Corona Devo 3195
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. ~Psalm 34:7
It is interesting, fascinating...wild even--to consider the brushes that we have with danger or with evil, or with things that we do not want to have brushes with. And many times they occur, and we have no idea how close we have come to something unpleasant, or worse...and yet we were untouched.
But, I testify today to the strength and the protection of the umbrella of our Lord that we stand under as His children. (And that we sometimes huddle under), but either way, we are under his covering.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~Psalm 46:1
We have a mousetrap in our garage. Not because we have mice, but because I never want mice. I look to that trap every day just to be sure it's still empty.
But what I saw the other day gave me the chills, and I still can't really explain why (because I can't fully identify the culprit).
There were paw prints on the sticky paper of the trap that was placed very near our back door. I can't quite tell if the tracks are a skunk or a raccoon, or something else, but whatever it was, a wild creature was right outside our back door.
How that animal stepped on a sticky-trap, and remained unstuck, and the trap in perfect place...I'll never know, but what I do know is that although the tracks remained, there was/has been no trace of the actual animal, and (thankfully) we were not affected or harmed by it.
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. ~2 Thessalonians 3:3
I see the animal-footprint-imprinted sticky-trap as a real-time picture of the brushes that we experience all the time with things-unknown, and yet things that we are protected from by our Heavenly Father.
We may have fears of a world war or people that could come against us with weapons, but the odds of that reaching our doorstep seem to be small. However, the Bible alerts and cautions us that the wars that we (more often) face are not physical, but spiritual and unseen.
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. ~Ephesians 6:12
It is possible and probable that we have had many brushes with darkness and even wickedness today. And yet we have been unaware of it. Our Lord watches over His children, but being aware of our battles is necessary too, because we have to be on our spiritual guard.
Have we any idea that the devil prowls around, seeking to devour us?
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ~I Peter 5:8
The evil one is no boogeyman. He is real, and he is as close as our backdoor step.
Culture trivializes and even glorifies satan. This is a mistake.
While I waited in line to check out at a store the other day, a young woman in line behind me had a t-shirt on that screamed in large letters: "satan is my daddy".
Evil and wickedness are nothing to toy with, Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (9) (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) (10) and find out what pleases the Lord. (11) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (12) It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (13) But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. (14) This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
(15) Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, (16) making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ~Ephesians 5:8-17
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If we can see the battle for what it is: then, we can address it. We can have defense against it, and we can even have offense prior to it.
Satan's paw prints are all over this world and they come dangerously close to us more often than we realize or know.
But we are protected from him by the blood of the Lamb.
The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
(10) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (11) They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... ~Revelation 12:9-11
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We do not walk alone or unaided in this world.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. ~Psalm 139:5
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We need not fear (even) the unseen realm, because our Lord has dominion over what we see, and what we do not see.
Even the demons know that.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, (34) “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
(35) “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
(36) All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” ~Luke 4:33-36
Even the demons.
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I would have never known that a raccoon or skunk (or something with similar tracks to them) was right at our back door, but when I saw the tracks...it stopped me in my tracks.
Let the truth of what we face today--both seen and unseen stop us in our tracks.
There's no need for us to be naive about the spiritual realm. But there is also no need for us to be afraid.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(7) Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. (8) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” ~Deuteronomy 31:6-8
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So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10
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You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. ~Psalm 32:7
Blessings,
sarah
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