he knows your "thing"

In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength
Isaiah 45:24

Can I just tell you “he knows your thing”? He knows my “thing” too. I may not even know my “thing”… but he knows it. He has been watching me all my life and he knows my weakness. He knows just where to hit me to hurt me. He knows where I might fall to temptation and “he” is our enemy. He is the evil one and we absolutely must be on guard. He does not fight fair. Nothing is off limits and his desire is to steal and kill and destroy. We have to be on guard. We have to prayerfully ask ourselves “Where am I weak? Where is there insecurity? Where is there a hurt to be exploited? Where is there pride? Where have I cracked the door to compromise…even just a little? What area of my life have I not fully surrendered to Jesus Christ?” Whatever this may be… rest assured, this area has a bull’s eye on it for the enemy.

Sometimes it is easy to see other’s “thing”. When they fall we are often tempted to say “I saw that coming” and take pride that we would “never do that”. Yet, just because their “thing” isn’t our “thing” doesn’t’ mean we don’t have a “thing”. Instead of pointing out others “things” we should consider asking other Christians what our “thing” might be. We need to remember “In the LORD alone are righteous and strength” (Isa 45:24). There is much to be gained when we ask God to show us our “thing” rather than focus on others “things”. When He does, we can trust it is for our good. God will help us guard our lives so the enemy will not have his way with us.

Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me. I can approach your throne because of your righteousness not my own. Please help me to be on guard against the enemy. Please show me any area of vulnerability in my life. Help me to confess and remove sin and help me to see areas ripe for attack. Thank you for never leading me into temptation but for delivering me from the evil one. Thank you for being tempted in every way but never sinning. Thank you for shedding your blood for me and not leaving me alone to face the evil one… you alone are righteousness and strength. Amen.

Strength in the Storm

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
Psalm 107:28-29

“Life is hard. We have an enemy. May I daily cling to the Living God who has already won the victory.” I often say this to myself when the sadness of life seems to be overwhelming. When I say “Jesus is hope”… He really is. He is get-you through-the-day-hope. He keeps me going. His Word is truth and it is strength for the storm. Some days I can joyfully feel His presence and clearly see His victorious hand. But there are the other days… where the pain and sadness of life are overwhelming—almost choking. There are days when the bad news far outweighs the good and I cannot see God’s hand. It is on these days that I cling to God’s heart and all I know to be true about Him. I know God brings beauty from ashes over and over and I know one day our tears will be no more. I know God is working it all to good. I know He is healer and redeemer. There is comfort there and there is strength to go on.

I don’t know what road you are walking but I know with Whom you should be walking. Life is indeed hard. We have a very real enemy. Are you daily clinging to the Living God who has already won the victory? He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. His thoughts toward you are all good and He and He alone can take what Satan intended for evil and bring good.

Father – I love you. I need you. You are my comforter and healer. May I cling to you and stay under the shelter of your wing. Thank you for your Word which is truth and strength. Thank you for being the solid rock in a crazy world. Help me to walk with you all of my days and point others to you on this journey home. Amen.



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