Fighting an intimidating enemy?
When I woke up this morning, I felt this burning sensation just above my lip. So I went to look at my face in my bathroom mirror. I noticed a small scratch with a little bit of blood oozing out of it.
That’s odd, I thought to myself. I didn’t have this scratch before I went to bed last night. I guess, Daily Cup family, during the night, somehow, I accidentally scratched myself. The scratch is about a half-inch long, and I scraped the skin off.
Isn’t it always strange and annoying when you notice that you’ve injured yourself, but you don’t understand quite how or when it happened?
Nobody likes to be in pain obviously. But we especially don’t like the kind we don’t fully understand. For instance, when I was sick for two years, doctors didn’t know the source of my pain and chronic illness. Talk about frustrating!
I remember writing in my book, God Did It, about how distressing the discovery process was. I don’t know how many medical professionals (before discovering that I had two autoimmune diseases) tried to convince me that it was all in my head. They suggested that my own stress and anxiety levels were causing the debilitating pain and other troubling symptoms.
I completely lost it one day during an ER visit. I was crying and shaking. I’d had all I could take. I told that ER doctor, “Please stop telling me it’s all in my head. I know something is going on. Please find it.”
Have you ever been desperate to find answers? Desperate to discover solutions? Desperate to stop the hurting? Desperate to end the suffering?
If so, I can relate.
I know it’s a New Year, but every struggle that was still hanging around at 11:59 PM on December 31, 2018 didn’t magically disappear at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2019. And if you’re truthful about it, you’re ready for the heartache, difficulties, and challenging circumstances to be over. You want Jesus to instantly calm the stormy seas of life. If you don’t give up, you’ll see things change. Hang on in there.
“Change is coming. The biggest blessings come after the hardest-fought battles. ”
In Genesis 14, during a fierce battle, Abraham, known as the Father of Faith, went through a hard situation. His nephew Lot, who was living in Sodom at the time, was taken captive. Lot’s possessions were stolen. Even the women and children in that same region were taken hostage.
When an escapee came and told Abraham what had happened to his relative, Abraham sprang into action, and armed all 318 of his trained servants. Together, they pursued and defeated King Kedorlaomer and his allies—the ones that captured and raided the people living in that territory.
By the grace of God, Abraham (called Abram at the time) and his army recovered all the stolen goods. They also brought back Lot, as well as the women and children. After that robbery and subsequent hard-fought battle, a man named Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and a priest—a typology of Christ—pronounced a blessing over Abraham’s life.
He said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
As you can see, Abraham used his physical weapons and his army, but it was God who delivered the enemy into his hands.
Friend, know that it is God who will deliver you. You’re not in this battle alone, although it may feel like it at times. Just remain persistent in prayer, steadfast in faith, consistent in praise and worship, and rooted in the word of God. As long as these areas are covered, you’ll be alright.
I know it’s not easy. That's why God has you reading this word of encouragement today. I don’t know what battle you’re facing, but God is fighting for you.
You may feel just like Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20. A strong alliance of enemies came against them, and they didn’t feel like they would win.
But God sent a prophetic word through Jahaziel in verse 15, saying, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
Furthermore, in verse 17, God said, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
The next day, just as God said, Jehoshaphat and Judah didn’t even have to lift a finger against their enemies. Rather than fight physically, Jehoshaphat appointed people to sing unto the Lord.
Verse 22 tells us when Judah sang and praised, God sent ambushes against their enemies, and defeated the opposition on their behalf.
Praise was Judah’s weapon. But God fought the battle. And that’s the good news for you. God is fighting for you.
Right now, you may be going through something too difficult to fix. You may be facing an intimidating enemy. You’re not reading this by accident. Your life may feel broken beyond repair. You need guidance and direction. The war the enemy has waged against you might go well beyond your capacity to fight … in the natural.
But don’t fear. The Lord fights for you, and you will recover all.
To remind you to use your weapons, I’m stirring 2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know this: it may not look like it now, but God is going to spoil the enemy’s plan, and give you the spoils of war. Don’t be intimidated. The enemy may be using mighty weapons, and coming forcefully against you. But guess what? Your weapons are mightier. And your God is greater!
Now let’s pray.
God, in my flesh, I feel intimidated by the battles I must fight. Thank You for reminding me that I am not fighting on my own, and I have no reason to be intimidated by the threats of the enemy. I rejoice that You are securing victory for me at every turn. In times of trouble and distress, help me remain fully confident that I am already victorious through You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
