“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, perfecter, (and object) of our faith” (Heb.12:2). “Our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against … spiritual forces of evil” (Eph.6:12). “Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)
Lord Jesus, in response to these Scriptures, we start our day with perspective, hope, and a song about you: “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth His Name, from age to age the same, and He must (has, is, will) win the battle.” Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
Jesus, some of us are in the middle of a spiritual skirmish or war, some of us soon will be, and we all have friends who are being targeted by evil. We are grateful to affirm: You have, are, and will prevail, Jesus. So we humble ourselves before you today, will seek to resist the dark one and his lies, and anticipate his fleeing from us. You are that mighty and merciful, Jesus, and we are that needy, dependent, and expectant.
We praise you for what Satan knows: “He knows that his time is short” (Rev.12:12). Make it shorter, Lord. His knows his head has been crushed (Gen.3:15), his works have been destroyed (1Jn.3:1-10), and his destiny has been sealed (Rev.20:10). Hallelujah, for all of that. So what do we most need from you, Jesus?
Restore us to our first love relationship with yourself (Rev. 2:4). As we fix our eyes on you, Jesus, fill our hearts with your truth, goodness, and beauty. Keep us from thinking mere people are our biggest challenge and enemy. Don’t let us further isolate from brothers and sisters—whom we need, and who need us. So Very Amen.
