Back to the 1st chapter of Jeremiah - verses 11 - 16, God is telling Jeremiah of the coming invasion of Babylon into Judah.
Verses 17 - 19 tells how God spoke to Jeremiah to prepare himself for this battle.
"Get yourself ready. Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified of them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land - against the kings of Judah, its priests and its officials, and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you for I am with you and will resue you", declares the Lord."
These verses can be applied to our every day life, and in particularly I see them as vital to the believers who are in America and facing all kinds of problems with our economy, with our leaders who are adamant about passing and upholding laws that are morally wrong, etc.
We are to do as Jeremiah did, and take a stand against the sins of our nation. We have the power to voice our opinions in casting our votes at the election polls; we have the ability to write our men and women in Congress and let them know how we stand on the issues. If we continue to sit back and say or do nothing, then we can expect for the things of God to continue to be slowly erased from our country's moral code as the founding Fathers penned.
These verses can also be applied to one's personal battles, whether they are emotional, spiritual, or physical, as in sickness and such. God
wants to be a part of our lives, and go to battle for us and with us when we face the trials of life. Here he is telling us specifically
how to go into those battles. The Bible isn't just a book of stories of long ago - it's our handbook for life - our guide to daily living and is full of God's practical ways of dealing with things. An open heart to hear His word is all that's needed to see and put to practice what He's directing us in.
"Get yourself ready" = Put on the Armor of God - Ephesians 6
"stand up" = the original Hebrew means - to declare
"terrified" = the original Hebrew means - confused, fearful, beaten down, discouraged, scared
"fortified" = the original Hebrew means - the most strong, inaccessible
"kings of Judah" - refers to Molech - a false god that was worshipped, and children were sacrificed to him.
"officials" = the original Hebrew means - head person, those who were put into rank, masters
"overcome" - the original Hebrew means - have power or prevail
Lets re-read that with the original words put in:
"Put on the Armor of God and delcare to them whatever I command you. Do not be confused or fearful, beaten down, discouraged or scared of them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you the most strong and inaccessible to stand against those who have rank and power. They will fight against you, but the will not have power or prevail over you, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord.
We are in a spiritual battle - we each have our own personal battles, and we have them as a whole in our country. We as believers have the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and are to draw on HIS strength, power and His Word to go into these battles, because if we try to do it on our own strength, we will be overcome and defeated.
What is the stronghold in your life today? Is it an addiction, financial hardships, sickness, relationships that are in upheaval.....whatEVER it is, the Lord is showing you how He will prepare you and be with you as you take a stand against these things that are trying to invade and destroy your life.
I pray that the peace of God, that the power of the Holy Spirit, will be made manifest in your life today, and throughout this week.
Janelle
