How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD of Armies. I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD: my heart and flesh cry out for the living God… They go from strength to strength. (Psalm 84:1-2, 7a)

It has been two and a half months since I have been able to write on this blog or make any progress on the book. It has not been by my own choosing. I yearn to spend time with God every morning, and mostly, by God’s grace, I am blessed to be able to spend that time in the presence of my Lord. I deeply desire to write of God’s wondrous love and faithfulness, especially the love He has given me over my lifetime. The latter is getting bombarded by obstacles daily by the enemy.

Everyone has trials, bad days, and tragic things that happen in their lives. However, when the flaming arrows are relentless, you can be assured that God has a special purpose for you to fulfill and the enemy is trying everything possible to deter it.

At first, I thought the adversities were God testing my faith, or working on building my character to be more like Him. After the last rocket hit us this week, I knew that it was flat-out warfare. The trials we were experiencing were swallowing the time I needed to do what God told me to do… which is to share His story throughout my life. Yet, still, God does allow those painful circumstances to happen to see if we will throw in the towel and quit? Or will we persevere and follow the will that God has called us to do?

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (I Peter 4:12/ESV)

Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (I Peter 4:19/NKJV)

And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

If you cannot determine the difference, pray to God and He will show you. Does it matter whether the trial is character-building or warfare? To me, personally, it does. In the first, I persevere, in the second, I counterattack with my own arrows – the Word of God. Speaking Bible verses out loud or singing worship songs to God is more powerful to defeat Satan than any other ammunition I have found.

Remind yourself:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 5:8-11/NKJV)

Do I dwell on the enemy? No, but when I realize that it is he who is causing the ground to shake, I put on my spiritual armor and fight him with God’s promises.

I’ve grown weary of being knocked down, getting up, being knocked down, getting up, repeating.

Do you feel the same way?

Living from strength to strength?

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Let’s walk our daily walk as I Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (NIV). In other words, grab your shield (Ephesians 6:16), put on your heavy work boots, and let’s build a firm foundation going from strength to strength – to Being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).

Stand strong!