friend.

“We overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony..” Revelation 12:11.

“I dedicate this Testimonial to people like me; who’ve been broken; felt their smile was gone…But yet they lived ~ to become whole ~ to SMILE again… more importantly to testify.”

There’s a story behind my smile. Transparently, I confess of an entrenched sickness that I once suffered.  I honestly thought I’d never overcome this disease and would die from it. Imagine being in a toxic and suffocating relationship with someone that is evidently wrong for you, but with each attempt of you leaving is the more you’re succumbed by their venom to stay. Well up until recently, I was tied to such with my ex-best friend whom for many years I’ve known; hence couldn’t break away to save my life. I made a terrible mistake of putting him on a pedestal where he didn’t belong- his words mattered more than any and everyone else’s; he was my confidant and trusted adviser. To make things worse, I welcomed this liar and thief (without knowing of course) into the privacy of my home and even gave him a spare key. Needless to say he knew everything about me and marked my weakness and fragility as his territory.

I’m aware that for some this accursed friend is still apart of your lives, and seemed to have doubled up in power with plans to destroy you. He’s caused you to isolate yourself from those around you, thinking that they could never understand your pain nor tears and most definitely cannot help you. You feel alone and that you’ll never overcome. He says you’ll never win the war against him. And Just when you thought the clouds couldn’t get any darker and the winds any bitter – he, being the worst giver of gifts, one day meticulously hands you a box and tells you to open it. Inside a grenade threatens to detonate your life. What’s my diagnosis?  -Depression, or as used by some -Melancholy.  This disease, dejection, state of mind -whatever you consider it, is the affiliation you too may have suffered through the association of an unhealthy relationship/s; hence the cost you pay!

 “ The key is to keep company only with those who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best”.

Luckily for us there is redemption from our sadness and suffering through Jesus Christ and His Agape love. Agape- perfectly describes the kind of love that He has for His Father (God), and for His followers (us). It is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love and more importantly, the highest of the four types of love in the bible. Isn’t it amazing how Christ loves us even when we saw no need to love ourselves? There is nothing that we could ever do to taint or add to the already Perfect Love that God has for us.

By the power of this revelation I’ve thankfully broken ties with the enemy. I’ve found a new Friend; a confidant with whom I’ve made a covenant ~ His name is Jesus. He has given me a second opinion of “who I am” - no longer alone, for he’s always with me and will never leave nor forsake me. He’s my rock and my comforter…my all in all.

Tips for your new relationship:

                                                           

Study the word- God’s word is a powerful weapon and can be very effective especially in times of warfare. So start reading His word deliberately because it is for your own good.

Speak up and speak out- when the devil comes to attack you, call out the name of Jesus and rebuke him with the word of God. The prophet Isaiah says “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against Him. Another version says”…but the spirit of the Lord shall chase him away.” Isn’t that comforting to know? All God requires of us is to declare His word. Of our own strength we are unable to fight the enemy so He further instructs us to look to Him, but resist the devil. So the next time he comes around, open up your mouth with a shout and put him in his rightful place, under your feet that is ~ and he will flee from you.

Write your truth- Every lie that the enemy has ever told you; be sure to rewrite that about yourself with the truth of God’s word. Whether you chose to journal, write them on Post-its and paste them all around you, etc. It’ll only motivate and encourage you to grow every time your eyes meet them.

P.s. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you whenever you feel alone. May God’s Agape love mend every piece of your brokenness. May you overcome the fight against the enemy who threatened to destroy you…We know that through the power of Him, Christ Jesus that is the highest and the mightiest that we shall live to testify of how we’ve overcome. We’re more than just ordinary lives; we were made for a Purpose and to prosper in all our ways through Him.

Prayer: Father thank you for your healing power and cleansing of every sickness and lie from the enemy. We declare that we've been restored and made whole. For we are persuaded that neither powers, nor principalities, nor forces of darkness can separate us from your love. We are your redeemed and esteemed, accepting nothing less than what you say about us! Amen!