Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Valley of Victory

"Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted." (1 Samuel 17:45)

You are in the valley and you see the enemy. He carries weight that is not his own hiding behind  authority, force and a shield. Covered in armor and preceded by a shield bearer announcing who he is.

"Do you not know who I am?"

He shouts arrogantly and tries to intimidate us. He questions our strength because all he sees is our frail figure. He shouts his credential to frighten us. A bully in the valley.

"Don't you know who my Father is?"

His haughtiness will be his downfall.

He sees a feeble shadow. He should look closer for I am filled with the Spirit of the Lord!

I don't need man-made armor for my Father dresses me. "The weapons I fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
(2 Corinthians 10:4)

The enemy's defiance rises and he tries to terrify me.

"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 116:6)

"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
(1 Samuel 17:26b)

Our enemy rises us against us because he knows we belong to another. His defiance is against the seed, Jesus Christ himself!

"Do you not know the battle is already won?"

Victory was settled at the cross! The enemy has nothing on us.  Threats and intimidation are the weapons of a weak foe.  

"We are alive in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit that lives within us"

"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:15)

"You got nothing on me."

“David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head." (1 Samuel 17:45-46a)

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

What is stealing your joy, your well-being and confidence in God today?  What is trying to cause harm and anxiety in you?  

"Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalm 100:3)

"God fights for me."

"This is how I fight my battles!  "

"(I) enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving and His courts with praise. (I) am thankful to Him, (and I) bless and praise His name." (Psalm 100:4)

So, take another look at the valley.  "What do you see?"

I see a defeated foe in the valley of Victory!

God bless you!~Liz

CHANGE, WELCOME IT!

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