Sunday Scribbles - Don't Put Down Your Weapons

My mornings begin with coffee and lots of talking to Jesus.

Every. Single. Day. We are in a battle.

A battle for our minds.

A battle for our faith.

A battle for Truth.

Discouragement can be one of our biggest enemies. The fiery darts of despair cast into our minds, be it from people outside of our heads or from voices yakking inside our heads, can be enough to make us throw down our weapons, give up, and walk away.

I've been there. I've felt defeat. I've also defeated the enemy many times along this journey in the power of Jesus Christ.


And today, again I awake in need of God's weaponry for whatever the Enemy may throw my way.

The Enemy doesn't sleep and is pulling out all the stops to defeat God's people, His Church, knowing THE battle has already been won.

The Cross defeated sin. The Resurrection defeated death. Christ has defeated Satan.

But, Satan is still fighting harder than ever to build his defeated kingdom.

NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE IN!  The enemy's banner... and ours.

God has not called us to anything where He hasn't already prepared the path ahead and equipped us to accomplish His purpose in us. We must press on.

How do we win these mind games?

With hearts postured in prayer before the Lord.

Surrendered in complete trust, we can stand tall to walk in obedience with courage and confidence, and move forward in victory.

Stay the course. Don't just know about your weaponry, sport it. The armor of God is our friend. It's always in style, and fits all shapes and sizes. It's also guaranteed for life.
Read Ephesians 6:10-18.

In Nehemiah 4, the Israelites were seeking to build back the wall of protection from the mounds of rubble from the previous wall destroyed by their captors. The task was daunting.

The king's men were constantly badgering them with discouraging words. As the people continued their work, the enemy was angered, plotting to cause confusion among them and their plan.

Nehemiah called God's people to prayer. They prayed to God and set a guard in place day and night to provide an alert for when, where, and how the enemy was moving.

The people began to complain, lose strength, and to cast doubt on the work God had called them to do. It was too much. The enemy was pressing in hard, promising to kill them and stop their work.

Nehemiah again called them to prayer - to take up their weapons, to close the gaps, to seal the breaches in areas where they were most vulnerable.

Then Nehemiah said, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes 
(Nehemiah 4:14b ESV).

Verse 15 goes on, "When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work." (emphasis mine)

What is the enemy discouraging you from accomplishing today? Are you willing to frustrate his plan of defeating the purpose God has called you to? Will you kneel your heart with out ceasing before Christ, asking Him for protection, power and strength to defeat the voices of discouragement raging in your mind today and to move forward in obedience, bold and courageous?

Then let's don't put down our weapons. Let's remain armed and alert, ready for battle, to accomplish His purpose in and through us today.

Okay, troops! Christ is frustrating the enemy! Let's return to "the wall."

My Pleasure,
Melanie