I am still standing

I Am Still Standing!

Still Standing: Love’s Anthem Amid Spiritual Deception and Gods Victory

Matthew 24:10-13
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

It’s incredible how God weaves His messages into the fabric of everyday life, even through songs that weren’t written with Him in mind. I’ve been noticing this pattern more and more—songs come to me like gentle nudges from above, each one unfolding as a love story, a reminder of endurance, and a cheer from the Divine. Today, it’s Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing,” hitting me right after I penned my latest piece, “From Flesh to Vine: Impossible Harm, Endless Love.” That article dove into the chaos of these times—wickedness ramping up, loves turning cold, betrayals and hatreds multiplying, all led astray by false prophets, just as Jesus warned in Matthew 24. But verse 13 stands out like a beacon: “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” And here I am, the very next day, with this song echoing that exact truth. It’s my love song for today—a bold declaration of survival, unshakeable faith, and triumph through Truth, Love, and Jesus. God is cheering me on, filling me with that endless love, and I feel it deep in my soul.

In reflecting on all this, I see so clearly how spiritual journeys can veer off course. So many of us start out with pure hearts, hungry for God, for meaning, for that divine connection. But without the right anchors, we can stumble into traps set by the enemy. I’ve talked about this in my transcript—how witches, tarot readers, spiritualists, and new age folks often aren’t chasing evil on purpose. No, they’re looking for God, but they settle for Satan’s counterfeits because of the investments they’ve made in time, in partial truths buried in lies. It’s like wandering into a field overrun with weeds, but spotting that one blooming flower of truth if you look hard enough. That flower? It’s love. And love is God. The struggle to escape those dark places is real—when you’re dabbling in the devil’s magic, those tarot cards or dark spirits get in your head, manipulating, stealing insights, and twisting everything. But the real power, the true freedom, comes from seeking truth in God’s Word every day. The Bible isn’t the only source—there are other gospels and insights too—but it’s alive, cutting through the confusion like a sword.

Let me break down why this deception happens, drawing from what I’ve experienced and what Scripture reveals. It’s not just random; there are patterns in the spiritual warfare we all face:

  • Vulnerability in the Search: When we open up to the spiritual realm, we’re like doors ajar. Without protection—prayer, reliance on Jesus, and discernment rooted in doctrines like the Bible’s teaching that the dead are asleep and can’t communicate (Ecclesiastes 9:5)—negative entities rush in. They’re deceptive, appearing as angels of light or even mimicking deceased loved ones to hook us emotionally.
  • Intensified Spiritual Attacks: The closer we get to God, the more we threaten the devil’s hold. As I shared, Satan ramps up the lies, fear, and temptations to discourage us. It’s warfare, plain and simple—aimed at driving us from the path of salvation. But standing firm? That’s where the victory lies, turning those attacks into testimonies of God’s strength.
  • The Lure of Power and Experiences: Too often, we seek God for the thrills—miracles, gifts, or personal power—rather than for a humble, loving relationship. This opens doors to entities offering fake versions of that power, like the illusions in spiritualism. It’s a counterfeit high that leads straight to bondage.
  • Disobeying Divine Warnings: God doesn’t mince words—practices like consulting mediums or spiritists are outright forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Leviticus 19:31)—because they separate us from His protection. Ignoring that invites harm, cycling us into the enemy’s traps where sin’s wages are death, as Romans 6:23 spells out.

These aren’t just theories; I’ve lived through the darkness. Surviving two attempted murders, facing down an army of satanic forces—witches, covens, corruption on every level—it’s been a battle straight from hell. The deeper their darkness, the brighter God’s light shone in me. My love grew stronger, my faith unyielding. And that’s why “I’m Still Standing” resonates so profoundly. It’s not just about Elton’s career comeback or his battles with addiction; for me, it’s a divine anthem of resilience. The lyrics capture it perfectly:

“You could never know what it’s like Your blood like winter freezes just like ice And there’s a cold lonely light that shines from you You’ll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use

And did you think this fool could never win? Well, look at me, I’m a-coming back again I got a taste of love in a simple way And if you need to know while I’m still standing you just fade away

Don’t you know I’m still standing better than I ever did? Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid And I’m still standing after all this time Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind I’m still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah I’m still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah”

It’s a kiss-off to the enemy, a celebration of picking up the pieces without the weight of fear or hatred. I feel like that “little kid”—restored in childlike wonder, full of joy, standing taller than ever because of Jesus.

This isn’t just my story; it’s a call to everyone. Even those deep in deception—the spiritualists, the deceived—they’re redeemable. Everyone has the ability to be fixed; it’s all in the choices, the song we choose to sing. You can belt out a love song in the rain or sun, embracing both, because God’s love encompasses it all. Neighbor isn’t just the person next door—it’s everyone, especially the harmful ones who need the most love. I’ve poured more love into those who tried to destroy me, because that’s how hearts thaw. The bills, the ills, the fears? That’s Satan’s domain. The joys, the peace, the endless love? That’s God.

If you’re on this path, seek with discernment. Don’t chase power or experiences—chase Jesus, the vine we’re meant to abide in (John 15:5). His truth will brighten your days, banish the fear, and keep you standing firm, no matter the storm. Because in the end, it’s all a love story—a choice to live in Truth, Love, and Jesus. I’m still standing, and so can you. God is love. I love you.

Matthew 24
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[b]

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.