By David ReayWednesday 2 Nov 2022LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord’s followers are suffering just as you are. (CEV)
An old legend has it that God finally had enough of Satan and demanded he surrender all the weapons he used to attack Christians. Satan pleaded with God to be allowed just one weapon and then he would give up all others. God agreed and asked what weapon Satan wanted to keep. Satan insisted that he retain the weapon of discouragement.
We can so easily lose courage, so easily see circumstances as overwhelming us. And we become despondent, defeated. Which is just what the evil one wants. His great plan is to prevent us becoming the people God made us to be. He wants to rob us of joy, hope, love, courage, or anything that will enrich our lives and others’ lives. He wants us to become rather miserable specimens so that those who look at us will wonder why on earth anyone would become a Christian if that is what it involves.
The evil one may make some very seductive suggestions about how we may better enjoy life. But never forget that he is out to destroy, not enrich, to attack, not encourage. If we feel discouraged, Satan will be the culprit. When he attacks with his lies, our best defence is the truth of God’s strong love. Discouragement is not our native country.
Blessings
David