RESIST THE ENEMY

DAY VII

Use every piece of God’s armour to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm – Ephesians 6:13, NLT

In our walk with God, there always comes a time of confrontation with evil as the Bible puts it in our main text. These are times when the enemy puts our faith to the test. The evil day is a period of trials just as Job had and confessed, “We are all adrift in the same boat: too few days, too many troubles” (Job 14:1). King Solomon in his counsel to young men also spoke about the evil days, saying, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). As we know, Satan is the main architect of evil, little wonder, included in the model prayer is, “…And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Luke 11:4). Since Satan by nature is evil personified, we also have a role to play, and that role is to resist him. 

To resist means to fight back, counterattack or to repel. This, we do in the place of prayer. The devil keeps hurling his darts at us as we choose to walk the way of the Lord, and in order to survive this aggression from him, we are commanded to ‘use every piece of God’s armour to resist him’. We must always be on the offensive and defensive to win this war against the evil one. Resisting the enemy is not based on our eloquence, fluency nor affluence, but on our knees. Are you going through an evil day in your life right now? Are you experiencing a season of spiritual difficulties presently? God’s counsel to you is, “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

PRAYER: FATHER, thank You for making my foe my footstool. I pray that You’ll help me to resist the devil in every battle of life in Jesus’ Name.

THE BELT OF TRUTH

DAY VI

Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. – Ephesians 6:14, NLT

A belt is used to hold one’s clothes in position and provide the needed fitting.  The first armour we are asked to put on here is the belt of truth. Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6a).  We are also commanded to ‘put on the Lord Jesus, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts’ – Romans 13:14. As part of our spiritual armour, we need the Truth to find balance in the battle field. A beltless soldier will suddenly become a victim as a result of a divided attention to hold his clothes in position with one hand, and bear his ammunition with the other. The belt also provides accommodation for other weapons such as the sword in its sheath. 

Christ is the Truth, and this Truth is established in our lives when we accept Him and live by His Word. His Word provides the needed stability in the field of battle to combat and bombard the enemy. Just as Christ told the multitudes, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Our freedom is guaranteed when we know Him as the Truth, and apply this Truth to our lives.

This Truth is the testimony upon which we stand to assault our adversary. If your life is not established on the Truth, the Word of God, you have no capacity to face the enemy. God, therefore, desires that we be grounded in the Truth (which is Christ), so that our victory can be assured. As you put on the belt of truth today, may your life not contradict the Truth (Christ) in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER: FATHER, thank You for the privilege of knowing You as the Truth. I ask for the grace to always put on the belt of Truth in Jesus’ Name.

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

DAY V

Stand therefore [holding your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God.  – Ephesians 6:14, AMP 

A breastplate is a protective covering which shields the body against the enemy’s weapon. It can also be termed a bulletproof vest in modern day. For us as soldiers in God’s army, our bulletproof vest is not physical, but spiritual. The breastplate of righteousness signifies a life in right standing with God. It is a life in which Satan has nothing against just like our Master: “I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me]” (John 14:30, AMP). 

Look at the progression in the scripture above. How about you, does Satan still have something in common with you? Is there something in you that belongs to him? It is the answers to these questions that will determine if he will have power over you in this warfare. Righteousness is a weapon. That was why Job, even when he lost everything, resolved to retain his righteousness saying, “I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live” (Job 27:6). 

Are you losing hold on righteousness because of that battle for compromise in your workplace? That is the war we are talking about! Are you under some form of pressure to give in to sin? No matter what you lose in life, never lose righteousness, because men who retain their righteousness in the midst of adversity will eventually recover all and even more. Job was a practical example. Declare like Job, “My righteousness will I hold fast, and will not let it go” (NKJV). Righteousness equals strength and progress: “The righteous will move onward and forward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger” (Job 17:9). As you choose the life of righteousness today, may you be protected from all the fiery darts of the enemy, and wax stronger and stronger in the fight in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER: FATHER, thank You for making me Your righteousness in Christ Jesus. I pray for the grace to maintain my righteousness before You and men in Jesus’ Name. 

CONTENDING AGAINST THE FORCES OF DARKNESS

DAY IV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12

The spirit realm is as real as the physical, and every physical outcome is determined by the operations of the spirit realm. As children of the Kingdom, we must understand that, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3). Life is not a fun fare but warfare; the earlier we understand this, the better we score spiritual goals against the enemy. We are not called to contend with men (flesh and blood), but with the forces behind the evil operations of men. We would end as victims in this battle if our fight is concentrated on flesh and blood. The men who offend us are not our real enemies; the real enemy is invisible. The Apostle Paul calls our attention to the reality of this battle and the hierarchy in the dark kingdom. 

In order to win this fight, the need to know our real enemy cannot be overemphasized. Knowing the enemy we are contending with rightly positions us and helps us hit the right target in the fight. This warfare is largely executed in the place of prayer. Men who ignore prayer end up as prey in the jaws of the enemy. If our victory over these forces of hell must be sustained, then we must live on bended knees. 

Today, determine to make peace with those you have always seen as your enemies and concentrate your strength on the real enemy – the devil and his hordes. Be sure that with God on our side, this satanic hierarchy is no match for us. Our anchor is on the words of Christ: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the powers of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

PRAYER: FATHER, thank You for giving me power over the forces of darkness. Give me grace to exercise my authority over the enemy in the place of prayer in Jesus’ Name.

STANDING AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL

DAY III

Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11

There is no doubt Satan has in his arsenal various strategies with which he deceives and brings men into bondage. It is these strategies, deceits, tricks and schemes of the enemy that the Bible calls ‘WILES’. These wiles are manifested in various forms today and have led many to eternal damnation. We see this in the form of false doctrines and beliefs which are evident in the tendency of men to embrace the lies of the devil in certain abominable areas such as homosexuality, pornography, atheism, cultism and all forms of wickedness. 

The enemy’s tricks are not targeted against the ungodly alone but also the godly, by sending the spirit of lukewarmness, disunity and prayerlessness among God’s people. It is against these wiles of the devil that we are charged to stand. 

How then do we stand against the wiles of the devil? We are asked to put on the whole armour of God so that we can stand against the schemes of the enemy. In doing this, we must take our stand in prayer and intercession and determine to stay on fire for the Lord. We must also determine not to give our foe a loophole lest he turns it into a stronghold and “to keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions” (2 Corinthians 2:11, AMP). Ignorance is not an excuse for becoming a casualty in this battle. Therefore, we must also arm ourselves with the knowledge of God’s Word and be on our guard to be able to survive the onslaughts of the enemy.

PRAYER: FATHER, thank You for destroying the works of the devil by Your death and resurrection. I pray for grace to be on guard and always stand against the wiles of the devil in Jesus’ Name.

THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

Day II

Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11

In the Christian Faith, there are things God requires us to put off and things He has made provision for us to put on as we come to Him. It is obviously a journey of putting off what is not required for the race, and putting on that which is necessary for our walk with Him. In His epistle to the Roman Believers, Paul charged them to ‘cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light’ (Romans 13:12). In like manner, the Colossian Christians were also admonished to put off the old man and his deeds, and put on charity with its fruit (Colossians 3:8-14). 

Here in Ephesians, the admonition was to put on the whole armour of God. No man wears an armour without setting out for a fight. The emphasis for us here is the ‘WHOLE’. God has not made partial provision for our victory over the enemy, but has provided a total package in this armour. Each component of this armour is required in various areas of life’s battles and Satan’s threats and has its role in ensuring our victory on a daily basis. It is either we wear the whole armour or we’re left opened and exposed to the enemy’s fiery assaults.

It is noteworthy that until we put off the old man and his deeds, there will be no place for the armour of God. Today, identify the weights you need to put off in order to enable you put on the whole armour of God. Putting on the whole armour of God entails that we are not civilians in the spirit but soldiers of the Lord, and God desires that we live with this consciousness of our military position in the Kingdom. The implication is that, ‘you must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ’ (2Timothy 2:3) ‘and be ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled’ (2Corinthians 10:6).

PRAYER: FATHER, thank You for making provision for my victory over the enemy of my soul. I pray that You’ll help me put on the whole armour which You have made available for my victory over the enemy in Jesus’ Name.

BE STRONG IN THE LORD

DAY 1

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might – Ephesians 6:10

Paul’s final charge to the Ephesian Church was a call to battle readiness. In preparing their minds to face this ongoing battle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of darkness, he charged them to ‘be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might’. This same charge was given by God to Joshua at the verge of crossing the Jordan River to possess Canaan: ‘Be strong…’ This charge was repeated to him thrice (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9) because of its crucial nature. 

We also find the same charge repeated thrice during the building of the temple in Jerusalem to the leaders and people of Israel, “Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work; for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts” – Haggai 2:4. 

We need to be strong because we are in a war, and our foe is working round the clock to vanquish us. We must understand that the world is a battleground and not a playground. We also need to be strong because God is on our side. This strength can only be drawn when we stay continually in God’s presence through prayer and fellowship with Him. Are you being troubled on every side? God adjures you to be strong. If we must cross the finish line in the race of life, the need to be strong in the Lord is inevitable. May the Lord grant you strength to finish strong in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER: O FATHER, thank You for Your provision for my finishing strong. Give me grace to harness the strength required to stand and complete this race in Jesus’ Name.

THE GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYERS

Friday 18th August 2023

The poor and needy are seeking water when there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them – Isaiah 41:17

There is no doubt that God is a God who answers prayer. The Psalmist puts it thus: “O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come” – Psalm 65:2. God said when the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, He will be there for them. The poor and needy here signifies those who recognize or acknowledge their need for God. God’s assurance to answer prayer should spur you to prayer. It is evident that we pray less than God is willing to answer. God craves fellowship with us on a daily basis, but sometimes we could be too busy.

Are you seeking refreshing from the wrong source? Is your tongue parched with thirst and dissatisfaction with your present spiritual state? There’s good news for you today as Jesus is still crying out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of His heart will flow rivers of living water” – John 7:37b-38. God’s desire is that your thirst is not just quenched, but that you become a channel of living water quenching the thirst of others. Always remember that God is more willing to answer us than we are willing to pray. Be encouraged to present every matter of your life to Him in prayer, and He will not forsake you.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord, for Your assurance to answer prayer. Give me grace for effective prayer, and help me to trust in Your ability to answer prayer always, in Jesus’ Name!       

HE SHALL DELIVER YOU

Thursday 17th August 2023

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence – Psalm 91:3

What a great relief to know that we have a promise from our Father that He will deliver us. Today’s Psalm is not telling us that our God may deliver us, or that He is able to deliver us. It says ‘He shall deliver you’ This is a definite promise, giving us an assurance of our deliverance. 

As God’s children, so long as we walk in obedience to his leading our deliverance is guaranteed no matter what may come our way. 

The snare of the fowler represents any trap that the enemy may set before us just as a person who hunts for wildfowl will set traps having a noose or wire for the bird to walk into and get trapped and the perilous pestilence refers to a dangerous disease that can be widespread such as the COVID-19 pandemic that the world is currently grappling with.

Whatever the case may be, we have an assurance from today’s Psalm that no matter what comes our way, whether the enemy’s traps or a deadly disease, God has our back and He will indeed deliver us.

Give God thanks for being there for you and for guaranteeing your deliverance.

PRAYER POINT

Thank you Father for the assurance of my deliverance in your Word, help me Lord to continually walk in obedience to your leading.

FEAR NOT

Wednesday 16th August 2023

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday – Psalm 91:5-6

Fear Not. This is God’s command for you today.

God’s intention is that His children should not be afraid of anything that the devil may bring their way. 

Several times in scripture we are instructed not to be afraid and today’s verse in our ongoing meditation on Psalm 91 gives us a list of some of the things that may want to cause us to be afraid.

Terror by Night, Arrow that flies by day, Pestilence that walks in darkness, Destruction that lays waste at noonday. What a formidable list, yet God says you shall not be afraid.

There is no situation you will ever find yourself in or challenge that may come your way which God has not taken into consideration before giving the instruction, ‘Fear Not’

2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”

So, as you meditate on today’s scripture, reject every spirit of fear and thank God for giving you boldness, Power and a Sound Mind. Also give God thanks for granting you victory over every issue or challenge that you are facing right now.

PRAYER POINT: Thank God for not giving you a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but a spirit of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline.