I think we have all heard someone say, “The devil made me do it,” whether in jest or seriously. We know that we all are born with a sinful nature. Yet, too often we have not properly guarded our gates. We have allowed the enemy a foothold in our lives. He has been able to slither his way in and distort the truth of God’s word. If he cannot kill or destroy us, he will certainly distract, discourage and deter us from our God-given purpose in the earth. He will do all that he can to steal our faith. He may not completely take our faith from us. However, he may be successful in planting fear and doubt that stops us in our tracks.
I recently heard someone say that the enemy is not after our marriages, our families and relationships, although he will use them as a means to accomplish his goal. Ultimately, he is after our faith. If he can manipulate us into losing our faith or at the very least doubting it, he will be successful in usurping the power of God in our lives. Therefore, it is imperative that we armor up and stand firm in our faith!
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with 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.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:10-18
We have the full armor of God at our disposal at all times. We must use the armor he has given us. It gives us the power to defeat the enemy and thwart all of his schemes. We hold our faith shields high and keep the enemy under our feet! Do not lose hope! He is already a defeated foe! He knows his time is short so he will move with great intent, often very subtlety, looking for any opportunity to throw us off the path God has set before us.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8
We must stay alert and on guard, watching and praying not just for ourselves but for others. May we properly guard our gates and stay in the Word of God, reading it, studying it and getting it deeply embedded within our hearts and minds. May our roots grow down deep so that no storm we encounter in this life will shake us. Let us all be intercessory prayer warriors, storming heaven’s gates for the lost and wayward souls. The enemy has nothing on God’s army when we carry each other’s burdens and walk in unity. We fight our battles together!
Father God, we exalt Your holy Name. We love you, Lord. Thank you for loving us and giving us all that we need to live a godly life. Thank you for giving us the weapons to fight the enemy of our souls. Thank you for the gift of a family of believers to walk with us and help us our fight battles. Your grace has saved us and continues to sustain us. We thank you that we never have to navigate this life on our own. Please help us to walk according to your Spirit and meditate on your Word so that we stay rooted and grounded in our faith. We will not be shaken! Thank you, Lord! You are our mighty fortress, our shield and our deliverer, our rock! May we never forget that our God is greater than any battle we face. With you, nothing is impossible. Guide us and strengthen us to be strong and courageous for we know you are always with us. You never sleep nor slumber. We give you all the honor, glory, and praise, in the Mighty, Matchless Name of Jesus! Amen and Amen!
By Lanette Black, IWM’s Secretary for the Board of Directors
