Corona Devo 3256
Ever feel alone in our pursuit of living for the Lord?
Like we are isolated, secluded, and standing alone in this campaign for Christ and in following His steps?
If we feel alone today in serving the Lord...keep standing.
Don't give up even when conditions are harsh and dry.
Stand for the Lord.
Stand for His glory and for His Name to be known.
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. ~Ephesians 6:10-16
It can be lonely in our walk with the Lord, but there is strength in numbers, and there are numbers that know Him and serve Him.
Go to church.
Join a Bible study.
Start(!) a Bible study.
Our strength is in the Lord (“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." ~Exodus 15:2), but our encouragement can often be found in serving the Lord alongside of others. We need God's people (and God's people need us!)
- "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” ~Matthew 18:20
- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: (10) If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (11) Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12-13
- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~I Thessalonians 5:11
It's going to be difficult sometimes, and our journey in proclaiming Christ is going to be uphill and lonely some days.
And if we are old in the faith, we have lived that.
The path to seeking our Savior can be a solitary one, however, it is a part of our call in serving Him.
- “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33
- Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (25) For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ~Matthew 16:24-25
Stepping-out for God can feel lonely and sometimes thorny, but a singular stance in faith is not God's intention for us.
And nor is it the reality. For although we can feel isolated at times, we have many Brothers and Sisters in God's army. There are more of us than we know.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~I John 4:4
God and His Word remind us to open up our spiritual eyes and look with faith today.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
(16) “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
(17) And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
(18) As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. -II Kings 6:15-18
When we feel lonely in our faith-walk, we can let the Lord lead us in a perspective-shift. He can reveal realities that we didn't know existed, and it is fact that other Believers are near.
Our God has been leading people on sometimes lonely parts of their faith voyage since He first created people.
We are not alone. And we do not walk in vain or in solitude as we serve our Lord.
Look again.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~Hebrews 12:1-2
No, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are not alone. There are many sons and daughters of the King.
When I first looked out at the desert, I saw only one cactus, but when I refocused and set my eyes to seeing other cacti, I saw not one, but but hundreds of cacti, and maybe thousands, that at first glance were invisible to my sight. But at second glance...had been there all the time.
God's army is here and it is large...and it is advancing.
And it is beautiful. It is blooming.
As we rise above spiritual adversities, and anxieties, and poor-me's--we will flourish in the strength of Him Who gives us strength, and we don't have to do it alone.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21
Blessings,
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