This week's episode with Wendy Blight is one that teaches us why we need to have God's word tucked in our hearts and know His word for ourselves. She shares her story of overcoming the darkest of times by learning God's word and His deep love for her.

**Trigger Warning: Wendy's story involves sexual assault happening to her. If you'd like to skip that part it is at the end of the ninth minute, 9:49-9:57.**

1)Tell us about the wonderful you! (Family, where you live, ministry, church, etc.)

• I’m married to Monty and have two children, Lauren and Bo. Monty and I have been married 32 years!! We were college sweethearts, and he was my first, and only, boyfriend. Lauren was born 6 years after we got married, and she is now married (age 26) and living in Atlanta with her husband, Morgan, who is the best ever answer to prayer for her. Bo was born 4 ½ years after Lauren, and he is 21 years old, a senior in college academically and a redshirt junior for basketball. He plays college basketball at UNC Charlotte and is also actively involved with FCA.
• We attend a newly formed church called Moments of Hope. I teach weekly Bible study for our women with our pastor’s wife. I love our community. Though less than a year old, we already have over 1500 attending and have 300 women participating in our Bible study. So exciting!
• I work part time for Proverbs 31 Ministries as the Biblical Content Coordinator for P31 Online Bible Studies, and I absolutely LOVE my job. And, I work with the best people, one you know … Kendra … she has been your guest a few times.

As we dig into the meat of this episode I think we need to set the stage a bit for what Spiritual Warfare looks like. For some this part of scripture seems so foreign or uncomfortable. Can you give a breakdown about what it is and where people can read about it in the Bible.

• Spiritual warfare is REAL. It began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and it will continue until Jesus comes back as our Ruling and Reigning King. Satan slithered into this world, entered the serpent, tempted Eve and has been around ever since. And, he is not alone. Simple summary of the beginning of this war … At one time, Satan was one of God’s good angels. But, he decided he wanted what God had and rebelled against God. God threw him out of heaven along with 1/3 of the angels who sided with him. He has been battling God’s people ever since. The first chapter of Job gives us a great vision of what this warfare looks like!
• We hear most about spiritual warfare in Ephesians Chapter 6. Paul tells us in this chapter that we do not fight against flesh and blood enemies (though it often feels like it). We really fight against Satan and those fallen angels. But, we need not fear spiritual warfare because of so many truths in Scripture. First, when we are children of God, we have God’s Holy Spirit living in us. John tells us in 1 John 4:4 the truth about this situation … GREATER is the ONE who lives in us (Holy Spirit) than the one (Satan) who lives in this world. Paul tells us in Romans 8:37 that we are MORE than conquerors in these battles through Christ who lives in us. And, Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 God doesn’t leave us to fight alone. We have weapons of warfare … The Armor of God … Helmet of Salvation, Breastplate of Righteousness, Belt of Truth, Shield of Faith, Sword of the Spirit and the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. That Sword is the Word of God. It is our OFFENSIVE weapon with which we can fight.

3) Many people live their lives taking others word for who God is and what His truths say. You and I both know the importance of knowing His word for ourselves and having that deep relational connection with who He is. Can you give an example when you were so thankful you knew God’s word for yourself in a season that was hard and filled with attacks from the enemy.

• The very worst, most horrific event in my life brought me closer to God and into a deeper understanding of God’s Word than anything else I’ve walked through. I had nothing else. In wrestling with God … in being so very angry with God … I came to know, trust and love Him by exposing my heart and mind to the Bible. I learned it was living, active and penetrating (Hebrews 4:12) meant to speak to us today and bring healing and life transformation. I learned that when His Word goes out … spoken or prayed or written … it will not return void but will accomplish His desires and achieve the purposes for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

We also know there are many people who know God’s word but don’t know the weapon that it can be against the evil one! Can you explain how to stand firm in faith or stand firm from our knees in prayer when things get hard/painful/questionable.

• Share the power of praying God’s Word and how it came to fruition when I saw a wall of the angels surrounding my house as I was faithful to pray Scripture to free me from fear.

Since we know the enemy can’t create, but can twist and manipulate is there a tactic you feel the enemy uses with you over and over? How can someone begin identifying when he is attacking them instead of chalking it up to bad luck/bad day/ etc.

• My latest battle has been with anxiety. Our enemy knows our weaknesses. Peter tells us to be alert for the work of the enemy in our midst because He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to desire. So, Satan observes us and sees those places where we have no confidence, we struggle with trusting God and he attacks, pounces, lies and deceives. The enemy knows what things make me anxious. So, the more I began to pay attention to my anxious times and what was causing them, the less he could claim victory over me. I found Scriptures on peace and I memorized them (Isaiah 26:3 the biggest one) and I prayed them. I stopped allowing the anxiety to paralyze me. Baby steps. Riding the wave.

One of my favorite verses I turn when under attack to other than Eph 6:16 is John 10:28, “I will give them eternal life, they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand.” What are some of the truths of God you point people to when they feel the enemy is coming against them?

• 1 John 4:4, “Greater is the One who lives in us than the one who lives in the world.”
• Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

My favorite question of the episodes are this - the living with less podcast is all about living with less of the things getting in the way of who Christ is calling us to be. If someone asked you what they needed to begin living with less of in regard to this what would you tell them and why!

• Worry less about what you fear and what causes you anxiety. It truly sucks the joy and life out of us. I did me. When I look back, I think it’s where I lived for my late childhood and young adult life. Once I experienced the power of God’s Word and truly lived loved by God, I found myself living with more hope, more confidence, more faith. Faith and belief that God is BIGGER than my fears and anxieties. He is ABLE … MORE THAN ABLE … to equip us to overcome whatever challenges us right now. And will will only be able to live with more hope, confidence and faith when we KNOW God intimately and KNOW His Word so deeply that we’re familiar with it as we would be a favorite song or book. Know God’s names. Know the stories. These are what you can recall in those hard moments so speak truth and God’s promises over your heart and mind.

FUN question - I know you’re a huge college football girl, who is your team and how do you root them on? From the stands or the comforts of home!

• Great question! I went to Baylor and my husband was on the football team for a few years while we dated. So, we are Baylor fans first. And, they are undefeated as I write this. But, our daughter went to UGA, so we have also adopted the Dawgs and love to cheer them on. When we lived in Texas, we did go back for games. When my daughter was still at UGA, we would drive to Athens for some of the games. But, now we mostly watch both from TV. I also love college basketball!! My son plays for UNC Charlotte, so we go to all their home games and some away.

To learn more about Wendy and see her resources head to her website wendyblight.com and follow her on Instagram @wblight.