"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm" - Ephesians 6:13 (NIV).
What if you were about to report for your first day on the job, all eyes looking out in anticipation, only to suddenly fall ill and are fast admitted to hospital for a lengthy surgery. What if you are about to sit for an examination you have been preparing for a year, and the anticipated qualification will catapult you into a certain expert professional category, only on that very day to lose a loved one, imperiling all your preparations. What if you are about to set off for a ground breaking opening of a factory you have poured all your savings into, only for the regulators to seal it closed that very day, until payment of a certain astronomical sum.
Such disorienting obstacles can happen in the lives of some, including believers in Christ. Ordinarily they can be looked at as random events causing a setback, perhaps a temporary one. But there are also those situations where the setback if allowed to proceed is so huge, almost leaving one beyond a point of recovery.
There can be a case where one who is hit with such is so devastated and decides to abandon the cause altogether. However, there is also that believer whom it occurs to that those apparently random obstacles, may be an orchestrated attack of the enemy. Satan, maybe trying to lock one out of receiving his due treasure. When a bride suffers an accident on the way to church, it might not be just a freak accident, but a certain invasion of forces determined to deny a child of God her due reward.
To help us here the Apostle Paul wrote, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). Here Paul revealed that there are dark forces waging war against believers, some not as easily discernible to the naked eye.
Paul urges believers to "take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (vv 16), meaning, in other words, never to lose hope and easily fold up when beset with setbacks. Not only should a believer attacked so cruelly remain strong, but he further urges, to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (vv 18), for obviously victory awaits those that "persevere in prayer" for they will triumph over the enemy.
May whatever set back you have encountered not derail you to the point of surrender. Some may be just casual happenings, but there is also what might be a deliberate attack on your life by the "dark forces" for which you must stand up and resist to shame the evil one!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, for whatever obstacles I may face, I choose and decide not to surrender, but persevere in faith, praying for victory against all the dark forces to be rendered naught, for the victory of your child, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
-
29/04/2024 - 30/04/2024 All day“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27)
One of the most moving Christian song ever written is, “Its well with my soul!” To hear it sung in cathedrals, concerts or at funerals, always leaves many with goose bumps. It has uplifted many through the most difficult of moments, soothing their weary spirit.
It’s coming into being in many ways show how God so often uses difficult situations to bless so many. In 1871 Horatio Spafford, was one of the wealthiest lawyers, based in Chicago. He was also a devout Christian, along with his wife Ann, and their four daughters. But early in 1871 came the Great Fire of Chicago that destroyed Spafford’s sizable investment.
Devastated from the loss, Spafford, seeking to recover, two years later, decided to go for a holiday in Europe. But at the last minute he was detained by business, letting Ann and his four daughters to proceed, hoping to join them. No sooner had they left when the ship in which they were had an accident and sank within minutes. All the four children drowned, though Anna survived.
Spafford on receiving the news decided to go and pick up Ann. As he got to the spot where the ship had sunk, in his despair came the words that have brought respite to so many, through generations. “When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul... Let this blest assurance control That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate, And has shed His own blood for my soul. It is well...With my soul..
It is well, it is well with my soul.”It is said as Ann saw her daughters going down, she said, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand.” And, indeed, “It is well with my soul” was God’s gift to all of mankind through a tragedy.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of heaven, sometimes through tragedies, it is difficult to understand or appreciate the moment; but as the song goes, whatever the difficulty may be, “Its well with my soul” for you are with me, no matter! This I pray in Jesus’ name!
