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Facing the Enemy

In the Word

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge (Psalm 143:9).

Of the Word

No matter what measures we take to avoid them, enemies sneak into our lives. They come in the form of bills, illnesses, or disappointments. They can be what we eat, drink, or put into our bodies. Enemies may be who we associate with, abusive relationships we endure, or simply what we read, listen to, or watch on TV.

The war against enemies cannot be won alone. Therefore, we must never underestimate the promises in God’s Word and the power of God’s answers to prayer. Participating in counseling or a group discussion may help. Taking part in a Bible study or finding a prayer partner may be helpful, too. Seeking God-pleasing help is not a sign of weakness. Instead it is a step toward fighting off the enemy.

For he [God] has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5b–6). We can face any enemy with Christ beside us.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, help me, this day and always, to know that Your power is stronger than any enemy I may face. Remind me that Jesus faced and conquered Satan, the most terrible enemy of all. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 16/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Faith is … Trusting Jesus to Provide Real Security

In the Word

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19a NIV).

Of the Word

Many people in the world today are desperately searching for security. In their minds, if they could find the right combination of material blessings, such as the perfect job with high pay and a solid retirement plan, they would never need to worry again. If only they would look around them and consider what has happened to others like them who have placed their trust and sought their security in the things of this world! There is no lasting security in the material things of life.

But we, as Christians, do have a secure anchor and His name is Jesus. Our faith rests not in things of this world, but rather in the person of Jesus Christ. He proved once and for all He is the secure anchor we need in this world in which we live. He proved Himself when He showed Himself alive to the disciples. He is our risen Lord.

Our anchor is our faithful God who has provided for us in the past, is doing so now, and will continue to provide for us even into eternity. He provides all of the security we need. Our faithful God is our security from eternity to eternity.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord Jesus, You are my hope and the firm, secure anchor for my soul. In Your name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 18/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

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The Restless Soul

In the Word

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him (Psalm 62:5 NIV).

Of the Word

Researchers tell us that adults today don’t get enough sleep. The advent of electricity means we can stay up later than our ancestors. Well into the night we are watching television, reading, or using our computers. “Early to bed and early to rise” doesn’t seem to fit in with today’s lifestyle. Consequently, sleep deprivation and fatigue are common among us. As a society, we just aren’t getting enough physical rest.

Just as common are the people who can find no rest for their souls. Many carry burdens of guilt, hatred, anger, or prejudice. Some are grieving. Others are unable to forgive, whether it is themselves or someone else. Day after day they search for inner peace and it just isn’t there. They look for hope and can’t find it.

Do you have a restless soul? Take to heart the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. … I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28, 29b). Jesus invites us all to come and rest in Him.

Walking with my Lord

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that I can say, “I came to Jesus as I was, So weary, worn, and sad; I found in him a resting-place, And he has made me glad.” In Your name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 19/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” words by Horatius Bonar, music by Thomas Tallis. Public domain.

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Faith is … Depending on Our Heavenly Father

In the Word

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16).

Of the Word

Some people take the attitude: “God is too great, too busy, too remote to be interested in me personally.” That might be a complaint; it might be false humility. Either way we should not measure God by our standards nor judge Him by our limitations. He is God and so His eye can be on the sparrow and His mind can number the very hairs of our heads. He does not lose sight of our best interests or neglect our needs. He is vitally interested in what we do with the gift of life.

All things depend on God, our Father. The seeds which the sparrow eats, the food for the fish in the sea, the crops which we harvest, and food we gather into carts at the supermarket all come from His generous hand. Food itself, the strength to gather it, and the ability of our bodies to turn that food into energy and strength are all gifts of His goodness. He is not too great to care about these things.

If our Father were to close His hand or turn His face, there would be no life on this earth. Those who refuse to look to Him or acknowledge their dependence on Him could not live. 

Walking with my Lord

Almighty Father, send Your Spirit upon me in rich measure that I may always depend upon You for all things spiritual and physical. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 16/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Be Ready

In the Word

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect … (1 Peter 3:15).

Of the Word

Over the years I have been blessed to lead workshops in which women learned to share their faith in Christ. To allow people an opportunity to talk with one another, each woman worked with a partner. On one occasion a young woman was without a partner, so she and I became a team. As we talked, I learned that she had come at her grandmother’s invitation. To my surprise she said, “I don’t know this Jesus that you are talking about.”

How wonderful it was to share Jesus’ love with her, telling her what He has done for me throughout my life!

To this day, it is with thanksgiving and joy that I remember the young woman seated next to her grandmother on the last pew of the church. It is my prayer that she has learned to know Jesus and that she is now sharing her faith with others. St. Paul writes to Philemon and his message is the same for us: I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ (Philemon 1:6).

Walking with my Lord

Father, I rejoice with thanksgiving that You have called me to be Your child now and forever. Give me the desire and courage to readily share my faith in You with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Ida Mall. 15/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Be Ready — PRINTABLE VERSION

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Faith is … Looking Up and Above

In the Word

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1–2).

Of the Word

A great deal of wisdom is contained in this poem by an unknown author: If your nose is close to the grindstone rough, And you hold it down there long enough, In time you’ll say there’s no such thing, As brooks that babble or birds that sing. These three will all your world compose: Just you and the stone and your poor nose.

Sometimes we keep our nose so close to the grindstone we see nothing but sparks! A wise doctor advised a patient who was facing a nervous breakdown, “Go away and look at something big!”

Faith is just that. It is looking at the One who is above all and in all and through all. It is looking beyond His wonderful creation and seeing the Creator Himself. The Creator not only made the mountains but also allowed His only Son to die on one of those hills outside Jerusalem.

Faith is looking beyond our present circumstances and seeing something bigger than our problems, bigger than our circumstances. Oh, the blessings of looking up and above!

Walking with my Lord

“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine. Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away; Oh, let me from this day Be wholly Thine!” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 9/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“My Faith Looks Up To Thee” words by Ray Palmer, music by Lowell Mason – Public Domain.

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Candlemas: The Middle of Winter

Most of us mark February 2 as the day we jokingly put our trust in a little ground hog (Ground Hog Day). In jest, we call upon this furry little fellow to predict our winter fate, and like many other things that we might falsely rely on, the ground hog certainly cannot be trusted. While we know Ground Hog Day will come and go without any real hope concerning the arrival of spring, we do have a Savior whose light and promise of new life in Him is always certain.  

This second day of February, situated right in the middle of winter, is also celebrated by many Christians as “Candlemas.” Candlemas is 40 days after Christmas and marks the Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. It is in the second chapter of Luke that we hear how Mary presented herself and the Christ child in the Temple according to the Law of Moses. Luke also presents to us these certain words of salvation in Christ Jesus proclaimed by faithful Simeon:

Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:29–32).

Historically, Candlemas is also the day that the candles of the church are blessed. Candles give us light and remind us of Christ our Savior. Through the Word of God, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit who creates faith in our hearts to believe in Christ and proclaim Him as our true source of light and salvation. This same Holy Spirit was upon Simeon as he proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah there in the Temple. 

We never really know what that groundhog will do as February 2nd rolls around. However, when Candlemas comes, we hear and can be certain of Simeon's proclamation. This day, positioned right in middle of winter and spring, shines the light of hope, a hope that truly breaks the cold darkness of our sin and false winter hopes. Candlemas brings us a true and trustworthy proclamation of what is and what is to come. Only Christ Jesus breaks the darkness of sin and uncertainty and shines His everlasting light of salvation for all people! 

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, you reveal to us Your light found in Mary’s Child. Thank you for sending this Light of salvation for all people. May Simeon’s proclamation also be ours as we fully put our trust and hope only in Jesus. Amen. 

The Middle of Winter by Patti Miller, St. Louis, Missouri
Copyright © 2022 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. All rights reserved.
lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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