Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Doesn’t it feel like at times that you personally are the only “someone” that the devil is looking to devour? Doesn’t it feel like at times the world is against you? Doesn’t it feel like you really don’t have a friend in the world?
Lately I know these feelings all too well. I know what it feels like to be attacked. I know what it feels like to have emotional, physical and spiritual pain. I know what it feels like to be betrayed. And I know whomever you are…that you already know what it’s like.
The devil is hard at work. People are too. We obviously don’t make friends with the devil, but with people we do. We love people, family and friends and well…we are suppose to. People will hurt us or most likely already have. We have been attacked, we have been emotionally, physically, spiritually injured, we have been betrayed…by people. God’s people. God’s children.
At times of desperation we quote “No weapons formed will prosper,” and it’s a great and fitting Bible verse and it’s still a favorite of mine, but now I see it from both sides of the fence. The verse comes to mind when we are tired of being attacked or sought out. Sought out by the devil, because he is not resting, right? he is a roaring lion searching for you. The verse also comes to mind when we are being attacked by people, people that are seeking to hurt us, people that we are commanded to love, to forgive, and…to love, to forgive, to love, to forgive…
seven times 77 million gazillion dang times.
God’s Word for you,
(and your enemy)
Isaiah 54:14-
In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.
“Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an instrument for his work;
And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the LORD.
No weapons formed, no words formed…
I’m rubber and you’re glue…
’cause your words that come against me…
Shall…
Not…
PROSPER!
Awesome! Right?
YES, but…
there is always 2 sides.
Can I dig deeper or strike the hot iron, if you will….
What weapons are you forming?
Are you a practicing blacksmith?
Are you heating the metal and getting ready to strike?
If you haven’t attacked are you getting ready to?
Is there some forgiveness that needs to take place?
Look inside.
Look outside.
What is the reflection of yourself in others?
Lord, Forgive us. Forgive me.
confessional:
While I was going through this process of thinking and writing I realized the reflection that I was seeing was not only of myself, but of my father. This is where it gets deep for me. I hated that man for many, many years. I hated his alcoholism, his abuse and his anger. I have that anger. I have been forming those same weapons and using them on those I love the most, this is what he did too. I have been using those weapons on those I would die for and will die for. When I mean will die for…I mean I am putting to death Liz the blacksmith, and putting to death her weapons because I do not want my loved ones to carry the scars I have carried for too long.
My prayer
‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. (other blacksmiths)
And lead us not into temptation.’ (Luke 11)
Amen.
Today is a new day.
Liz Rose 9/9/10
