Don’t you just hate him? He
deserves no mention. But reality plops him right before us. And to make it
worse, his presence invades our life with daring boldness precisely when God is
working something good through us.
You know who I’m talking about. Here’s a disgusting
example of his audacity: “One day the angels came to present themselves before
the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you
come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the
earth and going back and forth in it." (Job 1:6-7)
Did he say ‘the earth?’ Gulp. Friend, you and I are on
that same earth on which he roams. And we need to watch out because “the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
He’s probably licking his lips, staring at us. I’m not
about to become his lunch or spiritual snack, are you? Of course not; we’ll
resist him to the end. But here’s a bit of sobering news: the battle is not
easy. He can be crafty, deceptive, and vicious and yes, he can fill our heart
and mind with lies. He’s the master at them. And, as the Bible says, he’s “the
father of lies.”
David knew this. Remember him as a boy? He was
scrawny, a bit of a shy kid, the youngest of his brothers and probably voted the
“least likely to succeed” in the senior class of the local Shepherd high school.
But even as a teen, a bit smelly of sheep wool and
with mud caked on his sandals, he had a powerful message for me and you.
When God chose him to defeat Goliath, the enemy tried
to whisper lies through opposition that came from all sides. His brothers
chorused discouragement, people shook their heads doubting his abilities, King
Saul scratched his head with bewilderment, and when Goliath saw David’s size, he
laughed at him.
But David had a plan. He quickly took off the armor
King Saul had given him. The metals and chains were way too cumbersome for his
thin body. Instead, he put into practice the plan that defies logic.
It was the same one he had used to bring down those
mean bears and lions. He had the weapon—not a rifle, a shotgun, a knife or
sword. And he didn’t trust in the smooth rocks in his sling either. He trusted
in a greater and mightier weapon—the power of God.
Have you faced those giants that loom over you? They
mock your courage and laugh at your faith? The lies from the enemy fuel your
fear.
The lies that say your 2-inch faith is no match for
the 9 foot giant of troubles you face. The deception that repeats you’ll never
see relief, healing or triumph.
We’ve all faced that at one time or another. In
desperation, we put on that armor—belief and trust in our own abilities, wisdom,
and solutions. But dragging ourselves to the battlefield, we find that human
armor hinders us; it’s too heavy with pride.
Amigas, that’s when you and I do what David did: We
shed that prideful armor and pull out our best weapon. David was bold as we
should be, he’s defiant like we have to be, and he’s truthful to declare to whom
belongs the victory.
“David said to the Philistine, "You come against me
with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD
Almighty…” (1 Samuel 17: 45)
Did you read that? The God David spoke about is not
just any god, He’s the Lord almighty, creator of the universe, and immensely
powerful.
Troubles can come from all sides bearing the sword of
anguish, the spear of anxiety and the javelin of fear. But you and I, amigas,
come in the name of the Lord--with confidence, with resolve and trust that
through Christ, the victory is already won.
And holding the smooth stones of faith, bearing the
spiritual weapon of God’s faithfulness, we can face any giant in the name of the
Lord.
While you read this, what giant looms over you right
now? And…are Satan’s lies ringing in your ears, or is God’s truth resonating in
your heart?
I had to make that choice. In his devious craftiness,
he lied to me when he said I’d never find peace after my son was killed. But his
lies are no match for God’s truth, To God’s power of restoring what was broken,
to heal that which seared, and to defeat the giant who threatens our peace.
To the world, our problems seem gigantic, to God they
are miniscule.
“We all have a choice: either to live hoping for
blessings, or bless the hope we already have in Christ.” -- Janet
Janet Eckles jeckles@cfl.rr.com http://www.janetperezeckles.com/
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.