Stand Firm in Your Time with the Lord

by Angie Thomas

What an amazing semester this has been! I have seen God working so powerfully in so many of your lives as you have sought Him and fought to keep your relationship with Him a priority.  He is so glorified and honored in your perseverance and struggle. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:12-13).

My prayer for all of us as we enter into this break of meeting weekly and being in a formal study is that we will STAND FIRM in maintaining daily time with the Lord.  The enemy would love nothing better than to get us to backslide and neglect time with the Lord in the next few months.  I know because I will struggle and hear the same lies you will. Here are a few I have already heard the enemy whispering this week:

“You don’t have to have any work done, no one will be checking up on you now, stay in bed.”

“It’s just one day of sleeping in.  You deserve it.”

“You can work on it tomorrow.”

“You really need some extra sleep. You have had a hard week.”

Perhaps what the enemy will whisper to you will be different, but just be aware he will do anything he can to distract and delay you from meeting with your loving Heavenly Father. One day of no prayer and Bible reading turns into 3 or 4 and before you know it a whole week goes by and we haven’t spent time with Jesus. Then we start to wonder why we are irritated, grumpy and walking through our days with no peace and joy.

Jesus, we confess we are so weak and so easily distracted by Satan’s often subtle lies and whisperings to us.  Give us the grace and wisdom to see the schemes he uses on us and stand firm by your Word and the power of your Spirit within us to continue to lay down our lives daily to you and to not indulge our flesh that wants to be coddled and comforted.  We confess we are often just down right lazy and give up time with you for entertainment, sleep, or a host of other things.  May we truly hunger and thirst after you above all these things and may you allow us to experience your presence like never before!

Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewedday by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

I have also decided that I need to make a plan.  I am going to try and go back and review our Falling In Love Again With Your Lord study this next week and then start an Advent Devotional on Decemeber 1st.  I am also hoping to work on organizing my prayer journal more effectively during January.  May God give you much wisdom, guidance and discernment as well.

Have a safe and really wonderful Thanksgiving.  So thankful for Jesus and for His sacrificial death that allows us to proclaim the Good News to others and also enjoy His love and peace daily!