Devotions

We must be fully aware of the enemy’s schemes and methods. The most powerful weapon in Satan’s arsenal is a vicious lie — from the master liar! What is his biggest lie? That God is not faithful to His people.

Just as he has done throughout history, Satan wants to attack our homes, our marriages, our children, our health, our jobs and careers, our very belief in the Lord. Jesus told Peter, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31).

You may wonder, “Exactly how bad can it get for a believer? What does God allow when He gives permission for us to be sifted?” I direct you to Hebrews 11 where we read of the multitude of trials endured by martyrs and heroes of the faith. Scripture says of them, “they obtained a good testimony through faith” (see 11:39).

The same kind of suffering and hardship these early believers suffered is happening to believers throughout the world today. Christians in the Middle East are under grave threat for their faith and many have had to run for their lives, fleeing their homes, jobs and churches. Many have even been killed — and still those that remain minister the gospel in alien nations where they have been banished by war. Through it all, they have found that God is faithful to His children. 

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:32). To me, this is one of the most encouraging verses in all of Scripture. Peter was enduring a severe trial and Jesus was assuring him that no matter what he might face, his faith would not fail.

Even though Peter had denied Christ, God did not forsake him — not for a moment. This once-fearless disciple, now broken and anguishing over his failure, was never for a moment on his own. And, beloved, neither are we!

No matter what your trial may be — what pain you’re suffering or what sorrow you are enduring — Jesus is interceding for you. At this very moment, in the midst of your storms, He is pleading your cause and He has never let you go.

In Luke 22:31 Jesus warns Peter that Satan desires to sift him as wheat but at the end of verse 32, He gave him this strong exhortation: “And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Beloved, here is assurance and encouragement for us all. The Lord of creation holds us in His very hand and He tells us, as he did Peter, “Get up! Go now! Do not focus on your failure; rather, get to work for My kingdom. Feed my sheep. Warn my precious ones about the enemy’s devices at work against them. And tell them I hold them in My hands, through every trial.”    

We have a tender, loving Father who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. Even Jesus wept in His trying hour. He knows our pain firsthand and He has sent His Holy Spirit to comfort us and speak hope and peace to our souls.

Interestingly, the world observes us as we face challenges, and expects us to sing a song in the midst of our hardest times. We see an example of this in the Word.

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’” (Psalm 137:1-4).

This psalm describes Israel’s captivity by the Babylonians, when God’s people had lost everything, including their homeland. Still, their captors wanted to hear the songs of victory that the Israelites were famous for. “Sing to us! We have heard about the great victory songs you offer to God so play them for us!” I don’t believe this demand was made in mockery alone; the Babylonians sincerely longed to hear a testimony. Their own religion had left them empty, dry and hopeless.

Likewise, today the world demands a song of victory from God’s people. What they really want to know is, “How are you going to react in this present crisis? We’ve heard that you think your God is faithful and powerful. So do you trust Him in times like these? Were your songs of deliverance in good times like a child’s fantasy? Or does your faith really hold up when hard times come?”

Our society is desperate to find hope and peace in these troubled days. They long to know the truth of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.” And they will look to God’s children for a testimony.  

While on their way to pray one day, Peter and John came upon a lame man lying at the gate of the temple asking for alms. Upon hearing his request, Peter told the man to look at them. The lame man expected to receive something from them but instead he heard Peter say, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6, ESV).

What an interesting phrase: “But what I do have.” Peter had inside of him the ability to proclaim, in the name of Jesus, “Rise up and walk!” Notice that Peter didn’t pray over the man before making this proclamation. Because he had the Holy Spirit within him, Peter knew what the Father was doing, so he could proclaim it a reality. In fact, he was so confident that he reached down, took the lame man by the right hand, and lifted him to his feet. Immediately strength entered the man’s feet and ankles and he began walking, leaping, and praising God.

There is a time to pray, “If it is Your will,” even when it comes to healing. There may be times when you are not convinced that the Lord is going to heal someone, but if you receive that sense of confidence in your spirit, don’t hold back! Begin to pray over people with faith, “You are healed in the name of Jesus!”

Extend this prayer to other situations:

“Your marriage is coming together in the name of Jesus!”

“You are set free in the name of Jesus!”

“My son/daughter is returning home in the name of Jesus!”

There is power in the name of Jesus! We need to exercise our authority to proclaim the Word of the Lord over people and circumstances because Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). 

This is the text in the original Hebrew for Psalms 119: “When designing pursuers approached me, who are far from thy law; then you, O Jehovah, wast near with all thy faithful commandments” (Psalm 119:150-151, Helen Spurrell Translation).

Demonic principalities and powers had surrounded David, trying to bring him and Israel to ruin. Yet this man of God testified that as the enemy drew near, he trusted the Lord to draw even nearer.

Here in David’s testimony is a wonderful promise for you and me. We can be sure Satan is out to destroy, harass and pull down all who love the Lord. He will do all within his power to bring us into a pit of despair, confusion, guilt and condemnation.

Do you have any satanic, “designing pursuers” coming against you right now? Overwhelming temptation? Financial burdens? Marriage or family problems? When your pursuers come near you with a design to destroy you, take heart, because the Lord God Almighty is even nearer. He is at your side — and if He is near you, He will act on your behalf.

 “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him” (Psalm 68:1-4).

See what God has promised to do for us, if we put our trust in Him! When we give Him our worries, God will put our enemies to chase.