I am not the type of person to attribute everything that is distressing in my life to attacks from Satan. Many distressing things are placed there by the Lord in order to grow us into Christ likeness. Many distressing things are due to the consequences of our sin. Yet, the Word tells us that Satan will attack. Even when Satan attacks we can take comfort in the sovereignty of God in the matter, just read the testimony of Job. There will be attacks from the evil one and to endure we are to take up the shield of faith.

Today was a day when it was made clear to my husband and myself that we are indeed enduring an onslaught of flaming darts from the evil one. We must make sure during this attack that we respond not with the corrupt desires of our flesh but by holding fast to our shield of faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

The evil one is crafty and tries to ensnare us. He sets forth schemes. Schemes bring with it an element of planning or coordinating.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

My husband and I received a such coordinated attack today. I am thankful all the more for the Lord's gift of discernment in my life today. I am fighting this battle with the shield of faith held high. I am struggling but I am resting in the fact that God is sovereign in the situations we are dealing with and we are not responding according to the flesh. Thank you Lord for the strength you bring to our weaknesses.

Satan knows where our weaknesses are and when he attacks it is often at our weak points. He uses our weaknesses and our failing and tries to distract us. He tries to make us believe lies about ourselves rather than the truth that comes in Christ.

Those truths are...
1. As Christians we have value because of Christ, nothing of ourselves.
2. That if we sin and repent we are forgiven as far as the east is from the west.
3. In our weakness we can rely on God’s grace in the moment, because in our weakness His power rests on us and is made perfect.

The lies lead us to...
1.Satan will tell us that we are nothing. If we do not use our shield of faith we will dwell on this and neglect the work of Christ in our lives.
2. Satan will keep reminding us of our sins and we will be hindered to move forward in the freedom of forgiveness.
3. We will dwell on ourselves and our weaknesses rather than counting them as blessings that can reveal the work and glory of the Lord in our lives.

So, a bit about today. I dealt with several painful words today. I was angered, upset, and physically shaking. I struggled to rest in the Lord rather than lashing back. I am thankful for God's graciousness and faithfulness in granting me victory in that situation. My husband called from work and he had a similar situation at work. He had dealt with several painful words. He was angered, upset, and physically shaking. Both he and I were dealing with words that hit to the core of our weaknesses. These weaknesses were areas that we had surrendered to the Lord and are continually striving to live in obedient submission.

These two situations happened at about the exact same time. We were both physically shaking while talking on the phone with each other. This we believe to be a scheme of the evil one, a coordinated attack. One thing we have learned along our spiritual journey is that anyone or anything can be used of the evil one for these attacks.

Satan when sending his flaming darts uses strangers, unbelievers, and sometimes even other Christians to be the bow that shoots those arrows.

My comfort comes in this, that even though the fiery, flaming arrows fall, there is a peace that surpasses all understanding because I know that the shield of faith is ever before me.

Labels: Christianity