Monday, March 31, 2008

Prepared for Skirmishes

Be prepared.
You’re up against
far more than you
can handle on your own.

Ephesians 6:13a (The Message)

Images of disaster flash across the screen with the words, Are you prepared? Disaster kits should be purchased, lists downloaded of essential supplies, storage bins packed with food stuffs and additional medicines. And, of course, one can’t forget the pets, one must be prepared for them as well.

How about being spiritually prepared? Our world is in turmoil due to a battle being fought. A battle of good versus evil. In other words, God and Satan are fighting for our lives. For some the mere mention of evil is an opportunity for scoffing. Believing that an evil entity exists is unnerving. And yet, Ephesians reminds us that we are not in a battle against the things that we see but against the stuff that is unseen. That’s scary! So, how can one do battle against the unseen?

Be prepared. God has given us a spiritual can’t do without list. In the beginning God gave the presence of Himself to His people, Jesus then came bringing a new way of living pointing the way to God. At Jesus’ death a Comforter is promised, the Holy Spirit, who comes and continues the work of God the Father and Son. God has everything in hand. We can relax.

No! You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Just "believing" in God won’t help in the battle. Knowing God, intimately, provides the essentials (read Ephesians 6:10-18). This kind of intimacy requires one’s personal time–lots of it. But the resulting spiritual preparedness will win the inevitable skirmishes.

Jesus, thank you for being
beside me in this unseen battle.
Open my spirit, my eyes, my heart
to Your presence.
I want to take the time needed
to know you intimately
.
Amen.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You should know that reading today's bog was uncanny considering the recent promise I made. The battle to challenge me in my promise is heating up. Through your comments, the Lord has spoken to me with words of instruction and encouragement. Bless you!