So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV)
I believe we are living in the last days. All around us we see Bible prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes. The Bible tells us that one of the signs of the end times would be an increase in devilish activities. Things will go from bad to worse, and there will be satanically energized times.
When you raise the subject of the devil and demons, some people laugh it off. They see the devil as some sort of caricatured, mythical figure. But according to the Bible, he is very real. If you don’t believe this, then commit your life completely to Jesus Christ and you will find out just how real he is. As surely as there is a God in Heaven, there is also a devil on earth who wants to bring you down.
It can become somewhat discouraging when we think about his power and ability, but the good news is that “when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV).
There are a lot of people today who play around with things that can produce demonic influence, even possession, and they laugh it off. They play with Ouija boards or read their horoscope every day. They think it’s funny to call a psychic hotline or one of the numerous services where people allegedly predict your future.
Some people would say, “Greg, lighten up. You take these things so seriously. It doesn’t cause any harm!” This stuff is real. We might laugh it off. We might think it’s a joke. But it’s no joke. Don’t play around with these things. Be careful. Keep your guard up. The devil is alive and well, and he is at work. We must take our adversary seriously.
Today's Bible Verse...
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.---Proverbs 26:20
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Ol' Smokey The Bear said: "Only you can prevent forest fires!" Basically, that's what the Wiseman says about gossip. We can turn down the heat, douse the fire, and let the quarrel die. How? By not supplying juicy morsels of gossip, by ditching the urge to spread destructive innuendo, and by refusing to keep alive an ugly rumor. Without gossip, the bitterness of a rivalry can dissolve and relationships can mend.
My Prayer...
Forgive me, O God, for the times I have kept gossip alive or have entertained the conversation of a gossip. Please bless and heal those whom I have wounded with my participation in gossip. Give me the strength to say only what is helpful to bless others, the courage to mend the relationships that I have damaged because of reckless words, and the wisdom to know how to discourage those seeking to spread gossip. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
Today's Verse Illustrated...
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