Weapons of our Warfare

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." I Peter 5:6

"But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:6-7

One of the most unusual weapons we have been given in this upside down kingdom we live in is the weapon of humility.  Sometimes in the midst of our greatest crisis pride rises up to finish our destruction.  When we need to reach for life, we reach for pride instead.  God knows of this deadly flaw and has prepared a weapon to restore our strength and hope.  This is such an awesome tool!

Consider the moment the earth shakes us and all our dreams and hopes come crashing down.  Instead of embracing the Life of Jesus, the pride of life threatens to bring even greater destruction by causing us to reel under the shock, lash out and hurt others in return.  Ephesians 6 says that we don't struggle "against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph 6:12)  In times of trouble, fight through your old instincts and see the battle for what it is--a struggle against the powers of our old enemy, the devil.

There are times to run in this journey we are on (flee youthful lusts, for example), but this is not one of them.  God has given us the weapon of humility so that we can resist the devil.  In the face of devastation, lift up the name of Jesus.  Put aside any fear of your loss of stature, personal gain, or other such distractions and embrace your new role as bottom of the heap.  Be jealous, instead,  for the Lord's reputation. Blessed be the name of the Lord.  This new order of things--these fears and losses--allow us to draw this great weapon of humility and fight back in the Lord.  Proverbs says that wisdom calls to us from out in the open.  Our pride has blinded us from seeing even the most simple solutions to our need.  Stop fighting for yourself and fight for the Lord and He will open your eyes to wisdom and life. The enemy intended this crisis for evil but the Lord for good. Embrace the life that Jesus has for you!

 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10