I woke up this morning feeling much a part of the DCC (Discouraged Christian’s Club). In truth I wanted to pull the covers over my head when the alarm went off and let the day go on without me. I’d gone to sleep with discouragement as my stony pillow. I did shrug off the desire to stay in bed and got up to ready myself for the day.
As I worked through the morning the Lord has also allowed me to work through the discouragement. I thought about my God. I am reminded that He cares for me. (I Peter 5:7) I remember that “Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12) I already have victory because of the cross of my Savior. It is God that worketh in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13) He can give me new strength today to live for Him and to stand for what is right. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. (II Corinthians 10:4)
I have also given some consideration to my enemy and what he is like. He hates me and doesn’t want me to succeed in my Christian life. His tools are deceit, lies, hatred, and death in relationships, fruitfulness and spiritual growth. Satan would love it if I would do what my flesh wants to do this morning – hang it up! Quit! He uses the things that are closest to my heart to move me to a place where I would be useless to the Lord today.
However, by God’s grace I am not quitting. I stand with Joshua and Caleb facing the giants of the land armed with the promises of God’s Word. I’m smart enough to see that during a week of revival meetings the devil would love to cause trouble, and what a good place to start – in the pastor’s home! At a time when some good decisions have been made in the hearts of our family I realize that my enemy is lurking, prowling, and hungry being the roaring lion that he is likened to in Scripture. I’ve found myself singing the song I taught my girls when they were little:
That old devil is a sly old fox,
If I could catch him I’d put him in a box,
Lock the lid and throw away the key,
For all those tricks he’s played on me!
Thank the Lord for the victory we have in Christ. If discouragement is breathing down your neck or lurking in the back door of your house today, be encouraged – Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. (I John 4:4)
RefreshHer 