Note; this week we are going to re-visit a series of devotions
from 2016. It’s not something we do
often, but this series bears repeating during times of crisis.
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12
Paul is like the Old Testament
prophets, Moses and Joshua. He tells us to stand strong, and in
the Lord’s power and might. What
kind of advice is that – and why do we need it?
It is good advice, and we need it
because the kinds of enemies we face are not the ones we can see, or engage in
physical battle. For the next several days, let’s inspect the armor
God has provided for us to be protected and fight well in the battles of spiritual
warfare.
Consider how difficult it is to
fight the unseen even in nature:
Here’s to the chigger, the bug that’s no bigger
Than the end of a very small pin;
But the itch that he raises simply amazes,
And
that’s where the rub comes in.
But, while there are all those
spiritual traps Satan provides, there is also the reality that we are beings
of the flesh as well. Sometimes we are like Pogo
-- We have met the enemy, and he is us!
God knows us; He knows our frame,
that we are dust. And so, God provides protection, effective armor.
If we will take it, and put it to the intended use, we will be successful in
waging spiritual warfare.
It’s wise to ask someone who is
used to battle how to approach battle. Joe
Lewis was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He fought, 71
times; he lost only once. During the fifteen years he held his title, he
defended it 25 times. Bill Stern, the voice of American sports on radio,
decided toward the end of the Brown Bomber's career that he would interview him
and find out the technique or the secret that Lewis used in fighting his
opponents and how he could win over people who were at times much larger than
he. His answer was very simple, I study my opponent, I plan my
fight very carefully. The results are always the same – I’m never
surprised and I stay on the offensive. That's pretty good counsel
for dealing with the devil.
Satan wins many of his attacks and
victories because he surprises us. We continually live shocked. The
believer has no reason to be shocked, intimidated or surprised by the attack of
the enemy – none whatsoever. God has given us the armor and the battle
plan to overcome his attacks.
Paul was chained 24 hours, 7
days-a-week to a Roman guard. It is no wonder God used the imagery of
armor and weapons to impress the apostle to warn us how to be strong in the
Lord.
We should never underestimate the
enemy!
Let’s
Pray Together:
Father, we’re at a time – a particularly difficult time – where our culture is so unhinged with anger and it’s really hard to feel any kind of certainty about anything. That is, except YOU. Lord, You are our rock and shelter in storms, and our mighty power in all you call us to do. We know we shouldn’t underestimate the enemy, but that is more manifestly true about YOUR power. Help us to be strong in our LORD.
For You Today
In tomorrow’s devotion we will
start getting dressed; we will begin with the belt.
You
chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today.
Have a blessed day! 
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