"But he went out at night and attacked them under the cover of darkness."
2 Chronicles 21:9b
2 Chronicles 21:9b
Darkness. It says mystery. It says fear. It say freedom. It says beware. The word means something different to each person. It has it on set of memories and emotions for every individual. We can experience darkness as the absence of light or those who are saved can experience darkness as the absence of the Light.
Many things can happen in the dark. We feel the pressure of unsettled circumstances most intensely in the dark. It seems that fever and symptoms of physical illness also intensify in the dark. In the dark, we deceive ourselves thinking we can get away with "certain things" because no one can see us. (Oh, I am so guilty of this.) Like Jehoram, many times the enemy attacks us in the dark, in our mind. He plays mind games causing us to go to war with ourselves. The enemy uses the dark to distort our reality.
Here's reality: there is no darkness in our Light, that is Jesus Christ. He is ever-present. He sees all: our sin, our sickness, and the senseless attacks of the deceiver. He is our defender. His Holy Spirit is our Blessed Reminder sent to help us call upon and use our weapon of defense, the Word of God. What happens if we are too weak to fight? His angels do battle for us in the Heavenlies, for His name's sake.
Christian song writer, Paul Baloche, wrote a song called The Offering. In the first verse you will find these words, "There is no shadow in Your Presence." I weep when I think of the actuality of these words being a reality in my life. A holy fear rushes over me knowing He sees the "certain things" I do in the dark. The words also deliver a huge halleljuah to my soul. They are my reminder that He is always ready to love, listen, and defend me even under the cover of darkness.
Many things can happen in the dark. We feel the pressure of unsettled circumstances most intensely in the dark. It seems that fever and symptoms of physical illness also intensify in the dark. In the dark, we deceive ourselves thinking we can get away with "certain things" because no one can see us. (Oh, I am so guilty of this.) Like Jehoram, many times the enemy attacks us in the dark, in our mind. He plays mind games causing us to go to war with ourselves. The enemy uses the dark to distort our reality.
Here's reality: there is no darkness in our Light, that is Jesus Christ. He is ever-present. He sees all: our sin, our sickness, and the senseless attacks of the deceiver. He is our defender. His Holy Spirit is our Blessed Reminder sent to help us call upon and use our weapon of defense, the Word of God. What happens if we are too weak to fight? His angels do battle for us in the Heavenlies, for His name's sake.
Christian song writer, Paul Baloche, wrote a song called The Offering. In the first verse you will find these words, "There is no shadow in Your Presence." I weep when I think of the actuality of these words being a reality in my life. A holy fear rushes over me knowing He sees the "certain things" I do in the dark. The words also deliver a huge halleljuah to my soul. They are my reminder that He is always ready to love, listen, and defend me even under the cover of darkness.
8 Comments:
Dear Sweet Sisters in Christ,
I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your prayers yesterday for my son. All of you are an encouragement to me with your beautiful prayers. I'm so thankful to you Wendy for this blog I look forward to reading every morning. Our heavenly Father speaks to me through your words. You are such a blessing and you are helping me with my daily walk with the Lord.
Please continue to pray for my son as he is in rehab since last Friday for drug addiction and facing seriosly problems with the law. As a mom raising him in a Christian home with a good foundation, I never dreamed I would be asking for a prayer request like this for any of my four sons. God is so good and I believe in answered prayers. I am so happy to have you, sisters, to pray along with me.
I shared with Micca on her blog the scripture I'm leaning on today for my son: Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for You are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14
Blessings!
Deborah (Not D)
Good Morning Ladies,
Wendy, I will be back later to comment on your blog. I have an appointment. But wanted to read and ponder.
Deborah, not D, :-), I like that.
Again thank you for your honest open request about your son. Lately with my sons I have been on my knees so much I need praying knee pads. :-)
Father, I lift my sister Deborah and her son up to you this morning. Addiction can have such a strong hold on us. Lord we ask that you break these shackles free so that this young man can have a chance to live the life that you desire for him. Father, give Deborah guidance and wisdom to be there in what ever way you need her to. We praise you for all you have done so far. Thank you in your precious name, amen.
Have a great day and I will be back late.
Cyber hugs,
Diane
Good Morning,
Thank you dear Wendy for your words that are inspired by God. "We feel the pressure of unsettled circumstances most intensely in the dark." Isn't that the truth?! We go to bed, exhausted, knowing we need to sleep...and the enemy is right there looming around with the thoughts! I will say, that I'm getting better not allowing him to do this to me. This week in particular, has been stressful watching my family interact. My sister drove in from out of town to be with my father who has been in the hospital. She is a dear-she would do anything for anyone. My mother (parents, divorced) has been jealous of the time we have been spending at the hospital. My sister also desired to spend time with my grandma, who we've recently moved into an assisted living home. Well, my mom has felt left-out! Oh, the judgment thoughts in my mind! My sister had a huge blow-out with my mother a couple of days ago. Last night she told me she was numb on her left side. (She has MS) She has been doing very good with her disease and is very positive. Pray for her healing as today she is suppose to drive back to Yuma. I know the enemy is coming in to divide the family. I'm basically the glue that tries to hold us all together and sometimes the praying just gets overwhelming. I could slap my mother who knows the Bible better than I do! She can be so self-centered.
Today, I noticed Jehu had some good and bad about him. His zeal for the Lord was partial. How true, today, that God can use us, but maybe we are not in complete submission to Him. Oh dear Lord, I pray that my decisions are not based on my own self-interests but that they are based on your interests. I don't want to be apart of Satan's schemes! Then we can trust the results to God for "no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly"
Ps 84:11
Thank you, ALL, for your comments. They've been so uplifting to me at the end of my day! I wake up and retire with your words on my mind! Jodie, I had to chuckle to myself, because I remember at the beginning, I was afraid to "give comments!" Isn't that funny! I feel so close to all of you and it is such an honor to be lifting your individual needs in prayer.
Lori - AZ
Hightly Favored
Good Morning All,
2cor 21:9 says that Jehoram went out at night and attacked them. Night,darkness makes one sometimes think of coldness, fear,attacks,all things evil,bad,negative.But,in the mist of darkness we can see the light IF we are in Christ. In 'HIM" there is no darkness. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;for thou (God) art with me.If there is a shadow then light (THE LIGHT) has to be near-by.
Praise God!!
I closed my Bible this morning and sighed. Even back then, we were doing just enough to say that we did what the Lord asked but not doing it with our whole heart. There always seems to be one little thing that we want to hold on to---we love God, we worship Him, we believe in Him but we refuse to give Him total control of our lives. Oh Lord please help me surrender all to you.
Highly favored: your comment about if there's a shadow then there has to be light nearby was a winner! That was my nugget for the day!
Morgen
Highly Favored, loved that "nugget" of a comment too, as Morgen put it! Powerful.
Wendy, I also underlined that phrase every time it appeared. I love what Psalm 139:11-12 says, "If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.'" So thankful that there is no night with the Lord.
I was struck by a question today in our reading: "'What do you know about peace?'" 2 Kings 9:18
I was listening to a message on CD one day with another woman (actually, the speaker was Lysa Terkeurst), when she quoted probably one of the most famous "peace" scriptures in the Bible.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil.4:6-7
As my heart thrilled with the expectation and hope of experiencing such peace, this other woman who was there, with resignation exclaimed, "I wish". The tone in which these words were spoken brought me to tears. Such defeat. Accepting anxiety as the inevitable and her lot, words were uttered in despair. She had given up on the possible presence of peace. This was an elderly, godly, Christian woman. A woman who had devoted her life to following the Lord. I hear her voice in my head yet today. My heart still aches for her loss of belief in God's promise. What did she know about peace? Sadly, nothing.
I struggle with many fears and insecurities, yet my heart thrills and gets so excited at God's promised peace. Worry is not my portion. It may appear to be my passion at times, but it is not God's plan for me.
God is asking us all today, "What do you know about peace?" Have we experienced both peace with God and the peace of God?
Joy
PS. Great news about my Dad. The scope yesterday went well, although we don't have the results yet. Also, today we have been given fresh hope as a long-term care facility much closer to home opened up 50 beds for rehab patients. We have applied to move Dad and we now wait and see. If he is going to move, it could happen as quickly as Friday. Oh, please pray with me that we can bring Dad closer to home. This would probably not be a permanent location, but it would be so much closer than where he is now and it does offer some programs that could help Dad.
Dear Deborah,isn't it wonderful that we are not alone in this world. I believe that God places people in our lives for a reason, I am excited that we can pray for you and your son at a time like this.
Joy, that sounds like it may be an answer to prayer. As always, I will remember your dad in prayer as I continue to look for your updates on the situation.
Lori, I am so glad to read how well your dad is recovering from surgery. My heart breaks for your family...I understand the situation with your mom. My brother, sister, and myself have dealt with this jealousy of who spends the most time where...it can actually tear you up. We found ourselves hiding the fact we were spending time with one parent. It took lots of time to get where we are with that situation, today. Hang in there, dear sister, as we keep you in prayer.
Diane, I continually have you on my heart and in prayer. I feel close to you and don't really understand why. I hope your appointment went well and that your day is bright.
Brandee, I miss hearing from you.
Dear Wendy, isn't it great! the friendships that have developed from your faithfullness to God. I hope you have a wonderful day!
love you all,
nancy
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