Devotionals

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Battle Lines


Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) (NIV)

We are fighting an enemy that can’t be seen in the natural, but his destructive signature is everywhere we look. First thing we must do, be able to properly identify the enemy. It’s very important to discern between friend and foe, we don’t want to draw battle lines against those in our own camp.

We must be self controlled! When we stomp around like a roaring lion, this causes confusion in the camp. And the words that you roared will not come back void; they will accomplish the purpose in which they were said. This will diminish your witness for the Lord. It is said, the Christian army is the only army that wounds its own soldiers. You don’t want to be a tool of the enemy.

Next, we must be alert! In order to be alert you must have knowledge. In battle you must know where your strengths are as well as the strong holds of your enemy. You must know were your support teams are and your back ups. If you don’t know where your strengths are you can become injured or a fatality.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

Brethren, our strength is in the Lord Jesus Christ. You must know His word, it’s quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Through Jesus, the enemy is exposed. Discernment is essential; it enables us to properly identifying the enemy. There is only one enemy and he wages war against our souls and he’s not of flesh and blood.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

When someone gets in your face or spreads false accusation against you, put on self control and turn the other cheek, go the extra mile! He/She isn't your enemy! In their weakened state the father of lies uses them to throw his fiery darts. Whether they are followers of the way or not, we must lift them up in prayer. Be alert to his wiles, he knows he can cause more damage if he uses someone from your inner circle to attack you. Look what Judas done to Jesus, he turned him over to a death squad. But little did he know.

Brethren the battle line was drawn a long time ago. This battle isn’t yours or mine, it’s the Lords!

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
18And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. (2 Chronicles 20:17,18)

Fall before the Lord and worship Him! The battle’s not yours, it’s His!

Lord, we thank you for loving us enough to fight the battles we face. It’s in your strength that we walk in victory. Increase our hunger for your word; we want to know you more intimately. Clothe us in Your Spirit with self control and awareness and grant us discernment of the spirits. Amen!

© Randall Wadley 2007

All scriptures are quoted from the King James Version unless noted.

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