Today was a difficult day full of trials and tests, and my responses to most of them were not as composed as I wish they had been. I know good and well God has told us this would happen, and has directed us in what to do when Satan attacks. I know that any attempt to move closer to God is going to be met with resistance and attacks from Satan, but I failed again.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6: 10-18
As usual, I am extremely disappointed with myself, but I understand that my salvation is a continuous process and that we can continually start again, but that assurance does not allow me to be comfortable with my weaknesses. Though I try each day to live like I know I should, my weak human strength is often overcome by life's pressures and temptations. Each time it happens, I have to sorrowfully confess them in prayer, giving them all to God, asking for the forgiveness that He has promised, and for the strength to start the fight again.
The Apostle Paul speaks about this when he writes of his struggles with the 'thorn in his side' that he continually asks God to remove, but God never does, and Paul lives with this his entire life. We do not know what that 'thorn' was, but we can assume, or at least use it that way as an example, that the phrase was used metaphorically, and was referring to something else, maybe a medical condition or a sinful habit that he could not get rid of.
So, what did I learn today? I was reminded of my weaknesses and how I must live with my mind focused on God continuously throughout each day to fight off the evils of this world that are constantly bombarding all of us. In other words, I must put on the armor of God before I enter the arena and depend on His strength, not my own, to move forward.
Randall Gibbons
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