SEEK DEVOTIONAL

On Day 1 of this devotional, I quoted the author John Eldridge: “We live in a love story in the midst of war.” This week, we will endeavor to spend time considering the spiritual war we live in and its implications for our lives, our prayers, and the ultimate unfolding of history leading to Christ’s return.

Thankfully, since the American Civil War, our nation has not experienced warfare on our own soil. However, we can look to how World War II affected Europe and Japan, and to the many wars that have brought desolation to countries in the Middle East, and only imagine the severity faced by those who had to live in such areas during intense conflict.

With that in mind, every day we are on planet Earth, we are living in an even more intense war zone in the spirit; a battle that has been violently raging throughout history. The kingdom of darkness is striving against the Lord, His Kingdom, and His people. When we read the Psalms, many were written in the context of physical battles, armies, and enemies, but they also carry a spiritual and prophetic meaning that speaks to the greater cosmic reality taking place around us.

In the opening of his famous book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis states:

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

So what do believers do? How do we even begin to think about the enemy, the war, and our place in it all? The answer is thankfully found in my favorite chapter in the book of Psalms: Psalm 27.

The first six verses of Psalm 27 beautifully align to show us the strategy of the enemy, God’s righteous power over him, and how we should position ourselves in the fight.

Because you and I are made in the image of God and bear the name of Jesus, the devil utterly hates us. His strategy, as John 10 tells us, is that he comes “only to steal, kill, and destroy.” Shockingly, media has at times tried to paint the enemy as cool, attractive, or even pitiable. Nothing could be further from the truth, he is a liar and the father of lies. We must be aware that he will try to come against us.

But we should also live with the greater awareness of the ultimate victory that God has over the power of darkness. This is the confidence of David in Psalm 27. He knows the attacks will come, but he also knows that the Lord of Heavenly Armies is with him and for him, and that the attacks will not prevail. Because the Lord is his light and his salvation, the enemy who comes to attack stumbles and falls.

The declarative nature of this Psalm applies the victory of the Lord to the current battle David is facing, and we can do the same. In the same way that the children of Israel applied the blood of a spotless lamb to the doorposts of their homes so the angel was not permitted to take the life of their firstborn, we can apply the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to our lives, our minds, and our families. Even though weapons may be formed, they will not prosper.

This is very important: David is not passive in this. He fights by drawing near to God, his refuge, and earnestly seeking God’s presence. He is not closing his eyes and hoping the bad guys go away. His fiery pursuit, his worship, and his prayers to the Lord are acts of warfare. Attacks from the enemy should be expected, but those are the moments when we are called to take courage and wait upon the Lord, who is our strength and our deliverer.

I am so encouraged by Romans 8:35-38

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my salvation. Even though attacks come, You have the victory, Lord. Thank You that because of Your eternal Word and the blood of Christ, I am embraced by You and the enemy is condemned by You. Now I apply that victory to my own life. May no weapon formed against me or my family prosper, in Jesus’ name. Amen.