Priscilla Shirer presented a thought last night that I have been thinking about since the words passed through her lips….. “What a shame it would be for the enemy to believe more about my potential in Christ than I even believe!”
It’s true. The enemy is an informed scoundrel. He knows about the power of God. He flees at the presence of God. Am I going to live with the enemy wreaking havoc in my life? Or am I going to walk in the power of Christ?
I have had my fair share of challenges over the past couple of months—these challenges are unique to me and where God has me and they’re not to be compared to someone else’s trials or weighed on a “whose trial is substantial enough to be presented to the Lord” scale. They are mine. They are real.
So last night when I walked into the large gathering with some of my friends and we found our seats, chatted together and then stood up to sing when the praise and worship began, I wasn’t exactly feeling victory and strength. More like tired and beaten down, less-than and weak.
One of the first songs we sang was “Our God is Greater.”
“Our God is greater, Our God is stronger. God, You are higher than any other.”
I sang the words. I believe those words.
Then, there was this part.
“And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?”
You repeat that over and over and it is meant to be sung with conviction and victory! It’s a rhetorical question, of course….NO ONE, NOTHING can stop us or stand us against us if we have God on our side, living inside!
And yet….here I was feeling ridiculous singing those words because all week I have lived off and on in that truth. The reality of my week would reveal that I indeed think that some people can stop me and some things can stand against me and are stronger than Christ in me. (Again, I KNOW the Truth. I wasn’t living it this week.)
So maybe you’re like me and need a reminder that God is for you, God is with you. No one can stop you and nothing can stand against you in victory!
What tries to stand against us? Stop us?
– it isn’t the health issues
– it isn’t the 3 year old that makes constant messes
– it isn’t the preteen that doesn’t listen to you
– it isn’t the laundry that never ends
– it isn’t the chores that are done half-heartedly by the child who should know better by now
– it isn’t the husband’s phone
– it isn’t the never ending to-do list
– it isn’t the grief that won’t let go
– it isn’t your past that rears its ugly head at all the wrong times
– it isn’t that family issue that won’t just go away
– it isn’t sleepless nights
It’s the enemy. He tries because he knows and believes that God has great things for you. He knows God has victorious living for you. He knows that God is all-powerful. He knows that God works all things together for good for those who know and love God.
He knows what Romans 16:20 says, “The God of Peace will soon crush satan under your feet.”
He knows that “…the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
He knows that when God arises, the enemies scatter and those who hate God flee before Him (Psalm 68:1).
Psalm 30:1 and Psalm 41:11 remind him that because of Christ, the enemy does not rejoice over me or shout in triumph over me.
Do you know that? Do I know and believe these truths?
Ephesians 6:12 hits the nail on the head. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Remember who the enemy is.
Remember Who the Great I AM is.
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Ephesians 3 :20-21 “Now to HIM who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.”
