My enemy does not have a face.
My enemy does not have a gender.
My enemy does not have an ethnicity.
My enemy does not practice a religion.
My enemy does not have a government.
In fact, I have many enemies, but none have any of those attributes. I divide my enemies into three different camps:
1 – Choices I make knowing full well the consequences are really not worth the pleasures.
I like to drive fast. When I make a choice to go beyond the posted speed limit, I make a choice to open myself up to the possibility of a speeding ticket. My few moments of pleasure come with a penalty.
The Word is plain and not veiled for those who believe. He lays out His commands and precepts in a way all of us can understand. He allows me freedom to choose to do those things or not. When I choose not to follow His instructions, I can’t blame it on someone else or something else. I can only blame it on me. And, there is always a price to pay for that behavior.
Addictions start with choices, and may end up as a battle of the flesh. Rarely is the devil actually to blame.
2 – Battles of the flesh.
My heritage is Sicilian, and I grew up in a household where passionate demonstrative displays of emotions were more common that not. Suffice to say, that everything was passionate – including when someone was upset about something. Everyone knew it – sometimes the neighbors knew, too! Occasionally, I react to things that push my buttons without thinking – my mouth opens and out comes words that may be categorized as severe or harsh by the recipient (not personal). I respond with a demonstration of passion that some people view as anger. I am working on changing this, but it is a constant process. I often find myself apologizing not for what I said, but how I said it.
The word is clear about the fruit of the spirit being not anger but gentleness. It is not like I intentionally end up extremely passionate at someone or something, but my response is colored by my demonstrative display of emotion. Often times it is barely across my lips when I realize that I need to contain it, but it is too late.
3 – satan and demons.
They are given far more credit for poor behavior than they deserve. Most of our problems lie with our choices and with our flesh. However, our weaknesses are known by more than just ourselves. The devil and demons will capitalize on those weaknesses.
Our God knows all of the good and all of the not so good things about us. And….He still wants us and still loves us. Just like David, if we repent, He is filled with mercy, forgives us and intentionally forgets those less than righteous things we say or do. If He is our strength, our rock, our fortress, and our stronghold, then when we find ourselves needing to change or conquer an “enemy” within us, He will arm us with strength for the battle.
Read Psalms 18:1-50
What enemies (not people) do you have in your life?
Reread Psalm 18, keeping in mind:
a. …those poor choices and flesh sins as your real enemies. (Enemies are described as pangs of death, floods of ungodliness, sorrows of Sheol, snares of death, foe, enemy, those who hated me, my darkness, etc).
b. …what God will do for you if you choose to battle those enemies.
Who are You God? To me, You are my strength, my rock, my fortress, my salvation, my stronghold, my support, my reward, my perfect way, my avenger, my King. When trouble comes, I will trust in You for rescue. When I am afraid of the things I see in myself, I will call to You and You will answer. You send your thunder, hailstones, coals of fire, arrows, and lightning to help me! With You, I am a force to be reckoned with – there is nothing impossible. You prepare me in all ways. When I enter a battle, You arm me with strength, so I can beat my enemy as fine as the dust before the wind and cast them out like dirt in the streets. You deliver me! Any darkness in me must flee as I give more of myself to You as there will be no where for it to hide. “Your gentleness makes me great.” (v. 35b) What an awesome thought to ponder! Because of You, I am saved. I bow down to the Most High God! I exalt You and praise You. Oh Lord, help me to keep my feet on Your path and my eyes focused on You. Let my heart be filled with incredible love for You! In Jesus’ name, Amen!