FROM WHOSE CORNER DO YOU RESPOND?

Last year, I had the misfortune to have my handbag and my car, or course including everything in it, stolen.

That was not a good experience.

This year, someone kept back monies that should have been paid over to me.

This also was not a good experience.

Last year, after the theft, I received a free holiday overseas, a new Bible and handbag, and on my return, a car, all free and gratis.

This year, after my monies were kept back, even though I was indignant about the audacity of the person who committed this crime, I went to the Lord about it, instead of the police.

Very firmly I was given a Scripture :

                "Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy
                 goods ask them not again." Luke 6:30

This was of course from the sermon on the mount.

I asked clarification in this regard and was led to read Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6: 10 onwards:

                 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
                 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
                 wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
                 principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
                 world, against spiritual wickedness in high places..."

Note that Paul says we wrestle...

Have you been to a wrestling match? Or watched one on TV? Man, they are at each other all the time. There is physical contact all the time. It almost seems as if there are no rules... everything goes...kicking, hitting, boxing, biting, pulling, shoving...

The only definite rule is that your opponent is not allowed to pin your shoulders down on the floor for a count of two. That is a fall and once he has managed to do this twice, he is the conqueror! Between bouts each of the wrestler's go to their own corner, where they have helpers, who offer them water and advice on how to manage the next round and who reveal their opponents weaknesses to them so that they will know exactly how to attack in the next round.

Our spiritual life's like that too... that is what Paul is talking about... What is of the utmost importance therefore is WHO is the helper in YOUR corner? From whose corner are you attacking? From God's corner, or His adversary's? In which corner do you stand between bouts?

Do we react in retaliation from the corner of the opponent and in the manner that Satan would want us to react? Or do we stand in God's corner and let Him be our advisor and our teacher?

                  "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
                  withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  Eph. 6:13

I found out that standing on God's Word, doing what He commands, and then standing, waiting on Him to do ... gave total victory.

In the month following this incident, I received more than the amount withheld from me, from 4 different people in total. I am still receiving...every day... blessing upon blessing...

I also believe that this is what Paul meant when he wrote to the Romans in chapter 8: 37:

                  "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
                   loved us."

More than a conqueror - not the conqueror - not the one who won the fight: the one who saw God winning the fight on your behalf. More than a conqueror. Trust Him.

Thank You, Lord, that you loved us so much that You even gave Your very only begotten Son for our benefit. How will You not come to our aid in times of trouble or need? Help us to remember that.