Where were you on 911? Do you remember the terror? I remember it vividly. I was new on the job in Brentwood, Tennessee. I had just got to work and some co-workers were gathered around my boss’s cubicle watching the news.
Apparently, a plane flew into one of the Twin Towers while I was driving through rush hour traffic. As we were standing in awe watching the looping footage, another plane crashed into the next one. I don’t think any work got done that day in America outside of the government. I was shocked…dumbfounded.
There is no doubt that things are hot around the world today. Whether you are hearing about the ISIS, the Israel-Palestine saga, the conflict in Ukraine, human trafficking, etc etc etc. It can be easy to slip into hopelessness for our world.
Or, if you are like me and feel like you don’t have time to waste on the news, you can easily slip into oblivion to the pains of this world.
There are a couple of thoughts I want to express regarding the terror of this world.
- If you are keeping yourself connected to God’s heart, you are in the safest place.
David didn’t let the circumstances that surrounded him dictate his peace.
His greatest enemies who were hunting for murder often surrounded him. Yet he kept his attention fixed upon God and His goodness at all times. He found victory hiding in God.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday” (Psalm 91:1-6).
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12).
God is your shield. If God stands between you and the enemy, is there really anything to worry about?
- The puppeteer behind all the chaos is at a great disadvantage.
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
The mastermind conjuring up the wars and hatred is not human. It is the fallen angel, Lucifer himself, who is to blame.
Can I just say that satan has already been defeated? On the cross, Jesus disarmed him and his cohorts, making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). He took the keys of authority back from satan (Revelation 1:18).
Not only that, but Jesus has given us His advantage.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Although Jesus has defeated him, the devil still wreaks havoc on this earth. Hebrews 10:12-13 says that since Jesus has sat down on His throne in heaven, He is waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. Jesus has already won the war, but it is our job to take dominion in this earth.
We must believe that, in Christ, we don’t fight for victory; we fight from victory! We are not on the defense but the offense.
We must pray with the right perspective in mind.
Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
We are the ambassador’s of God’s kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20), and God intends to increase His government through our lives and our prayers. We are the ones who bring the enemy beneath His feet. We must not pray amiss. We must understand who our true enemy is. It is satan. He is behind the terror.
And he is defeated! Hallelujah!
I bless you with peace, safety, hope, and boldness, in Jesus name!
