For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12

There is so much strife going on in the world today. Wars, murder, oppression…it can be so overwhelming, especially if you watch daily news shows! Then, there is the stress found in day to day interactions with people; jealousy, racism, and overall “hateration” *my neighbor’s word- not sure if it is a “word” but you get it. Lately, I have found myself being drawn into arguments and basically getting my anger button pushed by people who are normally jovial and good natured. I wondered about this-Is everybody going crazy? Do I have an invisible sign on my back that says “fight me”?
Then I remembered Ephesians 6. It is not the individual, it is the age old spirit of darkness doing its work. I do not mean the devil specifically. It is negative energy overall.
All physical reality is made up of energy. Our thoughts are vibrations of energy. As such, they have a powerful influence in our lives. Put simply, where your focus goes, your energy flows (borrowed this statement from someone, somewhere-it really sums things up).
The upside is that we are in control of our thoughts. We can choose to not be moved by angry people or loved ones getting on our nerves! We can choose light instead of darkness-even in the midst of a blow up with your significant other or dealing with the annoying kid in drive-thru who could care less that you only have an hour for lunch!

I create the blacksmith
who fires up his forge
and makes a weapon designed to kill.
I also create the destroyer—
but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.
Any accuser who takes you to court
will be dismissed as a liar.
This is what GOD’s servants can expect.
I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.”
Isaiah 54:16-17 MSG