Today is March the first and I for one am glad to see February over. Something about too many clouds, cold temperatures and wind cause me to say good bye without any grief. When the sun begins to pick up and the days get longer however, I begin to see the cobwebs that have been building up in my heart and mind.
Usually, when discouraged or a bit down, I have found the Psalms a place to find restoration. However, in the Psalms, frequent references to enemies, have hindered my ability to relate. When I remembered Ephesians 6:13, where the writer tells us that our enemies are not flesh and blood but something much darker and sinister, I was able to return to the Psalms and find in a spiritual sense, that I did find myself in many battles.
For example, while reading in Psalm 27, I came across a passage in verse 11-14 about enemies and specifically in verse 12
“false witnesses have risen against me”
I began to ponder some of my winter thinking; the bombs that were going off in my mind, thoughts so negative I don’t even want to give credence to them by writing them out. These thoughts were in my head, but very much against me. God’s light helped me put the following thoughts together. The enemy of my soul, through the thoughts in my mind, was bearing false witness against my identity, my character, and my worth. I was believing the false reports! I was taking them as my own! They were the words of false witnesses, the unseen enemy of my soul, to bring me down, to make me ineffective, and to steal my joy.
It is time in God’s Word and prayer that He highlights for us these truths that help us realize what is going on, to bring us down. Like verse 13 says:
“I would have lost hope unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
He then reminds us :
“Wait on the Lord Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart
Wait I say on the Lord.”
so as verses 5 and 6 say:
“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place…He shall hide me:
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord!”
Grace and peace to you!
