Key scripture- “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10).

Never accept spiritual defeat in your life!

It is in the spiritual battle that you have an opportunity to take major steps forward in your spiritual life. The devil will attack you, “But resist him!” As you are doing battle with him, look at and focus on what God will do for you. He will “restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you”.

In order for you to truly understand exactly what God will do for you we need to look at each word and take it apart.

Restore – to bring back to a state of health, soundness and vigor. To make return or restitution of anything taken away. God will restore you to a settled and peaceable condition and He will perfect His work in You. The Lord told us in Joel, “Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. “You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. “Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the Lord your God, And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame.” (Joel 2:25-27).

Confirm – to acknowledge with definite assurance. To establish the truth, accuracy, validity, or genuineness of. He will establish You against wavering, either in your faith or your duty. “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-9).

Strengthen – to grow stronger, to give strength to, and to gain strength. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Establish- to build on a firm or stable basis. To install or settle in a position or place. To show to be valid and true. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Martin Luther once said, “Wherever the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved”.

Whenever you sense that you are being attacked spiritually, remember that it is part of a much bigger spiritual battle that is being fought throughout the world for the glory of God. Do not accept defeat as inevitable, no matter how many times you have lost that battle before.

The Lord is assuring you today that he will enter into that battle as you make godly choices. No battle is so big that your God is not bigger. You need to always remember that you serve a BIG BIG GOD, and nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, is impossible for Him! He will make ALL things not some things turn out for your good and His glory!!

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I thank You that the battle is not mine, but the Lords. That I do not have to fight in my strength. That You will never ever forsake or abandon me. That You are right here with me. All that I need to do is trust You, believe and put all my weight on Your promises, pray, praise and worship You, while I stand still and watch You take care of my problem. I proclaim out loud these passages from Your Word in the midst of the battle: “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:24-26 NIV). “Do not be afraid for I am with you.” (Isaiah 44:5). “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27: 14). “Be still in the presence of The Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37;7). “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14). “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!” (1 Samuel 12:16). “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. (Psalm 54:4) “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.” (Psalm 62:11-12). “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17 NIV). Your Word and Your Presence give me strength and I am ready to face any battle with Jesus by my side. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.