But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:57
Here’s the seventh paradigm shift that has changed my life: Getting attacked by the enemy can be a good thing.
I’ll credit Dr. Ed Smith for this one. He helped me to understand what is really going on.
Any of you who are out on the front lines doing the Lord’s work know what it’s like to be attacked. People turn against you at strategic moments. Things break down inexplicably. You find yourself irritable, worried or panicked. All sorts of unpleasant things show up just as you are seeking to move forward with God.
Every so often we get attacked. In the past, I would have fretted. (Oh, no! I’m being attacked! What am I going to do? Is this really worth it? Isn’t there some way I can hide? Pray for me! Get the devil away from me!)
But I am discovering the truth: The enemy is really only driving nails into his own coffin. He may orchestrate the attack, but God orchestrates good out of every one of those attacks. Every time the enemy attacks me, I get an opportunity to get my armor patched and repaired by Jesus. It only makes sense. The devil can’t get through any place else. So he looks for holes in the armor. When he finds one, he sends a flaming arrow through it.
Sure it hurts. But, if I can help it, it’s only going to hurt once, because when he comes back around, he will find that hole plugged by Jesus. The enemy wants to destroy me, but he isn’t succeeding. His actions are only opportunities for the Lord to make me stronger.
Thanks be to God — He always gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.