Corona Devo 1579

Don’t be duped or deceived today.  

Rather…we must stop being duped about what we are wrestling against. 

The Bible gives us direction in every Chapter of every Book, but one of Paul’s final pieces of advice for followers-of-Christ in the Book of Ephesians was for us to know what we’re up against, and not to be confused, duped, or deceived by the schemes of the devil.

What does Paul mean?

God’s Word is warning and strengthening us today to not be deceived about our battles, our enemies, and what we wrestle against. 

We don’t wrestle against the government.

We don’t wrestle against cancer or disease, or the pain we are experiencing today.

We don’t wrestle against our marriage or spouse.

We don’t wrestle against children that are disinterested in God.

We don’t wrestle against the environment, pandemics, or anxiety.

We don’t wrestle against the environment, the atmosphere, or aliens.

We don’t (even) wrestle against death.

Don’t be duped or deceived today about what we are wrestling against. 

For we do not wrestle 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.  ~Ephesians 6:12

Intimidated?  We should be. The knowledge revealed in this verse is frightening.  And enlightening.

Don’t be duped: Everything that we wrestle against is disguised under these guises.

It’s not our boss, our spouse, our kids, the Cancer, the pain, the unfairness, the sorrow, the addiction, the fear or ANYTHING else that we are wrestling against today.  We may think that those things/people/situations are what we are wrestling against, but Paul cautions and alerts us to think again today, and to open our eyes.

Don't be duped!  We…wrestle against flesh and blood,…rulers, …authorities, … powers of this dark world, …and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

~~~

God’s Word encourages and equips us today to:

#1: See what we wrestle against for what it is

#2: Suit up.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  ~Ephesians 6:12

Does life sometimes seem heavy?  Dark? 

Do we watch the news or walk downtown, or look out our front door and wonder what in the world has gone wrong with our world?  (And how we can make it right?)

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  ~Ephesians 6:10  

Lord, we ask in humility and submission today that you would equip us to be strong in You and in the strength of Your might.  You alone know what we wrestle against internally and what we will face externally today, and we ask You to suit-us-up.  

Help us, Father, by the knowledge and power of Your Word--- to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we know, Lord, that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  This is a terrifying realization, but it's also a call-to-action, and we stand at the ready as Your footmen.  Therefore, enable and empower us to take up the whole armor of God today, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm today.  Amen (Ephesians 6:10-13).

~~~

We've been duped into thinking/experiencing/wrestling some people and circumstances that we have no business battling.  

The good and bad news is that what we wrestle is much bigger and darker than all of that.   

But the good and better news is that we serve a God who is powerful and sovereign, and Who shines light into the darkness.  These schemes are His battles, not ours, and our only requirements today are to be strong, to put on the armor of God, and to stand firm.

Don’t be duped or deceived today about what we are wrestling against.  Let the Lord open our eyes and strengthen our resolve to stand firm in Him and in the strength of His might.

~~~

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  ~Ephesians 6:10-13

 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com


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