“He trains my hands for war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
It is time to train. It is time to prepare for the battle that is ahead. How will you be ready to take on the enemy if you are untrained or ill-prepared? If you are in a place of waiting, a place of pressing, and the Lord has you stuck there, then He has you in a position of training for the battle ahead.
You must walk in the Spirit of the Lord and allow Him to give you the strength, courage, and boldness to continue to train. So you will be ready to charge headlong into battle, a spiritual battle. He will do it if you put your complete faith and trust in Him. Yield yourself in this time to the preparation of your heart, mind, and soul for the Lord’s army. Devote yourself to purity, understanding, and His wisdom.
Will a true warrior be lazy in a time of peace? If he is, will he then be ready for the time of war? No, a warrior will be training his arms, strengthening himself, and developing his mind and skills for battle. This is what God is doing when He brings you through many trials, tribulations, and sufferings. He is training you for the more significant battle that is sure to come.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
Do not underestimate the devil, his demons, or any evil schemes of man. The devil has been at his wicked work for thousands of years. He knows mankind inside and out. He knows where to hit you because he has been watching. Be on your guard to resist him firm in your faith, and he will flee.
Though the Lord knows every scheme of the devil, you do not. So you must be ready, walking in the Spirit. You must have the sword of the Spirit in hand, the shield of faith raised, the helmet of salvation protecting your mind, the breastplate of righteousness protecting your heart, and the belt of truth firmly holding everything together that you may resist. Remember that the devil is a coward when it comes to those who stand firm in the righteousness and authority of Jesus.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13
You have greater power available to you than you know. God has given it to you to defeat the enemy through the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit of the living God and His power to overcome is at your fingertips. Open your mouth and cast them away in Jesus’ name. But remember, it is not like flipping a switch. It takes continual training in righteousness, daily prayer, feeding on the Word of God, walking in His Spirit, and devotion to His commands that will unleash His power in you. So draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:8-10
The more you know the truth, the easier you will recognize a falsehood. The more you are connected to God in prayer, the more you will recognize His voice. Your faith will be strengthened when you stay close to the Lord. Then you will know the right thing to do. You will walk confidently in the Lord because you have put on His armor, and your faith and trust will be strong.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:1-6
So take this time to prepare yourself for what is ahead. Like a wise soldier of the Lord, sharpen your sword, shine your shield, strengthen your breastplate, reinforce your helmet, and fasten on the belt of truth. Fit your feet in preparation to proclaim the Gospel that breaks chains and bonds that have enslaved those tormented by the devil for so long.
The wickedness of the seen and unseen world will have a worthy adversary who is ready for battle in every way. Pray with great confidence that the Rock of ages is with you. Trust in His strength, for it is through His strength you will be victorious. Have faith in His plan. Have faith in His timing, for He will not fail. His power and His presence are with you. He will see to it that you are ready for anything that comes your way.
For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. I thrust them through so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but He did not answer them. I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation Psalms 18:31-46
The Soul Sower 