Taking back what's been stolen

Derek and I seem to be facing a constant barrage of trouble. Trouble meant to occupy our time and distract our hearts from what we are supposed to be doing. Things breaking, things being stolen, crazy bills for crazy things, things not working as they should, etc... Just annoyances that feel like the devil is nipping at our heals. Yesterday I told one of the women I've discipled the last 4 years about something that had just happened and she instructed me to pray differently. I'd been praying that God would give back what the devil was trying to steal and that Derek and I would hold up unto the barrage with dignity and grace. That's fine, but my friend told me not to take it lying down and to go home and rebuke and bind the devil. She told me to take authority in Christ over these attacks and trust God to destroy all the weapons formed against us. The same things so often out of my mouth for someone else and yet I'm stumbling around passively accepting all that's happening.  Makes me think she should be leading our current James study.

So, Derek and I went home and had a prayer time with the kids doing just what my friend suggested. After "Amen" Matthew said, "Why did you guys pray so long?" He was holding his new basketball and I said, "Well, if someone walked up and stole that ball from you, would you tell me just once about it and walk away or would you tell me until you knew were confident I was going to do something about it and get it back for you?" With a smile he said, "Oh I get it" And Kyla quickly walked over and whispered in his ear, "Go hide your ball."