What started during my 19th year in youthful zeal and vigor eventually turned sour. Over time and through relentless scheming and treachery, my unseen enemy took me out and held me captive.
Fortunately, my King and Elder Brother came to my rescue. He'd promised long ago to perfect what He'd started in me. And awhile back, a group of men who I've grown to respect and admire celebrated our mutual Sovereign, Jesus, presenting me with a replica of the sword of King Theoden: Herugrim, pictured below.
I treasure what these men shared and spoke during this ceremony. These past few years during times of contemplation I've considered my journey. How did I stumble, fall, and become entrapped?
Today, in reading from the Introduction of Francis Frangipane's book The Three Battlegrounds, I was reminded of so much of what I'd come to terms with as "answers" to that question. Hear what he shares:
There is an old European proverb worth heeding. It reads: "Age and treachery will always defeat youth and zeal." ...we should know this about Satan: he is an ancient and extremely treacherous foe. on the other hand, the strength of most Christians lies primarily in idealism and untested fervor....Clearly, I was ignorant of so many things. What I needed in fighting this good fight was wisdom.
What occurred was that zeal, by itself, challenged the treachery of hell and lost. The brightness of youthful dreams dimmed under the dark cloud of relentless satanic assault. Under the weight of growing frustrations and discouragement, compromise increased, and with it came iniquity and spiritual bondage.
Today, I do NOT advocate shying away from a fight or shrinking back from the enemy. Followers of Jesus have been given His power to rule and reign. He warns us to be shrewd and cunning. We are admonished to ask for wisdom (James 1:5).
In spiritual warfare we have a real foe, one who is ancient and treacherous. It is not wise to underestimate him. I have found it extremely helpful, actually...essential...to be grounded daily in who I really am. To that end, the Daily Prayer is an excellent resource, one that I've used as a launching point for quite some time now.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (I Peter 5:8-9 NIV)
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