Warfare...

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV I've come to the realization that the devil doesn't often attack us when we are on a spiritual mountain. He waits until we drop our guard, until we are fatigued, discouraged or distracted by a battle we are facing. He pounces when we are in the valley of life, when we are facing something that seems insurmountable to us. When the struggles of life work to overtake us--when financial crisis hits, when relationships are strained, when a tragedy occurs, when health is threatened by a major disease--that's when we take our focus off of God and His ability, and try to handle things on our own. The devil and his minions are lurking, waiting, licking their lips in anticipation of a victory over us, while they wait for us to stumble. Have you ever watched one of those National Geographic documentaries where predators are after prey? They lay in wait, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to separate one lone animal, often a young or weak one, from the herd. Once the predator is able to accomplish that, he's got a meal. The devil operates much the same way, and we fall into his trap often and repeatedly. Then, we beat ourselves up over the fact we allowed it to happen--again & again--and Satan laughs at us and shakes his bony finger in the Face of God. Remember the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17, I think...)? Goliath, who is described as a giant of a man, has the whole Israelite Army shaking in their boots--or sandals, as was most probably the case. He comes out daily, hurling threats, slandering God and his people, and he laughs at the Israelite's inability to act because they are all frozen in fear. No single man has the faith in God, let alone himself, to take on this giant. So, for days on end, the scene is repeated. Even King Saul himself is terrified. Here he is, a man appointed by God and anointed by God's prophet to lead the nation but without any solution to the problem. Why? Because they were all looking within themselves, rather than looking to God. David appears on the scene, there simply to deliver food to his brothers who are part of the army. He had no idea when he left home that he would be facing a giant & determining the fate of a nation by his actions. But, because he had an intimate relationship with God and knew that God was with him, when he heard the words of the giant insulting his God, a righteous anger rose up in him & he acted--not in his own strength, but tapping into the mind and strength of God Himself. By being a man of action, a man who trusted that God would take care of him regardless of the situation, a man who wouldn't allow his God to be insulted, young David saved the day, defeated the giant and won the favor of the nation of Israel. Like David, we must remain both focused and faithful. Even though it sometimes appears that a person is the source of our problem, we have to remember that "...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesian 6:12 NKJV Satan is real! He knows he will lose in the end, but his desire is still to pull as many as he can into the pits of Hell with him. Nothing gives him more satisfaction than to be able to laugh in the face of God because we, the children of God, fall into sin or encounter major moral failures in our lives that damage our witness for the Lord. I, for one, want to live a victorious life. However, I am human and have my share of weaknesses. I know that i fail God more often than I care to count. But my goal, my hope, is to stand tall in the face of whatever giant Satan puts in my path and that I will remain faithful and obedient to my God, Who has redeemed me because of His great love...for me! I pray the same will be true of you. Blessings! Tony