Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me,
when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)
Series: Standing Strong
Every day there are battles being fought, lives being changed, losses experienced, and fears amplified. Standing strong when the hits keep coming feels impossible, and it is, without Jesus.
When I face fear, anxiety, uncertainty, insecurity, or all of the above, I turn my mind, heart, soul, and strength to the Lord. He is unmovable. He is my help in times of trouble, and He prevails over every enemy attack. Believing this is one thing; activating it is another. If you don’t know where to begin, today’s message offers you hope.
Seeking God is our first defense in every situation. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. His presence is where we find fullness of joy, rest for our souls, and peace for our hearts. We all need this!
Walking through the past several weeks together, we’ve examined the equipment God has so graciously provided for us in times like this. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, and his message is for us today as well. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) reminds us:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Paul encourages us to be brave, walk boldly, and use the power God has given us—as His children—to not only fight but have victory over the battles before us. God doesn’t ask us to go alone into combat. Instead, He provides clear direction and even offers us a clear description of who this enemy is and how to spot him. It is our responsibility to know our enemy so when he rears his wickedness toward us we recognize him.
Often we fall prey to schemes because we don’t understand what the enemy is capable of, or maybe we doubt he even exists. We blame those around us, but scripture tells us we don’t fight against flesh and blood. The enemy masquerades and operates to convince us he knows better than God. Do you know this enemy? Scripture gives us his name. It is Lucifer. Lucifer held a position of power in the heavens until pride overtook him. Look at this description in Ezekiel 28:14-15 (NKJV):
“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.
And in Isaiah 14:12-14 it is written:
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
You may know Lucifer by another name: Satan. When he presented himself “like the Most High,” God cast him from heaven. Scripture teaches us that Satan seeks to deceive us—Jesus called him the father of lies. He roams earth seeking to divide relationships, destroy lives, and ruin our faith in God. Satan is called a ruler, a prince, and even the god of this world. The angels who stood with and fell with Satan are ruled by him today. He holds power on earth and he hinders us. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NKJV):
Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
Satan hinders us by actively working to undermine our faith, ministry, and spiritual growth through temptation, deception, and accusation. In 1 Peter 5, we are warned that he is our adversary. He intends to create fear, cause suffering, and aims for us to doubt God’s goodness. In order to stand strong against the enemy, we must not only know we have an enemy but also, know who he is.
We have this hope: Satan may hold power, but he will never be more powerful than Almighty God! He will use every wicked trick to get you to stumble, which is why you must prepare yourself for battle. Therefore, you put on the full armor of God.
The foundation piece of the Armor of God is the belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness is connected to the belt of truth and protects our hearts from deception, bitterness, and evil. The preparation of the gospel of peace is our shoes. Peace is to be our footing and is our guide. The shield of faith quenches all the fiery darts of the enemy. The helmet of salvation secures our thoughts against spiritual warfare. The next, and last, piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Then, we PRAY.
Prayer activates our armor. We speak to God, cry out, rejoice, and proclaim Him the Victorious King. He is the overcomer of all things evil, defender of the beloved, light in the darkness, the chain breaker, the way-maker, and yes—He is your Savior.
May your life be a beautiful reflection of the light and love of Jesus to others. May you stand firm on His might, not your own. Guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, activate your armor by being soaked in prayer, and praise your Unmovable God!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Jeremiah 29:13-14; Ephesians 6:10-18; Ezekiel 28:14-15; Isaiah 14:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; John 8:44, 10:10, 12:31, 14:30, 16:11
