"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" - 1 Cor 16:13 (NIV).
Many people around the world with valuables feel a need to take on a guard. A typical job description of a guard normally includes an expectation of someone who will be on alert making sure there is no interfearence from intruders. A good guard is constantly on the watch and is tuned to sense anything that could border on intrusion and quickly warn the concerned. Guards tend to be muscled as they may have to fight off or scare away dangerous intruders.
The Christian life requires of us to be constantly on guard. This is because there is an enemy constantly hovering about us ready to intrude and cause harm. This happened to the Lord Jesus himself. Once after predicting the events leading to his crucifixion, "Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!' (Mathew 16:22). But Jesus was very alert. "Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns" (vv 23).
Jesus was on guard, quick to sense that an enemy was prowling about and had to be warded off. That enemy is never asleep. As Job 2:2 notes, "And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Satan is of course on a mission to "kill and destroy" (John 10:10).
Effective guards must have weapons that can aid them in warding off the enemy. One of the weapons the Lord has given us is the power of his word. When Satan once sought to tempt Jesus, up on a mountain, after a fast, he was duly rebuked: "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mathew 4:4). May the power of His word indwell in us to fend off the enemy, Satan, in all his guises.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, may I constantly be on guard against Satan's schemes and through the power of the Word cast him off asunder, this I pray in Jesus's name.
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
