Resources for Victory

 

Today’s devotional begins with, “In Christ you have every resource necessary for spiritual victory.” However, after yesterday, I’m thinking “in Christ, I have resources for victory over everything.”

With some amusement, I’ve been imagining a newspaper story that begins with: “Eighty-one-year old woman tumbles down circular staircase at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and gets up smiling with only a few bruises. Her son thinks she moonlights as a stunt woman.”

Even though I’d now change ‘few’ to ‘several’, I’m still smiling. Jesus is my Savior from sin — including self-pity and a focus on my own comfort. So, I hurt. Is that any different than losing my car keys or dropping a bowl of stew inside the frig? Joy is not about external comforts.

Would I feel the same way if bones were broken, an ambulance called, and I was in a hospital bed? God knows, but I believe in the power of God to overcome a ‘poor me’ attitude just as He can overcome the obvious doubt and fears that the devil always tries to produce.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10–11)

MacArthur explains that Satan opposes God and wants to prevent believers from glorifying Him by convincing them that he is either so strong we cannot defeat him, or so weak we can fight him in our own strength. However, when Jesus comes alongside instantly, He demonstrates that no matter what the enemy tries to do, He can rescue me:

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

My resources alone cannot defeat a spiritual enemy or the power of the old nature to be self-centered, but Jesus can and this shouts the vital reason for being in Scripture and understanding what I have in Christ.

Ephesians 1 has an incredible list that includes: every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places; chosen in him before the foundation of the world; becoming holy and blameless before him; in love predestined for adoption according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious grace; blessed in the Beloved; redemption through his blood; forgiveness of our trespasses; grace lavished wisdom and insight; knowing the mystery of his will and his plan to unite all things in him; faith to believe; sealed with the Holy Spirit; our inheritance guaranteed; ; all to the praise of his glory;  . . .  and the prayers of others for greater knowledge of Christ, enlightened to know our hope and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:3–18) His grace adds:

According to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16–21)

Think of it — the people of God represent the power of God in this world — the same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of the Father, and subjected all things under His feet . . .  

Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:21–23)

Who can stand against the sovereignty of God? He tells me to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” by putting on the armor He supplies: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the written Word, and the privilege of prayer. No matter what the enemy does, even pushing old ladies down some stairs (it felt like that), I can remain focused on Jesus instead of the results of the devil’s efforts. Jesus does not want me to live anxiously and fearing Satan’s attacks or anything else, but keep my heart focused on Him and the resources He has given me.

PRAY: Jesus, I understand that spiritual warfare is anything that threatens to take away my trust in You. It can be events and people, inner attitudes, anything that seems like You have forgotten me or are not protecting or loving me. Keep me in Your Word and trusting You with all my heart.

PONDER: Read Matthew 4:1–11 and think how I can better use Scripture when Satan’s attacks tell me lies about who I am in Christ or about all that the Lord has done for or promised me.

 

 

Be Prepared

Today’s devotional is about being prepared for spiritual battles. While many of them involve outside forces that test my faith or try to ruin my testimony, I am experiencing one that is about my trust in God no matter what happens to me personally.

Yesterday was my son’s wedding. The reception was at one of the best restaurants in Canada. Hubby dropped me at the door and went to park our vehicle. It was dark in the foyer. The hostess led me toward the stairs down to the special room for wedding guests. I could not see well and stepped into air, thankfully turned sideways and rolled halfway down the curve staircase. My first thought was that nothing was broken, but intense pain kept me motionless for several minutes. Staff were there to help, bring ice, and their worries. I spent the rest of the evening watching the bruises appear and assuring family and friends that I was going to survive.

This morning, it still hurts to breathe or blow my nose, and the toes on my left foot are very colorful. A few other places hurt to touch, but the amazing part is that this seems as a normal part of life as making the bed or looking for my car keys. Challenging, inconvenient, but I’m not mad at myself or complaining.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10–11)

The Lord has been at work. A month of thinking about His love and caring more about others than myself showed up in this event. Would I be worried about me and agonize over the way my body feels? It may come later, but my mind is on the delights of this wedding, the fun everyone had, and the deeply touching words of love and respect for each other expressed by the bride and groom have completely over-shadowed my situation. All I can say is, “Thank You, Jesus.”

MacArthur says adequate preparation is the key to spiritual victory. He illustrates with a recent physical war, yet points to spiritual warfare as needing the same preparation. This passage in Ephesians begins with, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” and a description of putting on the armor that God gives us to win those battles, many times against doubt and fear. A few days ago, I used a quote: “Let the promises of God shine on your problems.” That is impossible if I don’t know what those promises are!

This preparation for battle means never neglecting prayer, worship, Bible study, accountability, and the other disciplines of faith. I know Jesus can deliver me even if I’m totally helpless, but He tells me to not be content with ignorant helplessness. I’m to know who He is and how He works so when the devil throws doubts, fears, and threats my way, it is easy to rely on the Lord rather than get in a panic when the challenges come.

As today’s devotional says, Christ guarantees ultimate victory, but I can lose individual battles if I neglect being prepared. It’s even possible to lapse into periods of spiritual lethargy, indifference, impotency, and ineffectiveness, but that’s utterly inconsistent with what the NT says to those who serve the Lord:

This charge I entrust to you . . .  my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith. (1 Timothy 1:18-19)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, keep me alert to what is going on when I begin to focus on anything else but You and Your great power. Thank You for protecting me in those times when I didn’t have my armor on and showing me what was missing to better prepare me for battle. I am especially thankful for a month of focusing on Your love and how I can show it to others, and staying filled with those thoughts last evening even when my body is screaming at me to feel sorry for myself. You are utterly amazing.

PONDER: No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits (or worldly motivations or selfish thinking), since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (2 Timothy 2:4)