Whom Do We Wrestle?
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In those moments, I tend to focus on the
situation. What did I do to cause this, and how can I fix it? But after a
while, I get irritated. If I hurt someone’s feelings by giving my opinion, why
am I not entitled to my opinion? And why am I always the one punished? Why
can’t that person just shrug it off and forgive?
The Lord allowed me to wallow for a few
minutes, and then He said, “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question
you, and you shall answer Me.”[1]
“Yes,
Lord, I’m listening.”
“You
know my Word and what I require of you. What must you do?”
“Forgive as You forgive,” I said, sighing. “Repent, pray for those whom
I must have offended and who, in turn, offended me.”
“Is
that all?”
“No,
I also need to let go of my hurt, allow You to cleanse me of my
unrighteousness, and heal my wounds.”
“Good.”
As the Lord worked in my heart, He permitted me
to see something I hadn’t seen earlier.
So, let me ask. When enduring periods of
struggle, have you ever considered the timing? What took place in your life in
the days leading up to it? Or to what you were committed during and in the days
following? For me, it was a “chance” meeting before and a time of warfare
praying during.
Pondering this, I realized someone, other than
the people involved, instigated the problem—not that I was blameless, mind you,
because I wasn’t. But God allowed me to see the enemy’s underlying
agenda—thwarting the will and plan of God by stopping the prayer. Severing a
relationship was just a bonus.
However, our Sovereign God prohibited the enemy
from hindering me in prayer.
How? By not permitting Satan to make me aware
of this problem until after I completed my task. Maybe you’re skeptical.
But I tell you, God revealed this fact as I typed.
God’s Holy Word is true. “We wrestle
NOT against flesh and blood…” the people who offend us and those whom we
offend. “We wrestle…against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”[2]
This enemy’s first job is to keep us from
personally knowing Jesus. When he fails at that, his second job is to thwart
the work of God in and through us.[3]
What have I learned? Almighty God says what and
how much the enemy can do to His children and when he can do it.
Satan wears a leash—it’s a long one, but a leash all the same. And while this
trial greatly disturbed me and I went through the gamut of emotions, and still,
it’s not over—God’s work went unhindered.
The Lord accomplished His will and protected me. How can I be sure? Well, the
attack was already in progress, and I didn’t even know it.
Friends, be strong in the Lord and in the power
of His might. Put on God’s armor to stand against the wiles of
the devil and to withstand in the evil day.[4]
For, “‘No weapon formed against you
shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment
you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and
their righteousness is from Me,’ says the Lord.” [5]
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