Corona Devo 625

Sometimes, confrontation is necessary, but we must be properly suited up against our adversary.

Do you have an adversary today? Maybe it's that person. Taunting. Flaunting. Bullying us continually through word, deed or even the mental war that wages in our minds concerning them.

Or maybe it's that situation. At work, at home, in our head, or in the world. It won't go away and every day it taunts us, flaunts itself in front of us. Wages a war in our heart and mind.

And sometimes, our worst and most critical adversary is ourselves. Critical. Negative. Taunting the worth of others over us. Flaunting our failures every morning and evening.

Whatever it is, we all have giants looming over us somewhere in our lives. We can avoid them sometimes, but there are seasons when our adversaries tower over us. We feel tiny as they tower over us.

Over time, we perceive the situation or person to be invincible, and we become used to cowering before it. The intimidation of it has enslaved us.

But just because something or someone appears to have the upper hand, does not mean that it does. And just because a situation seems hopeless, doesn't mean that it is.

Not if the Lord has any say in it and our lives. And He does.

The Israelites had become accustomed to cowering before a bully named Goliath. None of them remembered the hope and strength that God provides and so they weren't wearing any of God's armor.

Confrontation was necessary, but they were not properly (mentally or spiritually) suited up against their adversary:

The Philistines now mustered their army for battle... (2) Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. (3) So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.

(4) Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! (5) He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. (6) He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. (7) The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.  His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

(8) Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! (9) If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! (10) I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” (11) When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.

(16) For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.  ~I Samuel 17:1-11, 16

But just because something or someone appears to have the upper hand, does not mean that it does. And just because a situation seems hopeless, doesn't mean that it is.

Not if the Lord has any say in it and our lives. And He does.

Yes, we each have "Goliath" situations/people in our lives, but we each also have the Lord in our lives!

Goliath had some serious "armor": a bronze helmet, bronze coat of mail, bronze leg armor, a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear...weighed 15 pounds (I Samuel 17:5-7).

Those that oppose God are girded up, and we must put on the full armor of God to get properly suited up before confrontation.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (11) Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (12) 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. (13) 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. (14) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (15) and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (16) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (17) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  ~Ephesians 6:10-17

It's all there.  Every piece of our Godly "armor" has purpose and protects us from our adversaries.

We do not need to cower.  Whatever situation/person/battle/self-talk has been bullying, taunting, flaunting, and waging war over our heart and minds needs to be confronted today.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand (Ephesians 6:11).

Just because something or someone appears to have the upper hand, does not mean that it does. And just because a situation seems hopeless, doesn't mean that it is.

Not if the Lord has any say in it and our lives. And He does.

In the Goliath story, there was one man courageous and faithful enough to suit up in God's armor and he conquered the giant.

In Christ, we can do the same. Gird (to prepare oneself for action) up in His armor today.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com