Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. I Peter 5:7-8 GW

I believe we are all familiar with those verses, but how many know the ones that follow, verses 9-11: Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while. Power belongs to him forever. Amen.

If you start going to the gym to work out, the muscles do not come in a day, nor do they come without pain. When you work them, they cry out, trying to get you to stop doing them because it hurts. The next day, you can barely move, but you get up and go at it again until the pain eases and you feel strength coming to you.

The saying, ‘No pain, no gain’ is actually true in both the physical and spiritual realms. Jesus said we would have trials and tribulations, but cheer up, He overcame the world. Sometimes, our muscles of faith must be built up by pushing through things that hurt. If we give up each time there’s a battle, we will merely be observers, not participators.

My desire is to win so that I can help others win as well. Paul said to fight the good fight of faith, implying that it’s not a cake walk, it’s a battle. I don’t know how Christians get it into their heads that once they get saved, they just float through life on a glory cloud. Reading the Word daily is training our minds for battle with the mind games the enemy puts on us.

Remember what Jesus did when He was tested? He came back at him with the Word! That’s how we resist. That is our weapon.

Father, today as we take up our sword (your Word), help us to recognize the enemies’ schemes and plans. We will be overcomers today by the Word that’s in our mouths. We will speak your truth, not confirm his lies.

Sandy G