Daily Devotion

May 11, 2006

Psalms 119:150-151  They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.  (151)  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

You, Child of God, who by your own integrity have decided to follow close to the Lord; you, Christian, who of your own gratitude have enrolled in active service for your Lord: you, Servants of Righteousness (Rom 6:17), do you think that your life will now unfold like a springtime morning breeze? Do you think that because you are on the winning side you have stopped experiencing the blows of the enemies of your soul?  Nay, my friend, oh nay!   Once the child of God has enrolled in the Army of Righteousness, he may well have forfeited his right to peaceful civilian life.  

Can you hear the steps of the enemy drawing near?  He has no face but the face of the ungodly who rebels against God’s ways.  He has no goal but that of destroying everything that is Godly, including you.  He has no desire but the desire to establish his rule and dominion on all mankind.  Because you have enrolled in active service, you will be his daily and nightly target.  He will follow nigh after you in hopes of tripping your steps, disturbing your sleep, confusing your thoughts, wounding your faith.

But as near as the enemy is, as close as he is drawing nigh, God is ever closer.  Yes. you may hear his steps approaching, but listen child of God listen; you can hear your LORD and commander ‘s breath at your side.  If you walk, He walks by you.  If you run He runs with you.  If you stop to catch your breath, He massages your spirit, deflecting the enemy’s fiery darts (Eph 6:16) for a time.

Yes, those who fight the Servants of God are far from His laws.  They will fall into the ditch which they themselves have digged for you; like Haman of old, they will hang on their own gallows (Est 9:25).

1 Peter 5:8-10  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  (9)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  (10)  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Patrick Lumbroso
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http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/