I’m learning to be “on guard”…

Not by guarding myself, not “guarded”…. but being on guard, in Him—dependent and confident in His power and strength and wisdom and ability…not my own.

Standing firm, in faith. ?☀️

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”—1 Peter 5:8

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” —1 Corinthians 16:13 

Doesn’t it so often seem… that when we’re so close to something, or when we’re in a vulnerable and green place, perhaps something that God is developing and growing in us, or within our lives…

That the enemy will often attempt to swoop in and sabotage us…

The word “sabotage” is defined as,

“destructive or obstructive action carried on by a civilian or enemy agent to hinder a nation’s war effort.”

It also means,

“an act or process tending to hamper or hurt.”

“deliberate subversion”

And in Christ, we start to be able to see things—we’re given the ability to see any “patterns” of attempts of the enemy that may be happening in our lives.

And when we are able to see this, and when we turn to what we know is TRUE, and when we turn and look to the Word and we learn to stand in what we know is true—no matter how we feel in the moment, no matter what hurtful thing that person said to make us want to just “shut it all down”… or say “I’m done.” ?

We learn to recognize it and we’re able to identify it and we stop….

We hit “pause” on our feelings and emotions and the pain…as we turn to the Lord…

And we say…

“Wait a minute here… I see now what this whole thing is trying to cause me to do. This is an attempt to cause me to _____________.”

(And that “____________” is whatever the enemy is trying to do to cause destruction—whatever he’s trying to do to hinder you from walking in God’s plan and purpose for your life.)

We must be watchful for these things so we can so quickly shut his attack down by standing in faith, by standing on the promises of God, in the things we know He’s led us to do in our lives… and we must do the opposite of where the pain is trying to take us in that moment!

We must choose to keep going in whatever it is that we KNOW God has led us to do!

Here is what is on my heart this morning…

Stay alert! Stand firm!

Stay in the Word!

Remain in what is true.

Remember what God has promised you!

Stand firm.

And then watch…. ✨

Just watch how God works it all out…?

When you don’t give up. When you don’t give in!

When you stand firm in Him.

Thank You, Father! ?

Lord, You surround me… You surround me with Your love, with Your truth, with Your Word, with Your reminders, with Your promises…and with Your steadfast strength.

How You strengthen me when I am vulnerable, how You help me when I cry out. How You save me from the “sabotage” attempts —of the enemy. ? ✍? ?

“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.”—Ephesians 6:10-11

“So I answered them, and said to them, ‘The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build…”—Nehemiah 2:20

-Heather ?