Who’s The Enemy?-Joni Tada

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8
You’ve had it happen. You read a book on marriage with your spouse, set goals, make promises, and six months later the situation is the same. The same unmet expectations and hurt feelings. Your marriage could move forward if only your partner would shape up.

Or maybe it’s the family. If they would just be more sensitive, more careful with the way they ask for things, you wouldn’t get so down. You wouldn’t feel stepped on or demoralized. If they would say “thanks” once in a while, depression would be a thing of the past.

Perhaps it’s your friends. If only they would make the first move to plan a luncheon date instead of you always calling. If they would show a bit more consideration, they would be real friends.

But wait. Remember who your problem person really is. Because Christians have, in fact, only one enemy. The enemy is not your spouse. It isn’t your children or your friends. The Devil is your only enemy. And he would love to keep your spouse far from you. He wants you to believe that your children are unappreciative, and your friends think less of you. This is exactly why you need to shower extra love and abundant prayer on these very people!

Remember who your support person is. Jesus Christ is your help and shield. He is the one who has called you to love your spouse, nurture your children, and lay down your life for your friends. It’s the best way to defeat the enemy in your life … and in the lives of those you love.

Today, Lord, I ask you to enrich the lives of those whom you’ve placed near to me. Where there is contention, please sow your love. Where there is disappointment, give hope. Use me to touch others with your love.

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The Prayers of Jesus-Joni Tada

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

Luke 6:12
When Jesus went off to quiet places early in the morning to pray, what did he pray about? If you could have been close enough to cup your ear, what would you have heard him say to his Father? What was on his heart and, for that matter, the heart of his Father?

If we could find out, don’t you think it would change the way we pray? The way we live? Well, we don’t have to guess what Jesus discussed in prayer. We already know. The entire seventeenth chapter of John’s gospel reads like a secret recording, a word-for-word transcript of the Lord’s prayer life. And guess what was on His mind? You and I!

Jesus devoted the major portion of his great intercessory prayer to us. He prays that we might know God in the fullest sense. That we might obey and understand and accept his word. He prays for certainty and assurance. For our protection and unity. He prays for our joy. Our sanctification. Our zeal in witnessing.

I could go on, but you can read it for yourself in John 17. Isn’t it poignant that as Jesus faced a torturous death, He did not think of Himself but of us?

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21).

If the Lord had others on his mind when he spoke to the Father, shouldn’t we pray the same? Jot down a list of names of people you know and then open up your Bible to John 17. Pray for these loved ones, using the same wisdom (perhaps even the same words) as the Lord. And praise God that this is the way Jesus, our great Intercessor, prays for you.

As you live to intercede, Lord, let me live to intercede, as well.

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A Haven from Loneliness-Charles Stanley

Ephesians 4:1-6

God created humanity with a need for companionship with Himself and one another. When we don’t experience it, we suffer the emotional turmoil of loneliness. But in His Word, God assures us of His constant presence. He wants all believers to know that He is near and will never leave them (Deut. 31:6).

Another way God meets our need for companionship is through the church. When we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become one not only with Him but also with every other believer. The church is called the body of Christ, and one of its purposes is to meet our need for person-to-person connection. A spiritual body works much like a human one—parts are both independent and interdependent, each needing others in order to function well.

To be spiritually and emotionally healthy, we all need support from our brothers and sisters in Christ. In his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul emphasizes Christlike character qualities that make this possible: humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and love. He also admonishes believers to accept one another (Rom. 15:7) and bear each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).

If you’re feeling lonely, draw near to God and His people to receive the comfort He gladly supplies.

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Yardsticks-Joni Tada

“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following. When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’”

John 21:20-22
Christians know that it’s wrong to compare, yet our culture has more sociological groupings and measurements than you can shake a yardstick at. We struggle to avoid coming out on the losing end as we compare our lot in life with others’. And if we have faced tragedy, we often seek a refuge where our Purple Heart medals shine more brightly.

Peter had the same problem. Jesus had just revealed that Peter would be led to a martyr’s death, but not a word had been spoken about John. Obviously, when Peter sized up the situation, John appeared to be getting a better deal. “Lord, what about him?” he blurted out.

Jesus’ answer was shocking. He allowed no room for deserved indulgence, no luxury of self-pity. In effect Jesus said, “Look, if it’s my will that John lives until I come again, what is that to you? What I have planned for John is not your business. Get your eyes off him and follow me.” Rather harsh words for a man facing martyrdom! But the Lord knew the greater devastation of competing and comparing.

“Envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:3.

Here’s the best antidote for envy I’ve ever read. Romans 12:2 is the prescription to swallow: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Lord, your will for me is good and acceptable and perfect. I have no need to compare myself with others—I have your best for me!

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The Gift of the Holy Spirit-Charles Stanley

Acts 2:22-39

There’s some confusion in the church today concerning the Holy Spirit. A number of Christians think the indwelling of the Spirit occurs sometime after salvation, but Scripture teaches that He comes to permanently live within a new believer the moment he or she places faith in Jesus.

We don’t need to pray specific words for the Spirit to arrive. Nor do we have to attend a special service invoking His presence in order for Him to dwell in us. Any teaching that claims we can lose the Spirit and must regain Him over and over again is false. As soon as we trust in Jesus, His Spirit comes to abide with us forever (John 14:16). This truth is essential to understand, because Scripture clearly says that anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit does not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9).

It would be impossible to live the Christian life without the indwelling Spirit. He’s the one who guides us into God’s will, teaches us the truths of Scripture, transforms us into Christ’s likeness, and empowers us to serve and obey God successfully and joyfully.

When you fully understand this fundamental truth, you realize that instead of trying to “get the Spirit,” you need to live like the Spirit-filled Christian you are.

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