Joi and Payne

Prologue

 

The subdued faces of the two policemen standing outside of Joi Campbell’s door spoke volumes to her overactive nerves.

            Her heart pummeled against her chest as their stern demeanor rendered her speechless. Struggling to see behind one of the officer’s wide physique, she’d noticed her parents speeding into the driveway almost on two wheels. Her mother got out of the car before her father came to a complete stop. Charging toward the house, she ran upon the porch, pushed past the officers, and grabbed hold of her daughter. Like a movie playing in slow motion, the scene wasn’t going to turn out well. Especially when her father made it into the house, gasping for air as he clutched his chest. Now, Joi had reasons to panic.

            After finding her voice, Joi addressed one of the officers who had partnered with her husband on The Shreveport Police Department. “Where is Michael, Jacob?” Her hands began to shake out of control as she continued to question him. “Where is Michael?” She screamed louder, knowing that policemen only made personal visits to families of fellow officers killed in the line of duty. Jacob and Michael had partnered for ten years and now the day she feared, had come. Joi held her breath and waited for the officer to give her the dreaded news.

            Officer Jacob Winn tried putting on a brave face, but no words formed. It was apparent that whatever he had to say was not good, leaving the escorting officer to be the bearer of bad news. Joi’s stomach clinched as she braced herself for the words she had hoped to never hear.

      “Mrs. Campbell,” The agony shone in his poignant blue eyes, as his chubby cheeks quivered. “Your husband and kids were killed this afternoon in a car wreck involving a teenage driver, texting behind the wheel. The young lady ran a stop sign, causing her to crash into your family’s vehicle.” His words caught in his throat as he struggled to keep his taut posture.

            Joi stared into the officer’s sorrowful eyes as he delivered the worst news no wife or mother ever wanted to hear. As she tried wrapping her brain around losing her husband and ten-year-old twin boys, Jayden and Kayden, her airwaves seemed to have closed, making it difficult to breath. The realization of his statement had become too much for her to process.  Her brain felt as if it had short-circuited and like the flip of a switch, everything around her went black, causing her limp body to collapse into her father’s arms.

2nd Edition, The Enemy Within (When I Would Do Good...)



INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE

OF THE ENEMY WITHIN

 

 

Have you ever wondered why, as a Christian, you sometimes do not act as though you are? This book has been inspired through me by the power of the Holy Spirit to answer this question with God’s Holy Word, because being a Christian is not easy, especially in today’s society.

Satan has placed many stumbling blocks in our path, but we as believers must know that God has given us the spirit of discernment to foresee those obstacles before we trip and fall over them.

The mind is where it all begins because it is the place where evil is first formed. After the seed of doubt planted it takes root and spreads through the entire body has been until it becomes a stumbling block to you.

The Enemy Within will illustrate to you how subconsciously we wrestle with the decisions between good and evil—how we want to do the right thing but feel as though there is someone else, our sinful nature, forcing us to do that there is someone else, our sinful nature, forcing us to do that which is evil.

As you begin to read each chapter, you will be entering the human mind and the power struggles it has between the two spirits that resides within it (the flesh vs. the spirit). While reading, I pray that you will also find the answers that you have been searching for concerning your own spiritual fight and know that your spiritual struggles are no different from the rest of the world.

•

Our heavenly Father has left the blueprint to life in the Holy Bible, showing us how to be the light of the world so that sinners can see that light and find their way to Christ.

 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a

hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and

 it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your

 light so shine before men, that they may see your good

 works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

                     (Matthew 5:14–16, KJV)

 

Can we as believers truly say that we are letting our light shine before the world? In our society, it appears as though the light has dimmed. We say that we are Christians, but our attitudes tell a different story. There should be some eminence between the believers and the ungodly because we are not to be conformed to this world. To conform is suggesting that we have taken on the world’s characteristics and the ungodly people that live within it. We are to let our light shine, let the world see that God’s people are not extinct and that our conversation and walk will always glorify Him.

 

 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will

I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

(Matthew 10:33, KJV)

 

Rejection is not just contravening the power of God, but we reject or deny Him in how we live each day. Is our living nugatory? Does it represent what we avow? Your life tells the story of which forces control you. If the ungodly are not ashamed to advertise for what they believe in, then why should you? God says that you are the light of the world, but is anyone seeing the light within you shining? The stakes are high; you should choose this day which of the two powers will win control over your life—God or Satan. The decision is yours, but the cost is everlasting.