Daily Devotional For Wednesday, March 5, 2025
We live in a very evil and sinful world. I think many times we underestimate how evil this world is. According to the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12, this is a reality we all face – “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” (NASB). I think most of us underestimate the intentions of the evil spiritual forces on the earth.
They are not complacent or lazy. Instead, they are continually at work to gain power and influence over people’s thoughts and actions. I urge you to not give evil an inch of territory in your life, but run from it and turn your face to God. Choose your influences wisely. Allow God’s Word to have authority over your home, your work, and your relationships. Ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance through difficult situations. Then, when you hear God’s voice, do what He says without argument or hesitation. Our faith has to be something more than a theory we talk about among ourselves; it must become an instrument of change.
To refuse to know and believe that demons and the demonic exist makes you a puppet in their hands. With all the advances we have made today, there are many in the world of psychology and psychiatry that refuse to accept the reality of the demonic. They know evil exists, but they think it is an issue that psychology can offer a solution that renders it dead. With the right counseling or the right medication or the right treatment we can be help this person fight any spiritual war.
Now please do not misunderstand me here. I know there are real people who have real issues that medicine, therapy and counseling help. Before I went into ministry, I spent 2 years going to a counselor to help me deal with all the physical, emotional, verbal, psychological and sexual abuse I endured as a teen. I am deeply grateful today for all of that. But much of our battles are spiritual and thus they require a spiritual and biblical solution, not a humanistic one.
1 Samuel 12:14 says, “If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God” (NASB). If people would simply obey the Word of God, their lives would be so much healthier in every area, better, joyful and less anxious. We are created in God’s image and only God can help us completely.
I think one of the reasons people have so many issues, struggles, anxieties, and problems is that we no longer fear God. We see Him as a doting grandfather that pats us on the back and is never angry at us for our sins. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (NASB). Notice two big benefits from fearing the Lord – wisdom and understanding. When we truly begin to fear God and serve Him, then we will see transformation in ourselves and in those who rule over us.
Questions To Consider
- Do you have a healthy fear of the Lord? Why or why not? If you say you do, what is the proof?
- If our real battle is not flesh and blood – meaning each other – then why does it seem we make our battles about flesh and blood?
- What difference would it make if we really saw our battle is spiritual and againsts the demonic?
Scripture To Meditate On: Colossians 1:13-14, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word’s authority and Your Holy Spirit’s guidance. May I reverently listen to Your voice and obey Your invitations toward righteousness. Thank You for the life transformation that will come and for the godly influence I can be for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly