Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. Isaiah 27:5.
In the Revelation he [Satan] is declared to be the “accuser of our brethren,” “which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10. The controversy is repeated over every soul that is rescued from the power of evil and whose name is registered in the Lamb’s book of life. Never is one received from the family of Satan into the family of God without exciting the determined resistance of the wicked one…. He leads men into skepticism, causing them to lose confidence in God and to separate from His love; he tempts them to break His law, and then he claims them as his captives and contests the right of Christ to take them from him. He knows that those who seek God earnestly for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore he presents their sins before them to discourage them…. By countless devices, the most subtle and the most cruel, he endeavors to secure their condemnation.
Man cannot meet these charges himself. In his sin-stained garments, confessing his guilt, he stands before God. But Jesus our Advocate presents an effectual plea in behalf of all who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to Him. He pleads their cause and vanquishes their accuser by the mighty arguments of Calvary. His perfect obedience to God’s law, even unto the death of the cross, has given Him all power in heaven and in earth, and He claims of His Father mercy and reconciliation for guilty man….
Not one soul that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. His word is pledged: “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” The promise … is made to all: “If thou wilt keep my charge, … I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” Zechariah 3:7. Angels of God will walk on either side of them, even in this world, and they will stand at last among the angels that surround the throne of God.”
The Faith I Live By p. 324
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Esther as she will be having outpatient surgery on Friday. Also pray for Donna’s mother finds out Thursday when she will be having gallbladder surgery. Rose
—-I’m asking that you join me in prayer for Lane. He was diagnosed with cancer today (the tumor is the size of a volleyball) He will begin chemo to shrink it before removal! Pray for him and his family as they fight this with him! Amy
—-Update: grandma has had a fall and has broke multi ribs.. please your prayers are so needed and appreciated. Shannon
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Dear Friends,
One day when Esther was in her mid-teens, she decided to make something for her lunch. Since she was the only one home, she looked for something small to cook in. I had glass pans that were specially made for stovetop use, but the flat, glass top to my slow cooker was not. Without thinking, Esther grabbed that glass lid, put some food into it, and put it on the burner to cook. Then, without knowing why, she walked out of the room.
When she came to her senses, she was looking out of the long, narrow window in the back door. Surprised, she asked herself, “Why did I come in here?” At that very moment, she heard something explode. Rushing back to the kitchen to investigate, she found countless pieces of glass on the stove, on the counter, on the floor, everywhere. While she was cleaning up the mess, Esther suddenly realized that if she had not gone into the laundry room and looked out of the back door, she could have been badly hurt. As she picked up a large dagger-like piece of glass, she thanked God for His protecting care!
God says to us as He assured Israel of old, “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.” Ex 23:20 Although we cannot see the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night as they did, we have the assurance that our Dear Saviour is ever with us. Even though our Loving Saviour is “upholding all things by the word of his power,” He is never too occupied with His duties in the realms above to lose sight of us. (Heb 1:3) He is never too busy to hear and answer our prayers individually just as if we were the only person in the entire world. He is interested in every aspect of our life. He cares for even the smallest details of our life. Indeed, we are engraven upon the palms of His hands. (Isa 49:16) He assures us, “I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee” Jer 15:20 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isa 41: 10-13
Because of God’s great love, we can with confidence claim the promises in Psalm 91. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”
How great and good God is! He watches over us with such tender care! Only when we get to Heaven, will we realize how many times He has delivered us out of the hand of the enemy of souls. May we fully trust Him, declaring as did David, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” Ps 56:11. May we allow Him to have complete control of every part of our life. May we give all our love to our Great Redeemer and Protector is my prayer.
Rose

Taking Hold of God’s Strength