The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Saviour... 2 Samuel 2 v 2& 3
For your unconditional love, unending grace, abundant mercies, countless blessings and faithful fulfillment of your promises, we worship you xx
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Divine Protection
A devotional from the 'Word For Today', September 13, 2015.
When the angel of death visited Egypt, only those whose doorposts were painted with lamb’s blood were protected from ‘the destroyer’. And the blood of Jesus [the Lamb of God] is still your best protection from the enemy who ‘…prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Jesus' atoning death on the cross was to secure forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:12–16).
Christians have also been sealed with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13), and our salvation is assured by the Lord (Romans 8:38–39). So when Satan confronts us he knows he cannot ultimately succeed... but he still wants to try and make us stumble. Generally speaking, he’s looking for an ‘easy mark’. Just like a thief who cases your house for a hole in your security, Satan be on the lookout for a weakness in your life. But if you ‘put on the whole armour of God, [you’ll] ...be able to stand against the schemes of the devil’ (Ephesians 6:11 ESV), and he’ll have to move on.
Ephesians 6:13-18: ...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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
God put a hedge around Gomer, the prophet Hosea’s wife, a promise that He would always draw her back to her husband. He said, ‘…I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way.’ (Hosea 2:6 NLT).
Before your family leaves home in the morning, remind them of Christ’s ultimate ‘hedge of protection’—His victory at the cross. Remind them to stand firm in the finished work of Jesus, wearing the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10–18). In prayer speak out His promises (Psalm 118:6, Psalm 27:1, James 4:7) and ask Him to safeguard you and your family throughout the day, directing all your paths away from wrong influences.'
God is not out to ruin the supposed 'fun things' in life that the world tell us we miss out on if we don't join in, and we must be a part of. In fact God seeks to protects us from a whole lot of baggage, regret, hurt and consequences by providing His Word, the Bible as a 'guide to life'...and if we listen to the wisdom we read and follow it's advice, and seek to live a life that ignores everything that Satan throws in our face, life becomes filled with Him - a heart full of joy, a strength only He can give to face the uncertain and tragic times and the reward of spending eternity in Heaven when we die.
When the angel of death visited Egypt, only those whose doorposts were painted with lamb’s blood were protected from ‘the destroyer’. And the blood of Jesus [the Lamb of God] is still your best protection from the enemy who ‘…prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Jesus' atoning death on the cross was to secure forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:12–16).
Christians have also been sealed with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13), and our salvation is assured by the Lord (Romans 8:38–39). So when Satan confronts us he knows he cannot ultimately succeed... but he still wants to try and make us stumble. Generally speaking, he’s looking for an ‘easy mark’. Just like a thief who cases your house for a hole in your security, Satan be on the lookout for a weakness in your life. But if you ‘put on the whole armour of God, [you’ll] ...be able to stand against the schemes of the devil’ (Ephesians 6:11 ESV), and he’ll have to move on.
Ephesians 6:13-18: ...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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Before your family leaves home in the morning, remind them of Christ’s ultimate ‘hedge of protection’—His victory at the cross. Remind them to stand firm in the finished work of Jesus, wearing the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10–18). In prayer speak out His promises (Psalm 118:6, Psalm 27:1, James 4:7) and ask Him to safeguard you and your family throughout the day, directing all your paths away from wrong influences.'
God is not out to ruin the supposed 'fun things' in life that the world tell us we miss out on if we don't join in, and we must be a part of. In fact God seeks to protects us from a whole lot of baggage, regret, hurt and consequences by providing His Word, the Bible as a 'guide to life'...and if we listen to the wisdom we read and follow it's advice, and seek to live a life that ignores everything that Satan throws in our face, life becomes filled with Him - a heart full of joy, a strength only He can give to face the uncertain and tragic times and the reward of spending eternity in Heaven when we die.
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