Stand

The enemy of our souls prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1Peter 5:8) Today that someone was me. The battle seems to be intensifying. The enemy is toying with my mind; the more I reveal my heart, exposing the flaws of my existence, the more I am attacked. Even now I struggle to write. It reminds me of what I had set aside out of discouragement many, many months ago...my warrior's heart.

Never let down your guard, never allow the enemy a foothold, never give up or give in. These are the thoughts that seep through the haze on the battlefield of my mind.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.~Ephesians 6:13


I was reading over this particular passage when I noticed, "and after you have done everything," Did you see that? I had been feeling horrid for not doing more in my battle...for not overcoming completely at the time...for pulling away from the intensity of the battle. And then, I read this. "...and after you have done everything," ...I did all that I could do and though I thought that I should do more, I couldn't. It required the Lord to intervene.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.~1 Corinthians 10:13  After I had done all that I could, God provided a way out so I could continue to stand up even under it. That dark battle cloud still hung thick and low above me; regardless, God mercifully set my feet such that I was able to stand. I was protected from utter annihilation by the enemy.

We have a God that watches over us, that walks with us, that shields us. We can be confident that even when things become overwhelming, He is there for us. Our strategy in those times should be for us to focus on Him intently. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.~2 Corinthians 12:10

...Strong in the Lord as long as He remains the center of our lives.

Wherever you are today, keep Jesus the focus of your thoughts, words, and actions. Let Him into your day in every way so that when hardships come, you too, when you have done everything, can remain standing.