The Assailant

He's sneaky, this assailant that relentlessly stalks me, looking for opportunities to initiate an attack. In the old days, I used to accept his periodic attacks as normal. I would sense his presence and wait in dread as I anticipated the hours, days and sometimes even weeks in which I would become battered under his relentless blows. Time and wisdom have given me the much-needed weapons for a counter-attack against this dark foe. Now, when I sense the heavy cloud of hopelessness, helplessness or sadness that surround his barrage of poison arrows to my soul, I am -- though at times weak or slow to respond -- prepared.

My weapon? I Corinthian 4:7-8, is among the many in my arsenal. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you."

Another favorite is found in Ephesians 6, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."

And some artillery from Romans 8... "(vs 18)For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us... (vs 28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose... (vs 31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? ... (vs 35-39) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

POW! BAM! WHACK!!! There, that should put him back in his place... :o)