TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (Luke 10:19 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• There is a perfect wallet out there. It’s called the Lauren wallet and it’s by Hobo. It’s a little expensive, but it’s the one and only wallet you’ll ever need unless you just need it in more colors. Which I do. I presently own two Hobo Lauren’s, which I’ve had, used, and enjoyed for years… But there’s a stunning shade of baby blue this season that is screaming my name. Plus there’s a 25% off sale going on right now… I haven’t bought it. Yet. But, last night, as a way to prep my husband for what may or may not, but probably is arriving in the mail very soon, I asked the rhetorical question on Facebook, “How many Lauren Hobo wallets are too many? Asking for a friend…”
And my friend Carolyn responded. I posted the link to the perfect wallet in the perfect shade of vintage baby blue, and she clicked on it. During our Facebook exchange, she wrote, “Now I’m getting Hobo ads on my page. LOL. Big brother is watching.” Of all the ways for her to be cyberstalked by a retailer, there are far worse ones than having pretty and functional Hobo wallets show up in her feed… But she has a point.
If you’ve ever researched a product on the Internet, you know what is going on. Deep inside your computer, smartphone, or tablet, little elves live to monitor your every online movement, sell your activity to retailers, and then proceed to eat cookies while you get bombarded for six months with digital ads for something you may or may not be serious about buying… and even if you’ve already bought it, no one communicates to the elves so you still get bombarded with digital marketing.
Indeed, Big Brother is watching.
You’re also being watched in the spiritual world too. We have a formidable enemy who is quite astute at reading people. He knows your weaknesses and he targets them with cunning, yet ruthless, abandon.
Jesus said of him, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a). And Peter wrote, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Our enemy is observant. He understands human nature. He knows what buttons to push that will cause you anguish and tempt you. As powerful as he is—and it’s unwise to not acknowledge that he has power—he’s not as powerful as God. God always makes a way for us to escape temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
But to escape, we have to be prepared. We don’t go into these battles empty-handed. Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” The armor of God is the protection we need when we’re faced with spiritual attacks from the enemy, and Jesus said, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
We can’t be complacent. There’s a war raging all around us. And if you’re seeking God with your whole heart and praying regularly, you need to know that you have a target on your back. I know, not the best recruiting strategy for living for God. But know this: Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Satan cannot do anything to you that God doesn’t allow. And God gives you the tools you need to fight, plus, you’ll never fight on your own.
Today, as you pray, thank God that He has promised to fight our battles. Thank Him that we only need to be still, covered by His armor, and He will fight for us. Ask the Holy Spirit to equip you with trust, courage, and faith through the battles you face.
SHARING ••• Please share with others! Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
