Manna for Your Morning

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)  After the devil had tempted Jesus for forty days, he departed from Him until an opportune time (Luke 4:2,13). Satan is always looking for an opportune time to steal, to kill, and to destroy. He sends his fiery darts to cause division, offense, bitterness, hatred, etc. so he can steal your peace and joy, and eventually kill your love. Since God is love, destruction is inevitable without the love of God in our hearts. But we can resist him, firm in our faith, and like Jesus, we can use God’s Word as our weapon of choice, by speaking what is written in it, over every situation.

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. — Colossians 3:15 (AMP)  As we continually walk with the Lord, His peace will guard our hearts and minds, against the attacks of the enemy. When fiery darts of doubt and negativity come our way, they will be unable to penetrate because we trust our heavenly Father. He will keep us in His perfect peace. His peace will guard our hearts from anxiety and fear. As we fully rely on God, His peace will be the controlling factor, in every circumstance. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT)

…the righteous are bold as a lion. — Proverbs 28:1(NKJV) The righteous don't draw back when the enemy shows up because God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) So when the fiery darts of the enemy come your way, hold up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16 AMP) Like the believers in Philippians 1:14, let us be confident and speak the word more boldly, without fear. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), which is our only offensive weapon.

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” — Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He responded with the Word of God and overcame the devil. (Mathew 4:4,7 & 10). Satan makes war with believers (Revelation 12:17) and he is constantly prowling about seeking whom he may devour. He only comes to steal, kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10). When he throws fiery darts at you, use the Word of God to combat his lies. A good soldier never goes into battle without his weapons, but how often does the devil catch us in battle and not wielding our weapon? The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), that allows us to triumph over our enemy. Speak the Word and continually hold up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Ephesians 6:16)

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. — 1 Peter 4:12 (NLT) For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT). Fix your gaze upon our great God and the mighty things He has done. He is more than able to extinguish the fiery darts of the wicked one.

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. — 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) When God opens doors of opportunity, do not be surprised when you encounter adversaries and opposition, as you pursue what God has for you. The fiery darts of the enemy will come. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV). Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV). For you have the victory!