“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
In our humanness we often mire in sin and wallow in guilt. We allow ourselves to be overcome by temptations, we commit the sin, and then we lament internally, or loudly, what a sinner we are. We tend to repeat the cycle over and over again. It is no one’s fault but our own. We allow.
In the February 21st entry of “God Calling, A Devotional Diary,” by A.J. Russell, we read, “Only self can cast a shadow on the way. Be more afraid of Spirit-unrest, of soul-disturbance, of any ruffling of the Spirit, than of earthquake or fire or any outside forces.”
The evil one, the devil, is ever present seeking just a tiny chink in our armor where he can worm his way into our thoughts, and take up residence in our soul. He wants to own our every thought, word, and deed. It is we who open the door and let him in.
It is our responsibility to keep that door closed while keeping open the channel to Jesus and His love, the channel to God and His Almighty protection. We must arm ourselves with knowledge of our Lord and of our inheritance. We must arm ourselves with sincere prayer, and with calm and peaceful thoughts. Then, when we are besieged by the evil forces, we will know to whom we turn, to whom we run. In that same entry of God Calling, we read, “When you feel the absolute calm has been broken–away alone with Me until your heart sings, and all is strong and calm.”
We are most vulnerable in the temptation phase. It is during this time the evil one works his mightiest. For he knows once we succumb we are his. It is much more difficult for him to get us at that very first moment of tempting than it is to keep us afterward, after we have tasted the fruits of sin. We read in James 1:13-15, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
It is at this time of temptation that we are weakest and often allow the evil one to gain free reign over us. It is also at this time that God brings all of His powers to bear, to fight for our soul. Again from God Calling, “No evil force can hinder my power–only you yourself have power to do that. Think when all God’s mighty forces are arrayed to aid you–and your poor, puny self impedes their onward march.”
It is both a powerful and disturbing picture. At the moment of temptation, at that split second of decision all the forces of both good and evil, Heaven and hell, God and the devil, are arrayed and aimed squarely at you! Who do you want to win? Who will you allow to win?
Invoke the Name above all others, Jesus! And then, away, alone with Him until you are sure!
A beautiful prayer to invoke God’s Protection is the following, by poet laureate James Dillet Freeman, The Prayer for Protection –
The Light of God surrounds me; The Love of God enfolds me; The Power of God protects me; and the Presence of God watches over me. Wherever I am, God is! All is well! Amen.
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