DrenchedSample

Day 7: Your Safe Place:
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the final day of the Drenched Plan. On our last day, we’re talking about how the Holy Spirit is our safe place.

One of the most motivating and powerful reasons for living the drenched life is the peace and comfort the Holy Spirit provides for us through all of the many challenges we face almost every day. The stress and pressure we live in causes us to want to run away and find a safe place to get some peace for our minds and comfort for our emotions. The Holy Spirit is that safe place. His peace is our safe place. His comfort is our safe place.

We all know all too well the pressure of being overwhelmed by the challenges and hardships in life. We have all felt like we were drowning in a flood of adversity, unable to find the strength to overcome it. Be encouraged; you are not alone. Everyone faces fiery trials and extreme adversity that seem too much for them to overcome. However, the Bible gives us inspiration, motivation, and guidance for navigating these tough times. Read this verse from the Old Testament that gives us some incredible insight into the comforting power of the Holy Spirit:

“When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19, ESV).

In Isaiah 59, the people’s sins have separated them from God. Israel has turned away from the Lord, and in doing so, they have created a separation from God that gives evil the opportunity to attack and destroy them. In the midst of the threats of their enemies, God does not forsake them, but He promises to step in and deliver them from their enemies and restore them, revive them, and make them strong again.

I love this verse: “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” It is God’s comforting assurance that He will put them in a safe place, protect His people, and give them peace by giving them His assistance when they are under attack. Just like He provided His peace and safety for the children of Israel, when we are under pressure, and our enemies are attempting to destroy us, God wants to step in and divinely intervene for us, reviving our hope and reminding us that we are His chosen ones and He has an unbreakable commitment to us.

The first part of the verse, “When the enemy comes in like a flood,” implies we will be under intense stress, pressure, anxiety, or attack. We will face overwhelming adversity. That could be physical, financial, emotional, psychological, spiritual, etc. It includes anything that threatens to harm us or opposes God’s will.

The second part of the verse says, “. . . the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

This reveals to us that God is always with us, ready to make a way for us. The word standard is a military word. In the army of the Old Testament, there was a position in the army called the standard bearer. There was only one standard bearer. The standard bearer was the one who went out front, ahead of the rest of the army. The standard bearer lifted up the banner and threw the first blow or fired the first shot.

The Holy Spirit is our standard bearer. He is always out in front of us, ready to throw the first blow against our adversary. In other words, we are not in the battle alone; we have someone ahead of us, helping us face the pressure and overcome the challenges that come our way. He is ahead of us, creating a safe place for us to keep moving forward: in our marriages, families, finances, careers, ministries, etc.—every area of our lives that the enemies threaten. By continually seeking to live the drenched life, seeking to be thoroughly covered and completely filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit, we allow Him to keep us in safe places.

As believers in Christ, we are always on a spiritual battlefield, living in a spiritual war zone. That is one of the most important reasons for being continually drenched in the presence of the Holy Spirit. There is an ongoing battle between the forces of darkness and light, good and evil, in the invisible spiritual realm. This invisible realm of the spirit is very real and affects this natural and visible realm.

The apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 6:12 that “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.” Paul is teaching us and equipping us to be ready to face opposition in this invisible battle, stand strong in our faith, and have peace that God is fighting for us.

Paul goes further and admonishes us to prepare ourselves for spiritual battle. He instructs us in Ephesians 6:10-18 to “put on the full armor of God, so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” He describes the armor we must put on:

· The belt of truth: Honesty and integrity in all aspects of life help protect us from the enemy’s lies and deception.

· The breastplate of righteousness: Living a life of righteousness, or right-standing with God, shields our hearts from the enemy’s attacks.

· The shoes of the gospel of peace: Being prepared to share the good news of Jesus Christ and living in peace with others provides a firm foundation in times of adversity.

· The shield of faith: Our faith in God’s promises and His ability to protect and deliver us enables us to withstand the enemy’s fiery darts.

· The helmet of salvation: Confidence in our salvation through Jesus Christ protects our minds from doubt and fear.

· The sword of the Spirit: The Word of God is a powerful weapon for combating the enemy’s lies and deception, providing guidance and wisdom in times of trouble.

When we put on the armor of God, we are better prepared to face the flood of adversity that the enemy may attack us with. With God’s armor on and with His help, we have the ability to succeed and conquer every challenge we face.

No matter how overwhelming our battles and struggles may seem, God will never leave us. He is always by our side, lifting up a standard against our enemies and providing the peace and strength we need to persevere. Hold on to your faith, and trust in the Lord’s divine intervention. His love and support for you will never change. God has already made a way for you to overcome every challenge and win every battle.

Thank you so much for joining me on this 7-day journey. I pray that this week has helped you gain a new understanding of the Holy Spirit and what it means to live the drenched life. If you’re hungry for more on the Holy Spirit and living the drenched life, you can check out my book, Drenched by going to this LINK.

God Bless,

Jeff Stanford