Stand

“[The Armor of God] 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.” -Ephesians 6:10-11

When God is at God's best that is when the devil works the hardest. The devil is not like God. The devil is not all powerful or all knowing. The devil is not capable of being in all places at all times. The devil is limited.

We sometimes give the devil too much credit. We also sometimes do the devils work for him. This being said, the devil is still real and the devil is still working in our world and working against God. But, because of the devils limits the devil can only do so much. It has been my experience that when we are running from God and being disobedient, the devil is not working on us because there is no reason to. We are doing just fine on our own ignoring God and living by our own plans. Since the devil cant be everywhere he is not going to work on people when they are far from God. It is the people close to God that the devil is going to work on. When God is as his best that is when the devil works his hardest. It is in these moment that we must be prepared to take our stand against the devil. We prepare ourselves to stand against the evil one by "putting on the full armor of God."

What jumps out at me in this passage is that it is not by our power and might that we are able to stand up to the devil's schemes. It is by God's. It is by leaning on and trusting in God. In God's word. In God's salvation. In God's protection. In God's strength.

Don't give in to the devils schemes. Don't do the devils work for him. Do give the devil more power or credit that he deserves. Say, "Satan get out of my way." Take your stand in the power of Christ.

Love today.

In Christ's love and mine,

Doug