‘Twas the day before Thanksgiving and all through the house were the smells, sights and sounds of the season. Tomorrow is the beginning of over a month of festivities, families, friends and food fit for a festive season. The stores and doctors offices are playing the songs of the season. The neighbors have put up the inflatable sights of the season in their front yards and their trees in their windows. Lights are going up on houses all around us. It is hard to not smile during this season because there is so much to be thankful for and so much joy to experience. Stores are packed with people buying all they need to prepare their traditional dishes, and tables are being set with the once in a while place settings. People are driving places to see people and things, the activity in the atmosphere is undeniable and it is supposed to be busy, fun, festive.

Everything I just mentioned is what is visible to the eye and audible to the ear, but even in the visible there is an invisible reality happening as well. Paul says it this way, “He (Christ) made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world” (Colossians 2:16). The invisible many will encounter during this holiday season will be invisible thrones, kingdoms, rulers and authorities that most people are not cognizant are operating in their lives. Not everyone we will spend the holidays with are living with the kingdom of God operating inside of them, some have the world’s system in them. Not all are under the authority of Christ, some are under the authority of an anti-Christ spirit. We will sense this in stores, shops, kitchens, living rooms and neighborhoods. It is always happening, but during the holidays it manifests more because people are unknowingly processing the pain of the season.

The strategy for this holiday season is Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Enjoy the visible and remember what war you are really fighting is the invisible. I pray for you to have extra grace, abundant love and undeniable peace as you enter into this holiday season. Love you friends!