How to Have a Healthy Hope and a Happy Heart as Halloween Hastens: Truth 1

Has anyone seen the end of September? I think I misplaced it. How is it October already?

Unpopular truth bomb: I’ve never been a fan of October. I’ve entitled this series “How to Have a Healthy Hope and a Happy Heart as Halloween Hastens”. It is for two kinds of people: those who are like me and those who aren’t. Do you FALL (pun intended) into either of those categories? Great! You’re just who I’ve been expecting.

I know it isn’t popular opinion, but I will quickly explain my position. I feel that taking part in festivities which, even loosely, pay homage to the sworn enemy of my Savior and Lord should be completely out of the question. Witches, demons, violence, fear, and the horrors of Hell are all very real and dead-set against my King. Courting them feels like treason to me.

^{Photo by Bee Felten-Leidel on Unsplash}

I’ve held this position my whole life, so I’ve always seen October as a month through which to endure. My neighbors put out their creepy decorations and the stores have aisles of grotesque things which cackle and frighten the kids (and me) as we are forced to pass by. November 1st dawns new and beautiful, because Halloween is over, everyone turns to giving thanks, and candy is 50-75% off!

These past couple of years have been different, though. God has been showing me some ways to appreciate Him as well as maintain a healthy hope and happy heart as Halloween hastens toward me in the rush that is October. I plan to share 1 each Sunday as we count down to the 31st.

The Halloween season reminds us to be on our knees.

Our prayers have the power to overcome darkness with light. With Halloween décor, we are literally inundated with visual reminders of what goes on in the spiritual realm and it should remind us to pray. We might be able to use the excuse that it is ‘out of sight, out of mind’ the rest of the year, but not in October. The gory, horrific, lure of evil is front and center and should drive us to our knees with prayers of both petition and praise.

Petition

As much as humans can contrive of scary things, we cannot conceive of the fright with which hell is fraught. We all know people who are headed there. This season, as we get a glimpse of what is in store for them, we should be on our knees in petition for their souls. Satan woos them, not because he cares at all about them, but because he hates God. He only wants them so Jesus cannot have them. We need to fervently pray for their eyes and hearts to be open to the truth.

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Its a Trap!

Praise

At no other time in the year can we be more aware of the contrast between our salvation and that to which we were doomed before we were saved. Jesus died an excruciating death and bested evil so we could live free! Even when they’re whitewashed and googly-eyed, the frightening feels of Halloween should remind us that our faith gives us victory over fear. Because we belong to Jesus, Satan is our defeated foe. To Him be the glory forever!

I also have a personal gift, for which I praise God in this season. He gave me a precious baby girl, born at the end of October. Her birthday gives me a joyful distraction and I’m so thankful for the blessing that she is!

^{Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com}
October birthdays are especially special!

I realize not everyone struggles to have a healthy hope and a happy heart as Halloween hastens near. If you do, I see you! I hope the posts in this series will give you something positive to focus on.

If you are all about this time of year and don’t understand why anyone would feel differently, I see you too. Thank you so much for reading. Maybe this series will give you insight into why some people feel the gravity over the revelry.

There is no time like the present for all Christians be on our knees. This is true as Halloween hastens and it is true as Easter dawns. Any day which can be found on the calendar is a good day to pray. In fact, a healthy hope and a happy heart are hard to find apart from prayer.

^{Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash}
Today is the day to pray!

What are your thoughts about Halloween? Do you embrace or endure the festivities? Either way, would you be willing to join me in a challenge to use the Halloween season as a reminder to pray?

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Ephesians 5:8-11

Related Post on the Posture of Prayer: Is your Posture Appropriate for a Dress Code which Requires Full Armor?