day 24 - opposition

It figures that on a day when we, the Ring, are praying together against the enemy, that he would decide to step it up. My Spirit has been jumpy all day. Usually when this happens to me, I pray through it and my heart finally lands on what He wants me to pray about. He’s shown me several situations just today that only His power can overcome.

One thing I’ve learned about the enemy of God is that he hates us. He is a created being. As such, he has to get permission to come against the children of God. If he truly has stepped it up, then it’s being allowed by his Maker.

Why does He allow the enemy to come against us? Well, there are a couple of reasons that come to mind. There is the whole sin issue. We live in a fallen world. Even through we are covered by the Blood of Christ, and are seen in His eyes as the Righteousness of Christ, we are surrounded by sin, surrounded by pawns who he will use against us.

There are also times when He allows us to be attacked to strengthen us, to grow us, to make us stronger in our dependence on the Father.

The good news in any situation is that he is fighting a battle that has already been lost. And he knows it. And it pisses him off. And it makes him desperate and vicious. Jesus knew all about this – He experienced it firsthand:

Luke 4:1-4

1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]”

Where did satan attack first? At the most obvious point of weakness – His hunger – His physical need. Where does he attack you first? What do you struggle with that you can’t seem to overcome?

God’s Word tells us that we can overwhelmingly conquer the things in this life that keep us from Him. Jesus is not a hand’s off Leader – He has been there, done that. And He overcame.

You can overcome anything through Christ. Refuse to listen to the lies of the enemy. Listen, instead, for the Voice of your Shepard. He will counsel you, guide you, lead you every step of the way – to Him.