As the rain and snow

“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:8-19

Man is the dust. When creation mingled with the fall, man was destined to physical life that would wither and fade and be snuffed in death. God’s glorious intent, marred by forbidden fruit, needed a Redeemer. (Genesis 2:7-8; 3:6-7)

And the Everlasting entered. He knew we were but dust, destined there to return apart from His gracious intervention. First in the seed, then in the servant, then in the Savior He came for us all, bridging the gap between earth and heaven, dust and eternity. In mercy, compassion, and steadfast love, He freed His own from finite to usher us into eternal life. (Genesis 3:14-15; Luke 1:26-38,46-50; 2:11)

For Christians, from salvation forward, expectations should be high and holy. Bodies may gradually wither, but how about soul and spirit? Our motives and methods, now fueled by a glorious God, compel manner and actions distinct from the world’s. With the press of life and flesh fit with limited vision, we tend to trudge and toil only for today’s reward. Yet the Lord calls us beyond toward better. He who is from everlasting to everlasting, high and lifted up, exalted above the heavens, deserves more than earthly plodding. (Psalm 90:1-2; 97:9; 113:4; Isaiah 6:1; Matthew 6:19-21; John 15:16)

Since we have been raised from certain doom, how are we living out our everlasting? What dusty habits, ill-driven impulses, ugly language, or prurient passions need be put to death? What landscape of our mind needs revamping to uproot self-deprecating mantras, constant criticism of others, and complaint? Will we keep climbing, persevering? (Colossians 3:1-17)

How distinct are our daily disciplines and practices, modes of entertainment, and demeanor from those of the world? Do we understand the difference between relating to people of dust, but not getting dirty in it? Earning the trust of those who watch and wonder is key to sharing our hope, yet it’s important we do not fall back into old ways. In what ways are we declaring the significance, purpose, and joys of everlasting life? (John 17:15-17; 1 Peter 3:15)

Lord, grant strength, focus, and zeal to live on but above the dust and grass of earth with a view of eternity and hope for Your glory.

“It shall come to pass in the latter days
    that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
    and many peoples shall come, and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem…

O house of Jacob,
    come, let us walk
    in the light of the Lord.” Isaiah 2:2-3,5

It shall come. In the latter days. One certain day people from all nations will turn heart and foot toward the Lord, treading in droves upward to His mount to learn His ways, to know Him. The promise of this day prompts us, O house, to walk now in His light. Let us walk in the light of this assurance, and the light of His word that gives strength for today and hope for tomorrow!

We must first see the need and urgency for going up to the Lord. Living in convenience and relative health, we may regard ourselves sufficient and think we need nothing. Living in a temporal world with no regard for everlasting, we dismiss thoughts or a sense of accountability for life beyond this one. No effort must be expended to thank or trust another when I have done it all here and now. But before God, I am sin-stained and unworthy, and I must go up out of my wantonness of soul to find mercy.

In order to learn His ways and walk in His paths, we must also go up out of daily routine. We must leave the lowlands of banal and purposeless living. We must leave behind habits that entangle, and alliances that pull us away from our first love. We must make determination to fall under His disciplines of thought and practice. We must learn His ways from His word in order to mimic them in relationships and work. (Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 2:4)

Once we have taken the initiative to go up, we must go among those around us and say, Come! Our call is to call others to go up also to see His excellencies and know His delights. Going up together, there is strength in numbers, and there is magnified glory to God. (Galatians 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:25)

Whom am I trusting apart from Christ for significance, help, salvation? Where have I been searching for purpose and love? Would I believe that the Lord is Savior and Redeemer, and beckons me come?

From what tendrils of distraction and affection do I need to rise and go up to Jesus? Are there longtime habits, misguided allegiances, or unhealthy relationships from which I need gracious and restoring extrication? The Lord awaits!

And who will I take alongside to the mount of the Lord, to His life- and light-giving word, so they can know Him too?

Lord, may I heed Your daily call to come, and bring others along to learn Your ways and walk in the light of your glory forever.

“‘You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
For he has humbled
    the inhabitants of the height,
    the lofty city…’

The path of the righteous is level;
    you make level the way of the righteous.
In the path of your judgments,
    O Lord, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance
    are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
    my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
    the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
If favor is shown to the wicked,
    he does not learn righteousness;
in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly
    and does not see the majesty of the Lord.
O Lord, your hand is lifted up,
    but they do not see it.
Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.
    Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.
O Lord, you will ordain peace for us,
    for you have indeed done for us all our works.
O Lord our God,
    other lords besides you have ruled over us,
    but your name alone we bring to remembrance.” Isaiah 26:3-5a,7-13

Longing and desire are inherent to the human heart, planted there by the One who alone fills all in all. Since Eden, affections have warped in disorder. It is now the ongoing tension of wickedness and righteousness, injustice and justice, hurt and balm, dark and light, finite and infinite, that stoke holy desire. As long as we’re in this world, ruled by the transient prince of darkness, we will be caught in the crossfire. When God’s name and remembrance are the desire of our soul, we are driven to see Him reign over all through eternity, though here below we are required to wait, and yearn. (Genesis 3:14-19; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:19)

It is possible to live in the heights here on the ground. When our minds are stayed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we long to see His dominion spread from shore to shore and pole to pole. We grapple with wickedness, corruption, and varied adversaries, and cling to the Rock. He lifts our heads, we glimpse His beauties, knowing that here we see imperfectly but one day, one glorious day, we will see Him face to face. His dominion and reign will rule over all, the kingdom of the world that of heaven. (Psalm 3:3; 1 Corinthians 13:9-12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 11:15)

Where is my mind fixed? When confronted with antagonism, ridicule, or confusion, do I stay my mind on the Lord for perspective, clarity, and peace? When surrounded with evil, or buffeted with dissension or temptation, how am I bringing to remembrance the powerful name of Jesus? How willing am I to wait for Him to meet the eternal longings of my soul, knowing I am made for eternity? And how will I exalt Him, even as I wait? (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” ~ St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions

My God, keep Your name and remembrance the fiery desire of my soul at all times. Come, Lord Jesus!

“Give ear, and hear my voice;
    give attention, and hear my speech.
Does he who plows for sowing plow continually?
    Does he continually open and harrow his ground?
When he has leveled its surface,
    does he not scatter dill, sow cumin,
and put in wheat in rows
    and barley in its proper place,
    and emmer as the border?
For he is rightly instructed;
    his God teaches him.

Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,
    nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin,
but dill is beaten out with a stick,
    and cumin with a rod.
Does one crush grain for bread?
    No, he does not thresh it forever;
when he drives his cart wheel over it
    with his horses, he does not crush it.
This also comes from the Lord of hosts;
    he is wonderful in counsel
    and excellent in wisdom.” Isaiah 28:23-29

Understanding crops was second nature to an agrarian society. To give ear and pay attention was a call to go deeper and grasp yet another layer of meaning in this normal rhythm of life. Ah, an all-wise God created every nuance and lesson for observation and experience in His majestic world! His design incorporated seasons for planting, sowing, reaping, and crushing, all so His every purpose was fulfilled. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

“Give ear! Give attention! Much is to be learned from the condition and order and timing of ground and seed. There are specific characteristics the Lord would have uprooted, and others He desires to grow. There are stones of rebellion and thorns of worldly distraction to be removed from our inner self. There are hard places of shame and stubbornness that need the softening of forgiveness and kneading by the Spirit. By God’s mercy He plants seeds of different spiritual fruit to nurture and harvest over time, gracious time. When we encounter strange and painful seasons, consider the hand and mind of God.

We must remember that the One who is excellent in wisdom knows what He is doing. He determines our days and boundaries for His eternal purposes. He will not require or crush beyond what He will provide or we can bear. He is also wonderful in counsel, and will impart to us the insight, fortitude, and grace to handle each season as He orders its variety and measure. He knows the way we take, be it long, languishing, sorrow-filled, or hopeful, and is working in and through it for great good and bountiful fruit. (Job 23:10; Acts 17:26; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:15-16)

How aware are we of the exquisiteness of our day to day dealings, that each plays a part in God’s whole plan? Are we given so much to planting and reaping, doing and pushing, that we eschew any harrowing, pruning, resting, or threshing? Do we not see that every season in our lives is meant for our sanctification, not only the easy, or successful, or pleasant ones? How attuned are we to learning from the difficult times of long waiting or loneliness, or the crushing times of grind or grief? What fruit of deep intimacy with Him, or comfort, or compassion, have we borne? The Lord of hosts does all things well.

Father, help me yield to Your seasons and intentions in such a way that yields spiritual fruit and Your magnified glory.

“Tremble, you women who are at ease,
    shudder, you complacent ones;
strip, and make yourselves bare,
    and tie sackcloth around your waist.
Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vine,
for the soil of my people
    growing up in thorns and briers,
yes, for all the joyous houses
    in the exultant city.
For the palace is forsaken,
    the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
    will become dens forever,
a joy of wild donkeys,
    a pasture of flocks;
until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
    and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 32:11-18

Isaiah’s warning of judgment jerks sights and mindsets from things to thinking, the earth to heaven, people in palaces to the pouring of His Spirit. His words alarm, calling for drastic action. Too long and too wrongly had they put their trust in human fruitfulness and institutions, and the Lord would upend and revamp their security.

Too often we too put our trust in palaces, either of our own making or of who’s in charge. We fashion fortresses of financial or physical security, family, education, or image, falsely thinking we can in our strength and wits keep nestled safely and ward off the enemy. We place our hope in elected officials or appointed political leaders, trusting the government to function as benevolent ruler and good father. But the Lord ordains all of life that we would see and accept Him as Lord and fall under the outpouring of His Spirit over the spirit of the age. He is the one to redeem the wilderness of our hearts and bring fruitfulness to industry. He is our peace and security. His Spirit gives righteousness, rightness of perspective, and hope. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3)

Have we become smug hiding in joyous houses, putting our hope in natural verdant hills and manmade watchtowers? Whom and what do we trust to keep life pleasant and frictionless, and from where comes that expectation in the first place? Have we lowered our spiritual horizon and fallen to horizontal thinking in the world’s domain?

In what areas have we seen our palaces forsaken, the achievements and resources we counted on come to ruin or irrelevance? Do we resent the disruption, the intrusion of our complacency and ease? What is the Lord trying to teach? Is He calling us to shudder and tremble at our own folly?

What if we daily sought the Spirit’s full outpouring, and came empty and bowed, eager to be filled? What if we regarded the attributes of God’s righteousness and justice as our palace and strong fortress? What if we settled within His peace, trusting Him alone for security and rest? How different would be our outlook and our days! Anxiety and fretting are swallowed in hope as we abide in the heavenly Almighty here on earth. (Ephesians 5:18)

Lord, keep Yourself as my only sure trust, Your Spirit my soul’s palatial habitation.

“The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?” Psalm 113:4-6

“The Lord looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man.” Psalm 33:13

The Lord is high and lifted up, the Most High, exalted, infinite, transcendent, limitless. He reigns from above the heavens (!), eternally, wisely, perfectly. Lifted eyes to see Him translate to lifted hearts in awe, lifted hands in praise. His inviting gaze draws our eyes upward, and as we look at His face high above us, we connect with His loving, all-knowing eyes that look down, far down, on us and earth here below. (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 3:3; Isaiah 6:1)

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,
    who seek after God.” Psalm 14:2; 53:2

“He looked down from his holy height;..
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free those who were doomed to die,
that they may declare the name of the Lord,
    and… his praise.” Psalm 102:19-21

Those eyes! They look far down into us. He sees the hidden heart, the closed closets and what is inside, the residue of filth and resentment and jealousy and greed that resides there. By His gracious nature and initiative, He loves us and invites us to rise up and out of all we are without Him. He extricates the deepest sin, cleanses depravity, redeems the deepest and worst, and restores uprightness. He lifts our heads, and enjoins us to behold His loftiness in gratitude and praise. (Psalm 139:1-4; John 2:24)

“O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to your praise!” ~Robert Grant (1833)

He also looks far down into our most guarded, tender places. He sees our deepest hurts, relates to the reproach we have borne in His name, understands inexpressible longings, and soothes hidden pain. He meets us in the far down of soul to comfort, heal, and revitalize. (Psalm 69:9)

What help or encouragement do we receive knowing the Lord on high looks on us in love and mercy? Do we flee from His gaze, or welcome its light? Have we made it a daily practice to turn from distractions and circumstances and screens to look above and behold His beauty? Will we ask for His searching gaze, and respond in gratitude for what He reveals? (Exodus 33:18; Psalm 27:4; 139:23-24)

“Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.” ~Walter Smith (1867)

Lord, in thanksgiving and praise for Your transcendence and immanence, lift my eyes above earthly things and keep me ever looking to You who look on me.

“When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, they gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’  So Aaron said to them, ‘Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it… And the people… rose up to play.

“Moses went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand… As soon as he saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them… He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder.” Exodus 32:1-6,15,19-20

“Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai… The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord,.. a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…’ And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 

“And he said, ‘ Take care… You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)… You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal.'” Exodus 34:4,6-8,12-14,17

The Israelites left Egypt in a hurry with great plunder. God provided as He said He would. But goods and supplies and riches can become hindrances when we no longer see them as from God to be used for his purposes. Idleness and mis-channeled energy can distort right thinking and dampen the fear of God. (Exodus 12:33-36)

How we exercise idleness and ideas depends on how we receive and perceive God’s entrusted bounty. When we see in our ornaments an idol, we will, with careless frenzy, make them into what they are not, give them undue affection, and distance ourselves from the Lord. Once we are humbled before God, and see that they are but dust, we will thoughtfully turn over what we treasure to be used for God’s glory.

What ornaments has He given, and how are we utilizing them? Have we squandered resources on personal pleasure, or contributed to kingdom-building enterprise? Have we talents we keep close in comfort, or do we delight in expending ourselves for God’s causes and children? Do we spend our hours in self-care and ease, or in vigorous, generous service to others in Christ’s name? Discovering and implementing God’s intended use for His goods evokes gratitude, enhances worship, and brings fulfillment and joy beyond what we can imagine.

Lord, may I hold Your ornaments loosely, and use them for Your glory.

“The Lord will not forsake his people;
    he will not abandon his heritage;
for justice will return to the righteous…

Who rises up for me against the wicked?
    Who stands up for me against evildoers?
If the Lord had not been my help,
    my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’
    your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
    your consolations cheer my soul.” Psalm 94:14-19

“If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?..

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-35,37-39

“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you…  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:7,10

Help: to give assistance or support; to provide with something that is useful or necessary in achieving an end. To give what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; aid. To make it possible or easier for someone to do something by doing part of the work yourself.

The Lord is majestic and many faceted. He reveals Himself by His Spirit through His word, creation, and people. With purposeful precision He orders lives and circumstances so we can know Him better. Yet often we meander in the lowlands, wrangling to make sense of pain and to do what we can to eliminate it. We take thought for God at church but not in the grip and grind of every day. Yet here He stands as constant help.

Harnessing the Lord as help begins with acquainted ourselves with His ways among men. The scriptures and life experiences teach how He hears, trains, equips, and leads. We then need deliberately to seek Him and request specific assistance. Our very challenges and conundrums are designed to expose needs only He can meet.

What current situations are chaotic and chafing? Where do we presently lack direction, inspiration, zeal, needed wisdom? When so needy, where do we seek supply and solutions? Do we run to gurus, the internet, self-help, or substances to guide our way and get us through? Or do we approach the omniscient, omnipotent God for help? Bold and particular asking induces expectancy and illuminates His generous provision. Hereby, He receives all the praise. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Lord, keep me seeking, trusting, and praising You as my help all my days.

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

“Between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

‘Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.'” Revelation 5:6-10

John’s realization that none was worthy to open God’s scroll, to initiate His providential and perfect issuance, brought him to deep weeping over the chasm. At the fallenness of man. At the greatness of God as One due respect and awe. At the sobering privilege to be watching, and recording. Into this heart agony the sight of the Lamb captivated his senses and soul. It is hard to imagine that he did not also fall down, join in song, and take up the reverent wonder and praise of the living creatures and elders. Such a vision revealed both unimaginable other-ness and immanent worthiness that demanded a response.

Gazing at the Lord, worthy of all glory and honor and power, and seeing Him as the only One able to take and open the scroll, elicited new recognition and a new song. The illumination of mind and soul instills an irrepressible urge to praise. We cannot see the Lord, as described in Scripture or experienced in our personal lives, and not bow, make music with hand and mouth, and pray. Bring it on! (Revelation 4:2-11)

As sadness and hardship swell and threaten to undo us, will we keep looking for the Lord Jesus in the midst? Will we bring our weeping as incense and offer it before Him who bore our griefs and sorrows and gives sure hope? How will we recount His worth and worthiness? What specific praises can compose a new song to Him? How will we proclaim, with attitude and action, that He alone is worthy to receive worship and execute His will? (Isaiah 53:3-6)

Lord, affix my eyes to You standing and worthy, and cause me to sing.

“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and shall say to the people, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’” Deuteronomy 20:1-4

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7

The formidable presence of chariots and horses can leave a man quaking or confident, depending on his perception and standing. Both responses are an aberration to how the Lord would have us see. A distorted view of the might of the enemy leaves us frozen to God’s call and opportunities. Seeing too large the looming enemy at hand, we fail to look beyond to the One who is greater and whose promises are more powerful. Conversely, when we trust in manmade means and tools to defeat the enemy, we prove our faith defeated. (Isaiah 31:1,3)

It is the Lord who gives right sight and adjusts heavenly proportions of the ways and weapons of warfare. He is greater than our foe, and He is our shield and Victor. If we would focus on Him and His strength and word, and approach every battle within the parameters of His promises and armed with His help, we can conquer. (Psalm 3:3; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 John 4:4)

What opponents presently have us fretting in fear? What foolish resources are we trusting in battle? How will we correct to advance with the true Victor in bold vision and faith?

“A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!” ~Martin Luther (1529)

Father, give me heavenly perspective of every part and player in spiritual battle, and help me fight remembering that You win.