My husband and I drove south to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The desert scenery held my attention all along the way. The farther south we went, the more desert-like it became. In some parts there was no trace of any plant life whatsoever. All we could see was sand valleys and sandy rock mountains all around us. As I gazed at this scenery, a few images of my own spiritual life came to mind. I remembered how I sometimes pass through a desert-like stage, whether in fellowship with my Lord or in my relationship with others. I thought how the former often leads to the latter.
The mountains reminded me of the barriers that are gradually built between myself, God, and others. These barriers make me feel isolated and lonely, and that gives the devil a chance to mess up my thoughts and my life.
Suddenly along the road we noticed "dust devils" rising up and forming what became like waves of blowing sand. All we could see were little stones and sand hitting our windows. We were actually encountering a severe local sandstorm. For a minute we could see nothing, and we had to stop the car. It was the first time we had ever experienced the desert in this way. Soon the storm passed and its intensity lessened; only then were we able to see clearly again. However, for a few dark moments when we lost all visibility, we had been afraid.
It was as if the Holy Spirit wanted to teach us something about being in a spiritual storm. Our enemy, the devil, wants to take us to the point of spiritual blindness, where fear takes hold of us and we lose hope that we will be able to see the way ahead.
When we enter a spiritual battle, we can be confident, because Jesus has already taught us about the armor we have at all times so that we might be strengthened in him. He has told us what we must do when we stray from the circle of his light and have our spiritual vision darkened. We need to repent and go back to him who calms every storm.
Have you put on your spiritual armor today? The Lord is with you. He has already won the battle on your behalf. He wants you to live in that victory today and every day.
- 1 JULY -