Morning by Morning, January 14 - When Others Withdrew, "He Stood His Ground"
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
"(Eleazar) was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. The Israelites withdrew, but he stood his ground. He stuck down the Philistines until his arm grew weary, though his hand clung to the sword. The Lord brought about great victory that day" (2 Samuel 23:9-10).
Like it or not, believe it or not, accept it or not, we are in a spiritual battle -- perhaps even the most significant spiritual battle of our times, so far. It's not a battle against human beings, but against spiritual beings seeking to manipulate and control, to intimidate and deceive, to silence and enslave us all as human beings. They seeking to shame us, condemn us, and forbid us from knowing our identity and securing our destiny as beloved children of God, living into the fullness of Your promises and our heritage of the kingdom of God (Ephesians 6:12). Like the one who sends them against us, they "come only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).
Like the Philistines in the days of David, they come to plunder our inheritance and destroy our land. They come to keep us from being a light to the nations to extend the good news of the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth from the shores of this land from Your place in our hearts.
David would have none of it. And those who fought alongside him by the power and the grace of God would have not of it. Together, they "stood (their) ground." Even when others "withdrew," they "stood (their) ground." They "defied the Philistines" who had defied the name of the Most High God and sought to defile His people, His army, and the land He entrusted to them for His purposes and their destiny.
Just as Eleazar -- full of courage of conviction, steadfast in resolve, unflinching in faithfulness -- kept fighting to the end, so must we in this spiritual battle of our day. Yes, "his arm grew weary." No doubt there were times in the battle when his spirit and his faith grew weary as well -- especially in the face of being outnumbered by his enemies and abandoned by so many of his friends and fellow warriors. "But he stood his ground." No surrender. No retreat.
And just as Eleazar kept fighting until "his hand clung to the sword," so must we. Our "sword" is "the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). And we must believe It and wield It, in spirit and truth, in the power of the One who is our Spirit and our Truth, until It becomes as much a part of us as Eleazar's sword became a part of his hand -- as one with the Spirit, as one with the Word, as one with the identity and destiny for ourselves and for our land that our Lord has put in our hearts to defend until the end.
Come, Holy Spirit. Grounded in the Word of God, filled with the Spirit of God, may we be full of courage of conviction, steadfast in resolve, unflinching in faithfulness, fighting to the end. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled with the Spirit of God, grounded in the Word of God, to stand your ground for all the Lord has put in your heart until the end, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend!
Standing firm with you in faith,
in our hearts and in our land.
Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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