When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19, KJV
What temptations are you facing today? Does it seem that the enemy is coming in like a flood and throwing all kinds of darts at you? Are you being tempted with discouragement…worry…fear…hopelessness…feelings of being overwhelmed? If you’re like me, it seems that the enemy of our souls knows how to “pile it on.”
In 1 Peter 1:6, these times of temptations can cause a feeling of heaviness. (Anyone know that feeling?) What are these temptations about? What good are they anyway? Why does God allow them when they’re so difficult for us?
When I read the verses prior to verse 6 in 1 Peter 1, I am encouraged to see that we (God’s people) are kept by the power of God through faith, and we can rejoice in that promise. And then I see that these temptations are a trial of our faith (will we hang on…or not?). Furthermore, our faith is much more precious than gold, though it be tried by fire.(These temptations sure feel like fire!) How can we come through the fire? How can we “hang on”?
We can ask God to lift up a standard for us against the enemy. We also need to consciously put on the full armor of God every day, especially the shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word), so we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. The shield and sword are our actual weapons against the flaming arrows of the evil one and the lies and deception that he uses against us. I find that “putting on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3) also helps in my battle against the enemy.
What a battle! But if we submit ourselves to God and persist in resisting the enemy’s temptations, he will flee from us (James 4:7). If we come through our refining by fire, our faith will be proved genuine and will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus returns (1 Peter 1:7).
Help us God, to be faithful!
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