Tag Archives: battle

January 9, 2015

Day Four: Stand Your Ground

By marilynnchadwick

It’s not too late to jump on board as we begin Day Four of the  21 Day Fast for Pastor Saeed.  The Bible teaches that fasting and prayer can help us break through stubborn problems.  Fasting helps us cast those troubles into God’s strong hands.

Yesterday, I talked about the importance of approaching a fast with humility.   When we are feeling weak, it’s easier to lean into God’s power.  By giving up food or social media or whatever, we have little reminders throughout the day to pray.  Think I’ll have some chocolate…oops…guess not.  That’s my trigger to pray for Pastor Saeed.

It’s never easy to say “No” to hunger pains, or shopping, or Facebook, or TV.  But this 21 Day Fast requires an extra measure of the Holy Spirit’s strength.  That’s because we’re fasting for something of tremendous importance: Pastor Saeed’s release from prison.

You’re also fasting and praying for strongholds in your own life to be defeated.  Our battle is a spiritual one. The Bible says that our struggle is not against flesh and blood and things we can see, but against the “rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

“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 NIV).”

Take a closer look at the the spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6:10-17.  You’ll realize the armor that we are “putting on” is Jesus.  Friends, only Jesus can defeat the enemy of our soul.  The Bible says we are to resist the devil and trust the Lord to gain the victory.  That means that our fight is to stand in the faith that Jesus accomplished our victory on the cross.  Prayer and fasting drive that truth deep.

A spiritual warfare tactic to memorize as you pray and fast:  “Submit to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7 NIV).”   The devil is a defeated foe.  Stand your ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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December 4, 2013

breakthrough in battle

By marilynnchadwick

Do you ever feel like some problems just won’t budge?  You can’t seem to win your spiritual battle, no matter how much you pray and pray and pray?  Perhaps you need a breakthrough.

Breakthrough was first used as a military term to signify an offensive thrust past the defensive lines of warfare. The word entered the realm of common speech during the technological age, often used to describe a sudden discovery or invention.  Breakthroughs usually occur only after repeated failures.

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July 11, 2013

joyful destroyer

By marilynnchadwick

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).

Destroyer. I’ve never thought of Jesus as a destroyer.  Destruction is pretty much the devil’s domain. Yet John tells us that Jesus came to earth to “destroy the devil’s work.”

Let’s face it. The devil likes to sin. He’s been “sinning from the beginning” (1 John 3:8).  His diabolical mission is to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10) and his handiwork includes death, disease, strife, hatred, and all the miseries known to man.

I imagine that Jesus felt triumphant after  He defeated the devil. The writer of Hebrews tells us it was for “the joy set before him that Jesus endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).

The concept of Jesus as a “joyful destroyer” came alive for me the other day as I headed out for my usual jog around the neighborhood.  I had spent my morning quiet time reflecting on this passage, from 1 John 3, especially verse 8: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”  I found myself repeating this verse over and over in my mind (this is called meditation) as I headed out for my run.

As I rounded the corner, I noticed a pickup truck stopped at the end of the long driveway we share with a few other families. Two workers had gotten out of the truck to inspect what appeared to be a tire in the middle of our driveway.  As I jogged closer, I was struck by a sickening realization.  The object was not a tire but a very large snake. And did I mention? I HATE snakes!

The older of the two gentlemen proceeded to grab a rake out of the back of his pickup and strike the snake sharply on the head. The beast reared up and hissed.  Ugh.  I could swear the man was smiling as he whacked the snake again and again into the next kingdom.

He finally put the snake out of its misery and held up his trophy to display its full length (four or five feet).  And then he looked at me and laughed.  “That old snake was just waiting to get those little legs.”  Mr. Truesdale was the man’s name, and I could tell he enjoyed the rescue immensely. I could have hugged him.

I continued my run and kept thinking about how much joy Jesus must have felt when he defeated his enemy, the “ancient serpent” as he’s called in the book of Revelation (20:2).

Jesus also destroyed death, the devil’s major work. In so doing, He brought eternal life to you and to me and to all who would believe in Him. This is the victory that brought Him the greatest  joy.  It brings me joy, too, for it means I will live with Him forever.

Pray now and ask God to show you someone who needs to hear about Jesus today.  I pray for just the right opportunity for you to share this Good News.

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February 11, 2013

hunger!

By marilynnchadwick

For forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry (Luke 4:   NIV).

Hunger!  Defined as “a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food.”  Hunger can range from a vague emptiness to a desperate urge.  Most of us wouldn’t choose to feel hungry.   And yet, that’s what Jesus did when He fasted in the desert for forty days while He resisted the devil’s temptations.  I’ve wondered why He would intentionally weaken Himself physically just when He needed His strength the most.   Continue reading

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