*originally written April 15, 2019
Last Monday was the Mondayest of Mondays. I have a saying, a motto if you will, complete with memes and a hashtag>>>
#mondaydoesnthavetosuck
But last Monday threatened to take me down. And it wasn’t just me! As the day progressed, everyone seemed to be caught up in the same storm!! Looks of exhaustion and exasperation were aplenty.
Life has been very busy, and I was looking forward to my library time to settle down, reflect, and see what came to me in the form of #LibraryThoughts. There were many distractions, but I was able to write what turned out to be pretty good, I thought, and certainly unexpected…and then a distraction lead to my accidentally deleting the post. It was frustrating, but I shrugged it off thinking, “Well, maybe I wasn’t supposed to share that after all.” The day went downhill from there. . .
The post was about spiritual warfare. Then I knew I HAD to write about it no matter what.
I had previously posted about Enemies & Oil. You can find that here>>> https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10219123186454700&id=1357931351
I’d become consumed with Psalm 23:5.
Psalm 23:5, NIV
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
I don’t know why, but the hyperfocus was on. I was thinking about how I don’t currently have a particular beef with anyone. If someone has a beef with me, they haven’t given me the what-for yet. So who is this enemy? The Lord is preparing a table before me in the presence of…who? But then time went on with me having these words on a loop in the back of my mind, “You anoint my head with oil..my cup overflows”… when suddenly I became aware that the message is that the enemy is not flesh and blood. This wasn’t about a beef with a person. This is about spiritual warfare all around. I was reminded of 1 Peter 5:8 and Ephesians 6:12.
1 Peter 5:8, KJV:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Ephesians 6:12, KJV:
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
These are familiar scriptures to me. It’s not like it was the first time I’d heard of this, but yet it was. It was like hearing it for the first time with fresh ears. This is why we hide the Word in our hearts; so it’s there to call upon when we need it. It was like scales fell from my eyes, and I was able to see all that was happening around me through that lens.
So, what’s the solution? What do we need to do? We’ll, I’m not preaching to you, because this message is clearly to me…but maybe it can serve as a reminder to you as well. The solution is also found in Ephesians.
Ephesians 6:11-18, KJV:
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Psalm 46, KJV:
46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Read Spiritual Warfare: Part 1 here…
https://reset-and-restore.blog/2019/08/07/spiritual-warfare-part-1/
Reset & Restore 