Operation Condemnation

Captain Deceit, I’m reporting for duty
Do come in lieutenant, I have your next assignment

Your next target is a woman
She is a believer in our Enemy

Years ago she recognized her sin and repented
Then the Adversary snatched her from Satan’s clutches

The so called Holy One forgave all her sins
He even credited Christ’s righteousness to her account

While we are powerless to change her eternal destiny
We can assault her here on earth

I want you to rack her with guilt and condemnation
Daily, focus her mind on her many sins, past and present

Help her to see her willful sin
And the utter depravity of her heart

The pièce de résistance
Will be sins committed after she came to Christ

May she focus on her own wretchedness and unworthiness
Even question if she is really saved

Instead of being filled with joy and peace
Because Christ paid her sin debt

She will be burdened with guilt and brought low
And never desire to share the Gospel

May she be bound with chains
Link after link, memories of her sin

Distract her
So she can’t focus her mind

Do not let her open God’s perfect and inerrant Word
Or let her hide the Enemy’s truth and promises in her heart

Do not let her read or remember
There is no condemnation to those in Christ

Nor walk in freedom
For whom the Son sets free is free indeed

May those hell-bound unbelievers around her
See a fool burdened under the weight of her sin

May she not harken the door of a church
Where the Word of God is taught without compromise

Instead direct her to man’s wisdom
A life of self-effort and temporary rewards

May she not be encouraged and strengthen
By the body of Christ

Whatever you do, don’t let her pray
For her God will hear her prayers and answer

Like the vulnerable lamb who wanders from the flock
Attack and devour when she is alone

Do not let her put her hope in God
Instead cloud her mind with condemnation and defeat

Whatever you do, do not let her be filled with joy and peace
Or give praise, honor and glory to God

Remember, He is our ultimate Enemy
Who desires to save all those who are perishing

Good luck on your assignment lieutenant
Once you succeed, there are many more we need to defeat

by Susan Wachtel
May 14, 2015

One Enemy

There is but one enemy
You are not it

It is the one with stealth
Working behind the scenes

He seeks to cause division
Using anger, jealously and pride

He plants seeds of doubt
Watered by human failure

He preys on our humanity and weakness
Manipulating our emotions

His arrows are well timed
In conjunction with anger, hunger and fatigue

He magnifies a hurt
Makes us believe it was done with intent

He cajoles us
Forgiveness and grace are undeserved

He pumps up our pride
Feeds our self inflated ego

He bring us low
With remembrances of a multitude of sins

Unless we take every thought captive
We are so easily led astray

May we always remember
Never forget

There is but one enemy
You are not it


Susan Bunts Wachtel
July 17, 2009


Dedicated to my precious friend Ruth…thank you for your wise counsel that always brings me back to God.

Darkness of the Soul

There is a certain darkness to your soul
Unapproachable
A place where no one can come in

Your thoughts remain private
Silence
I’m at a loss on what to say or do

A frown so deep, so low
Profound
Sadness, loneliness or is it anger I see

I cry out to God
Desperate
For His presence to go before you

My words so ineffective
Intercede Holy Spirit
Translate when I don't know what to pray


Susan Bunts Wachtel
July 15, 2009

The Ring

I stepped into the ring today
Before I knew it the bell had rung
The fight was on

The first punch was doubt
Followed by a blow of discouragement
Well aimed at my heart

I didn’t have my gear on
Soon I was blocked on all sides
Couldn’t even lift my head

I cried out
Sought deliverance from my Lord
Silence ensued as I waited

In the heavenlies
A battle raged
Between unseen forces of good and evil

Suddenly…there was a break
I was freed
Saved from a powerful foe

I emerged weary, worn and tired
While no human eye could see it
A battle was waged in the heavenlies

May I cling to my risen Savior
Daily equip myself with the armor God has provided
Remember the battle belongs to the Lord…Jehovah-Nissi

Praise God the enemy is a vanquished foe
The crushing blow was wielded at the cross
His victory certified when Christ arose from the grave


Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 27, 2009

Dissention…Reporting for Duty

Here I am boss

Reporting for duty

Have I got a good report for you

The assignment you gave

I executed with ease

As I got those tongues wagging

That place which seeks to be a beacon on a hill

Reflecting the Light of the world

Instead grew a little dimmer today

I started with those who are idle

Who have the time to talk

In no time at all…the seed of gossip blossomed

The trick is

When they are talking about others

They don’t have time to read the word of God

When they are negative and brooding

Completely lacking the joy of the Lord

They are not taking every thought captive

When they spend time

Debating about which songs should be sung

They don’t have the time to worship their Lord

When they set aside the diligent study of the Bible

How can they hold it up

To examine themselves in light of God’s word

When the rest on their laurels

Feel comfortable in their accomplishments

They won’t desire a fresh work of God in their life

When they fail to trust and respect

The leaders whom God raised up

A negative critical spirit takes its place

When they attempt to love on their own power

They will be unable to bear all things, nor hope and believe

Their love will never endure on its own

Some I will lure into exhaustion

Through pressing needs, good works and few helping hands

It’s there I will stir up resentment

May they bow their knee to their Lord

But never their will

There they can rest in a false sense of piety

Oh hater of their soul

The fruits of our labor

Are plentiful and abundant

May they never see it

Or recognize the handwriting of our work

It’s there we can turn them against one another

Render ineffective their witness

When they are focused on one another

They won’t remember to take the gospel to the lost and dying world

by Susan Bunts

September 23, 2008

Ready

Ready to stand
With the belt of truth girded about me


Ready to stand victorious
Obeying the Commander who called me to battle


Ready to stand firm…immovable
Cutting off all entanglements…breaking from this world


Ready to stand with an attitude of truthfulness
Committed…sincere…without hypocrisy


Ready and disciplined
Pursing that which is excellent…not settling for what is good


Ready to endure
Run the race…obtain the prize of our high calling


Ready to bring praise, glory and honor
To my great God and Savior, Christ Jesus my Lord



Susan Bunts
August 20, 2008

For Chris...my love and husband to be. I’m so grateful to have a partner as we endeavor to fight the good fight and seek by the power of God to endure till the end. By His power alone...may we present Jesus our shield covered with arrows from the enemy that missed because of His hand of protection upon us.

The Battle

Weary

From the seemingly endless attacks

Relentless

On every side

“No more!”

I cry out

I want to give up

Step aside

Take a break

For just a little while

What’s that?

Is that a snicker I hear?

“Discouragement,

Job well done!”

Success

She’s let down her shield again

We’ll win

If she comes to the battle alone

Victory is ours

If she comes unarmed and unprepared

The battle is on

Let’s turn up the heat

Be subtle

Lest she’ll turn to her God again

Oh no...she’s on bended knee

Pleading with her Lord for strength

She beseeches Him

To guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus

She remembers

He will never leave nor forsake her

She asks for wisdom

For God to guide her every step

If the battle remains between us

The victory is ours

If she enlists the help of her God

All is lost

Susan Bunts

August 10, 2008

Transforming Power

In my weakness
I want to turn around and walk away
But by the power of the Holy Spirit
I will return to the lion’s den this day


In my flesh
I want to strike back
But under the control of the Holy Spirit
I will choose to turn the other cheek


In my sin nature
I want to tell others of the offense against me
By the transforming power of Christ within
I will instead offer a prayer for the offender


In my humanity
Tears flow as I’m surrounded by quite
From the Word planted in my heart
I’m reminded that God will wipe every tear from my eyes


In my solitude
I attempt to wrestle against the spiritual forces of darkness
When I remember I am part of the body of Christ
I reach out and ask for my day to be covered in prayer


In my self confidence
I fail to prepare for spiritual warfare
In His wisdom, power and strength
I put on the full armor of God so I can stand against the devil’s schemes


By Susan Bunts
July 25, 2008

Dear Dissension

Dear Dissension,

It is with great eagerness that I commend you,
For your effective division,
Of the body of Christ.

As you know,
It is my deepest desire to see,
Those once on fire for Christ no longer a threat to my kingdom of darkness.

Good work…job well done
Your methods ever so clever,
Stealth…undetected…quite easily they follow your lead.

An effective mix,
Of genuine issues blended with personal opinion,
Lead them down the primrose path and soon we’ll see a critical spirit in full bloom.

Tread lightly,
Careful you must be…so as not to alert them,
Of our true mission to bring dishonor to their King.

May they not see their transgression,
Nor be repentant…and seek forgiveness of their sin,
Press onward…what’s a little gossip and slander…when carefully hidden as constructive criticism.

Dissension…be sure to blind them,
Veil their eyes, so they may not see,
May they not grow stronger by the reading God’s Word.

May they forget about prayer,
Or battling this war upon on their knees,
Calling upon their God will only bring our much hated foe…to battle by their side.

Throw out the bait,
Hook them with dissatisfaction,
Reel them in with discontent.

Divide them, conquer them,
Big or small, young or old…it matters not,
Use music, or style or even their precious translations to divide.

May they not be like their God,
Who looks upon the heart,
Instead may they only dwell upon that which their flesh can see and hear.

Divide them,
Scatter them,
Send them to the four winds.

My deepest desire,
To see that beacon…that bright and shining light upon the hill,
Extinguished…so I can take countless more souls to hell!

Insincerely yours…the enemy of their souls!

By Susan Bunts - July 17, 2007