Day 3 #2018

...Right when it appears that you have things aligned correctly...right when you feel that you're in sink at the midway point of  the New Year...it happens. Someone says something or does something that causes you to question the commitment you made just a few days a go. Where does it come from and why now? I just said "New Year, New Me....I just locked into the resolution I made privately. Why do people get out of character right when I get focused, right when I make that conscious decision to turn over that new leaf? Can I tell you why? First the adversary of our soul does not take vacations or breaks. God's word declares that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." So in laymen's terms, the battle is spiritual not physical. Our adversary stays on his job 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I am not saying it out of fear but rather making you aware that we have to be dressed appropriately to combat the opposition when he does arise. God's word also declares that we are to "put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil." Attacks come from our future and because of our future. I'll get to that shortly; but for now take a walk with me and lets see how Jesus faced scenarios like this. "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word  that proceeds from the mouth of God. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here; for it is written: "He will give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. they will lift you in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered, "It is written: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test. When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."(Luke 4:1-13).


I said that to say this - you have to stay focused - you have to stay the course! You know that God has great plans for you! You know that better days are ahead, but the adversary of our soul, the devil, desires to keep it hidden from us. Our adversary doesn't know all things but he knows somethings; and it is because of your future he and his imps fight vehemently to stop us from pressing on. How does he do that? He does it through other people. I'm not saying everything is the devil, but what I am saying that when you discover your purpose, when you begin to understand why you are here, he does everything in his might to keep you off course. Earlier I mentioned that we have to be dressed appropriately what I mean by that is: The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17).  It's early in the new year, don't let things from the past nor current opposition cause you to lose focus ~ and whatever you do, don't violate the dress code!