The Devotional

Papa “J” says

When someone is afraid of you, their best defense is an offensive attack! Thus, be a solid thinker, be a vigilant observer and be not afraid of the roar of the lion. 1 Peter 5:8 Satan is afraid of those who belong to Christ!

From the eyes of the sailor sitting offshore a few thousand yards, the country side looks peaceful, a light here and there is visible. With the naked eye one cannot not observe any activity that is readily identifiable. Then just before the time to do what you came to do, there is a pause of eerie silence. Like the ears are aching to hear something, anything! Then, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! All the big deck guns belch noise and smoke into that quite moment. The country side begins to light up like a pattern of street lights, but along with the light there is a sudden sense that people on the land could be dying a sudden death, even injured or maimed. But the thought melts rapidly when the shore line lights up in retaliation and someone from the bridge says, “Incoming stand fast”! Then there is a different sound, the whine of a passing shell, or an explosive mound of water in front or behind you and one of the sister ships is hit. Your mind races, but your body keeps doing what your mind says to run from. Eternity passes the time. Then there is that silence again, only this time you welcome it! Your mind plays games like, “Mommy its dark out here, won't you call me home for the night?” Or “O LORD, I just want to go home, this hurts”! (This last sentence is why we need to support our troops in prayer, in cookies and in the love of Christ), it is the early stages of PTS that effects the life of the brave heart for as long as it pumps.

Psalm 17

Psalm 17:6-12 Like the physical battles of war, the world around us is constantly in a spiritual struggle, a war that is not witnessed by the unbeliever. So, the brave heart of the believer is often challenged by the enemy to give up or be destroyed. Our call for reinforcement goes out to the LORD and He leans to hear what we have to say. Then from His righteous Right Hand, He calms our emotions and delivers us from those who would rise up against us.

As one that protects their eye from injury, God will protect us as the pupil (apple) of His eye. He will also place us under His protective wing from the wicked who are deadly enemies, who surround us with the heart full of pride and the mouth that speaks of doom and death. Like the lion ready and eager to rip open it's prey, who are always found lurking in secret but familiar places.

Seek the LORD call for Him to arise and confront the enemy, Jesus will deliver you, the evil have their reward in this life. Jesus is our reward, now and forever! Seek His face in righteousness and be satisfied that there is no PTS for the saint, since when we awake, we will awake in His likeness. “O what a foretaste of glory divine!”