The Bible is clear that we have an enemy prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Posts in this category remind us of that battle and help to equip us to be victorious.
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to …
Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him …
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:2 NIV We may have never walked in the land of Egypt but Christ has set us free! Sin is its own form of slavery, trapping us in unhealthy thought patterns, …
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. But we …
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” …They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this …
Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10 NIV As the people worked to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, they became discouraged. They were working hard but they were getting …
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12 NIV I’m glad God inspired Paul to tell us to “work out our salvation.” The relevance of that statement …
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.” 1 Samuel 17:16 NIV One of the many lessons highlighted in the story of David and Goliath is this: The enemy is relentless! Just like Goliath taunted the army of Israel every morning and every …
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we …
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” Nehemiah 2:17 NIV There are times in our lives when we …
Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. …
Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 2 Chronicles 20:2 NIV Jehoshaphat had to deal with two pieces of bad news: The enemy is …
Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah, had converted a large storage room and placed it at Tobiah’s disposal. The room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, the frankincense, …
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their …
“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; …
I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates. Nehemiah 6:1b NIV Nehemiah and the people worked hard to repair the broken down wall and that was good news! Closing the gaps was …