Psalm 56:1-13
June 15, 2022
Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies, are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride, many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you In God, whose word I praise—in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. They conspire, they lurk, and they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. Because of their wickedness do not[ let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down. Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this, I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
Are you aware that the enemy of your soul is in hot pursuit, all day long they press their attack. Yes if you are in a relationship with Jesus Christ your adversaries are in pursuit. Many of us see our adversaries as flesh and blood, but who is directing their actions? We find the answer and the solution in Ephesians 6:10- 13. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
As you explore these eleven verses, David like you and me is in fear of others, or problems like health that can overcome us, the economy, and I’m sure you can add to this list. But unlike many of us, we do not look to God as our hope and protector. We go elsewhere until we awake to the truth, God is our Father, and we are His children. Jesus is our Redeemer and Lord, our Creator, and He makes intercession for those who come to Him.
But the more you and I do as David, by not looking to any source but our Lord, we also will ask what can mere mortals do to me. David being a warrior knew that it was God who fought for him, and the apostle Paul knew the same thing God was his refuge when the enemy gather against us. So how does one be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power? How does one put on the full armor of God? The first step to putting on your armor is to understand you are engaging an enemy that desire is to steal, kill, and destroy you, your family, and your testimony. Second, one must understand that being strong in the Lord is not looking to anyone or anything, only looking to God. James gives us some sound advice in James 1:22-25, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
Would you agree then that getting into the Word of God is very important but it going to require the application of what you are reading? Taking all Scripture as truth, and taking a stand against all who want to water it down, or discard what God has spoken. Learning to find a quiet place to spend time with the Lord I’ve found to be a must in my prayer life.
As with so many things of faith, it requires one to read, pray and seek the Lord, the armor is not visible to man’s eyes, but it is very obvious to the enemy of our soul. Romans 10:17, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Often I have weak faith in a very big God, and as I’ve watched our Father in Heaven answered my prayers and others, my faith has been growing.
Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Please do not let the devil tell you all you need is to be moral, love people, and it ok to join a church, but remember the preacher has to say those things, so do not take him seriously. If you want faith to believe, it requires asking the Father for faith to believe and He longs to provide it.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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