I love the LORD because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!—Pray without ceasing.
Use every piece of God’s armour to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm… truth, God’s righteousness, the peace that comes from the Good News…faith as our shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan…salvation as your helmet… the Spirit’s sword—the Word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words…
Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you…The Lord himself will fight for you. You won’t have to lift a finger in your defence! —It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man…I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. —The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when He delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong. for the LORD upholds His hand.
Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
Ps.116:1,2 NLT; I Thess. 5:17 ESV; Eph.6: 13-19 NLT; Ex.14:13,14; Ps.118:8,13 ESV; Ps.37:23-24 ESV; Ps.119:3 ESV
I feel like I’m in a battle these days, not just the one marked with an upcoming Hearing date on my May calendar, but the battle for my mind and heart to rest in God’s power and leading in the meantime. This battle for faith is far more significant than getting a fair hearing with a human judge, because fire-tested faith brings Jesus glory and honor. He’s the Judge I most want to please. I want to represent Him as the glorious, trustworthy LORD that He is. Pray for me, won’t you? Pray that He will be glorified in my weakness.
–LS
…that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.
II Pet. 2:9 ESV; I Pet. 1:7 ESV
I can’t tell you how powerful this is, not just because it reflects the ongoing battles (plural) that I’ve been in for several years, as well as others I know, but because it speaks to how determined satan is to keep us busy defending instead of being on offense. I know how pleading before a human judge is cause for a sensation of having swallowed an ice cube whole.
But here’s the ending for me – in each and every case, believing that God knows what the very best outcome should be is cause for a warm sensation of being held close in the storm. I’m praying for you to feel that surety. It does see you through.
Thank you SO much Meema. It’s all about surrender, isn’t it. Not to the Devil’s wiles but to God. Submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil. He is crafty and knows my vulnerabilities, but God is MIGHTY to save! (despite me or through me as He wills). Looking at Gideon this morning and putting finishing touches on my Case presentation to send in… trusting it will include what it ought, “The Sword of the Lord and of Linda”
And just to add this – as something I hold fast to – if God be for us, who can stand against us? If I am doing as I ought, then all the waves of opposition simply confirm for me that I am doing something right. 🙂 God has it. 🙂
Keep steady my steps according to your promise. Let no iniquity get dominion over me! David’s prayer, and mine!