daily devotional
Romans 8:28 (NASB) says:
We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
There are times in the battle where we sustain the wounds of warfare. The fiery darts can seemingly come from every side. Spiritual warfare is violent, demanding, difficult, and often incredibly hard to comprehend.
It’s not that when we come to Jesus everything will be easy; actually, it’s somewhat the opposite. Surrendering to Jesus, while ushering in everything needed for eternal and abundant life as well as godliness and purpose, also invites a spiritual target of sorts to be placed upon us.
Brass tacks: We have an enemy, Satan (the devil), who hates God and hates us. He will do anything he can to attack… steal, rob, divide, depress, destroy, derail, and hurt us. He’d rather take us out of this life than allow God to take root in our life. Because of this, he will be on the clock, full-time, doing all he can to bring us misery. He loves to sift us to see what comes out of our hearts and lives when we are squeezed. He is always waging war on God, and God’s people.
We will feel the weight of warfare.
We will endure some dark nights.
We will feel the fires of attack.
We may even be wounded, at times, in the battle.
But we have a Shepherd.
But we have a Friend.
We have a God, a King, and a Father who loves us, and, no matter what happens, will somehow take everything the enemy means for evil and turn it into our good.
Somehow – He will use our misery and turn it into a testimony of a miracle.
Somehow – He will use our illness and turn it into a testimony of intimacy.
Somehow – He will use our hurt and turn it into a testimony of healing.
No matter what we see, feel, or are called to endure, we can know that we have a good God, who has good plans for our lives.
Today, find comfort in the words of Psalm 23 (NASB):
The Lord is my shepherd,
I will not be in need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters. (waters of rest)
He restores my soul;
…He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (the valley of deep darkness)
… I fear no evil, (or harm)
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Certainly goodness and (mercy) faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, that no matter what I may face—The valleys, the shadows, the mountains, the misery, the sickness, the sifting, the wounds of warfare or the dark nights of the soul—Thank You that somehow, You can make all things work together for Your glory and for my good. Help me to keep this perspective. Help me to know that no matter what I face, You are with me and You are for me. You always have my back, and You always have plans for ultimate peace and prosperity for my life. It may not be until I am with You, when my faith becomes sight, but I know God, Your plan for me is for good. Thank You for Your glorious presence which gives me hope, assurance, confidence, and peace.