Equipped to Standናሙና

Before COVID, we crowded into tiny elevators, always making room for one more, but once COVID started, those days were over. People started distancing, wearing face masks, and drawing away from each other. I believe the Lord told me, "The church is not ready for this attack. They are equipped for this, but they do not know whose they are, who they are, or what they have." There is a war on believers causing us to shrink back.

It's time to wake up. It's time to get off the sidelines. It's time to stand firm.

God has equipped us with everything we need for TODAY to stand firm. Ephesians instructs us to stand firm even after we have done all we can to stand. Sitting is not an option.

It is impossible to stand if you do not know what you have. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are being destroyed because they don't know me." But 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his glory and goodness."

We have everything we need to stand firm even in the harshest crisis. God knows us; he has filled us, our identity is from him, and it is time to stand up, take our place, and get off the sidelines to reign in this life.

Many of us have experienced significant loss, it may be virtually impossible to stand, but with God, all things are possible. God is who he says he is, and he is worthy of following. He is a good father. He is for you no matter what comes at you and not against you.

I heard someone recently say this: "Someone threatened to kill me, and I said 'Oh you're going to threaten me with heaven?" WOW! I was blown away by this response. I was convicted because I could not have said the same thing. Fear of death and loss prevents you and me from standing firm! We must attain an eternal mindset, focused on heaven, so we are not afraid to live and not afraid to die.

You are secure in Christ, equipped to stand; if this life ends, it is not a loss but gains! Rise. Get off the sidelines. Wake up. Take a risk for Christ. Step in close to people and share the hope you have in Christ!

Father, open the eyes of our hearts so that we can honestly know what we have so we can learn how we can stand firm.