You were called and you are chosen – called as so many through the ages were called to follow Me into the unknown.  Of course unknown to you, but not to Me.  I have placed a veil across the future so you have to trust Me.  When you don’t know what is ahead, then you have to put your hand into Mine and then you follow much closer.  You will, of course, stumble along the way – and sometimes you will fall.  As the Proverb says, the righteous falls seven times and rises again.  (Proverbs 24:16) – but you will not only fall 7 times, not even 70 times 7 times. But I know your frame and I remember that you are dust, and every time you fall, I am there to uphold you with My hand.  (Psalm 37:24)

I know you get discouraged when you fail and when you fall – but let your failures bring you closer to Me.  When you feel defeated and once again you have missed the mark – remember that you belong to Me, and I am working in your life to recreate you so that you are more of a reflection of Me and so that the light of My love shines more brightly in you.  I like to use broken, empty vessels – empty of your own righteousness and pride which only separate you from Me – and broken because you realize that without Me you can do nothing.  So rejoice, knowing that every time you fall, you are actually drawing closer to Me in humility, and in faith – and knowing that when you fall, I will give you the strength to rise again.

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. (Micah 7:8)

When the enemy comes in like a flood then you need to lift up a standard against him.  But that isn’t simple to do – especially now when the whole world is clamoring for your attention.  Every morning I give you a blank slate for today – a fresh start – new mercies every morning.  But how you use your time each day is up to you.  How much will you fight the good fight of faith?  Will you resist the temptations that are always coming at you? Will you stand strong and stay close to Me?  I will give you the strength for the battle.  I have already given you everything that you need to defeat the forces that come against you every day – The helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit – and the gospel of peace. As I told My disciples:  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  You can always have peace in Me and in My presence, knowing that I have overcome the world!

You have to guard yourself against the flood of lies that is being poured out on the earth, because no one is totally immune from this onslaught. In these Last Days the devil is sending out a flood (Rev 12:15) against the woman, My Church. Your best, and really your only defense is to stay strong in the Word – to stay close to Me and keep your antenna pointed up toward Me.  I promised that when the enemy comes in like a flood, My Spirit will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19) 

When I destroyed the earth with the flood, Noah and his family were saved in the Ark – and this is a picture of the end of the World. The flood of evil in this world will continue to come at you like a flood, but as you stay close to Me and let My Spirit  envelop you, then you will be able to rise above the flood of evil. Never forget my promise that I am with you – even to the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20) I am calling you to abide in Me more fully, and to let My Spirit fill you each day, as you spend time with Me, reading and studying My Word, loving Me and praising Me and hearing My Words of love to you.  I will keep you from the floods of evil that are being poured out upon the earth – and I Ill help you to stand strong upon the solid Rock of your salvation!    

After Hebrews Chapter 11 and My Hall of Fame of great men of faith, Paul exhorted you by saying,  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:1-2) 

The key is to lay aside every weight and also lay aside the sin that so very easily comes into your life. You so often get hit with what I call the fiery darts of the evil one.  He is constantly looking for a weakness – a way to get you down and discouraged and most of all to give up.  When I explained to My disciples that I would soon be crucified, Peter spoke up and said that this couldn’t happen, that I shouldn’t allow it to happen.  So I turned to him and I said, Get thee behind me, Satan!  Peter was giving voice to the thoughts that came from the enemy, and  I was also besieged by these attacks – and I asked My Father if there was any way that I didn’t have to drink the cup could He take it from Me.  But then I said, Not my will but yours be done. (Matthew 26:39)

That is an example of how you need to fight back – resist the enemy and he will flee from you.  (James 4:7) Use the weapons of warfare that I have given you the weapons of spiritual warfare.  The helmet of Salvation – knowing that you belong to Me and I will keep you through every battle.  And the Sword of the Spirit which is My Word that you should use to fight back against the lies of the enemy.  So fight on!  Run with patience the race that is set before you and lay aside these weights and sins that are besetting you – and keep your eyes on Me!

When you take a stand of faith – standing firm on My promises, standing on the Rock of My salvation – then you won’t be shaken by the attacks of the enemy. You won’t be buffeted and blow about.  If you let the enemy bully you, he will come in with his lies, his evil whispers, and a flood of doubt and discouragement.  He wants you to give up! The enemy loves to come in and steal the most precious thing you have right now – which is your time.  I’m so glad that you are taking back your time and that you are rising up to fight the forces of darkness that have been holding you back.  I want you to know that you can change your circumstances by giving these battles to Me – and then praying for them.  Ask Me to deliver you and help you to see things clearly. Remember what I taught you,  *The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)

Keep your eyes singly on Me and I will fill your heart, your spirit and your life with My light.  Don’t be like Peter who looked down at the waves and started to sink – but keep your eyes on Me!  Remember that you are running the race I have set before you and there is a great cloud of witnesses, who are cheering you on!  So run the race with patience, and lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets you.  And most of all keep looking to Me, the author and finisher of your faith.  For the joy that was set before me, I endured the cross, despising the shame, and now I am sitting at the right hand of the throne of my Father in Heaven. (Hebrews 12:1-2) Keep your eyes on Me and on the crown that I have prepared for you!

Remember that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”  2 Cor 10:4-5  That is the great battle today, to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” in this world that is overwhelmed with social media, news, an avalanche of information and clips and videos and podcasts.  All through My Word I have spoken of the spiritual warfare that is taking place.  So I want you to fight the good fight of faith!  Resist the enemy and he will flee from you – that’s My promise to you.  Take up the sword of the spirit which is My Word – and the shield of faith to protect you from the darts of the enemy.  I know it is very hard to bring your thoughts into obedience to Me, especially in today’s world full of distractions, so full of noise, and ungodly noise at that.  So you need to become a fighter for Me – put on My whole armor.  Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is My Word, and the shield of Faith to protect your spirit against the attacks of the enemy. Stand on the solid rock of My Word and know that you will stand strong in the midst of the storms of life.  And when you are too tired to fight on, don’t worry because I will uphold you and keep you close to Me, protected and enveloped by My Love and My Spirit.