Phyllis Beveridge Nissila

Access all posts in the series here.

I’m still thinking about the previous post, a kind of 2021 “David and Goliath” story in a world where it often seems as if the causes of truth and (real) justice are vastly overpowered by the powers-that-be perpetrating the causes of deception and (real) injustice.

In other words, where:

The world continues to descend into ever more reaches and byways of madness [where] Cultural ‘norms’ become ingrained. Where insantity proliferates…

But wait, there’s good news, too:

[nevertheless]…our faith serves as an essential counterweight, a call to sanity and clearness of vision. Without the Christian faith we would be lost in the confusion. The Holy Spirit is our guide.-Colin Markham

Have you ever noticed how when our real enemy, singular or collective (and ever lurking in the sulfury shadows), outwardly dons its garb of authority, polishes its sword, amasses its best bombs and bombastics, carefully chooses some cruel day, date, and time to strike, then with overweening hubris marches out to steal, kill, and destroy, little knowing that…

…meanwhile, God has already spotted some local believer or several (status in the world or lack thereof notwithstanding but hearts willing and spirits prepared) and says to him, her, or them, in a still, small voice, or some megaphone of His might and/or circumstance prepared from the foundation of the world for such a time as this:

Ready?

Set?

And he, she, or they; young, old, or in-between, don the “belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit which is the word of God,” and feet “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” and ready with  whatever additional force-multipliers are required–e.g., David, his five, smooth stones; Moses, his rod; Noah, his carpenter’s tools; Abigail, her courage; and Mary, a willing heart to birth the Savior of the world–step out onto the prophetic (and real) battleground and…

BOOM!

Another one bites the dust.

Spiritually and, always, if at length, literally.

In myriad, often unexpected, ways, too–like how it worked out for the “average Joe,” as the subject of my previous post describes himself, who successfully wielded the weapons of lawfare at the disposal of, well, any average Joe (or Jolene).

And to complete the verse cited above about spiritual warfare, excerpted from Ephesians 6:1-18:

(Pray) in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

For,

(Our) struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (You know who–that “real enemy” noted above.)

Don’t leave home without both armor and arms in the (real) battle, friends, which, as its goal from time immemorial indicates, was, is, and will be for (the real) God’s glory–and everlasting peace for those who choose to follow Him*.

The adversary–not so much.

Carry on.

And encourage and fortify each other in the only war of good-versus-evil that really matters.

~~~~~

*Not on board yet? Here’s good info on how and why.

P.S. I wouldn’t wait.