Week of October 21
Strength Against The Enemy
As Christians, we will face opposition because of our faith. A neighbor might snub us, for example, or a co-worker may ridicule us. In the middle of these attacks, we may be tempted to call them the enemy. But our true enemy is spiritual in nature.
Are you under a spiritual attack today? Perhaps Satan is tempting you to sin. Or maybe he is using a broken relationship to grow seeds of bitterness in your soul. Whatever tactics the enemy uses to try to trip us, we have no reason to fear because we have God on our side.
In Psalm 27, we see that David trusted God to provide His protection and strength. “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident” (Psalm 27:1–3).
David was able to go into battle with confidence because he began his battle in prayer. When we call upon God’s power instead of fearing our circumstances, we are on the path to victory. The more time we spend in prayer and worship of our Savior, the less we will feel afraid. The only way to be a successful spiritual warrior is to start as a successful worshiper: “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord” (Psalm 27:6).
When we forget to seek Him on a daily basis, we become easy prey for the enemy. The enemy is always present, ready to trip us up or to lure us down the wrong path. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour“ (1 Peter 5:8).
We desperately need God’s guidance to lead us in the right direction. Yet when we neglect our relationship with God, we become insensitive to His voice. We need to remember David’s cry: “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8).
There are times when God will call us to act immediately during a battle. But there are other times when He wants us to wait upon Him, so that He may act on our behalf. What seems like a frustrating delay is God’s preparation for a great blessing to come. “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13–14).
Sometimes it takes as much courage to wait upon God as it does to act in His name. As we wait before the Lord in worship and as we walk with Him daily, He puts His strength in our hearts. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31, ESV).
As we look at David’s example in Psalm 27, we see that he worshiped God, walked with God, and waited upon God. How close is this strategy to your own battle plan? We need to remain in a constant state of readiness, recognizing that the only way to find victory is through God. Confess to God today the times when you have neglected the worship that He deserves. Seek forgiveness for the times you ignored His voice. Confess your impatience during His calls for waiting. Seek to follow God wholeheartedly—not only during times of battle, but also in a daily walk with Him.
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Counting Stars in an Empty Sky
When God calls you to do the impossible, do you trust Him to come through for you? This month for your gift of any amount, Leading The Way will send you a copy of Dr. Michael Youssef’s book, Counting Stars in an Empty Sky—an encouragement to trust God’s promises for your impossibilities. Request your copy today—and dare to believe God for the impossible. REQUEST NOW
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