GROWING SEEDS: JOB-ETTE

"Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil."

Ephesians 6:11

JOB-ETTE

That's the name someone called me a few years ago as I struggled through a battle with Satan and his little minions.  An invisible war...a fight so strong and exhausting, you wonder how you're going to keep your footing as you climb up that steep hill of despair.  Satan had an advantage; he knew my weaknesses.  He had been watching my patterns and me for many years.  If only I had been watching his as much as he had been watching mine.  If only I had a battle plan....

My Dad's favorite book of the Bible is Job.  Seems an odd book to be a favorite of, but you don't know my Dad.  He's had many trials and struggles and Job-moments in his 90 years of life.  He has a right to call that his favorite book.  And if there had been a book titled Job-ette in the Bible, well....that would have been his daughter's favorite book as well.  

"For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, 

but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world....."

As I see it, we could learn a lot from Job, because the story of Job is the story of us.  Catastrophic loss, by definition, precludesrecovery.  It will transform us or it will destroy us, but it will never leave us the same.   God gave us the ability to know the enemy, as well as the enemy, knows us.  He has personally handed us His own tools...His own armor....and given us the strength and WILL to win this battle.  So why do we so often head into combat with Satan without a game-plan?  You can sure bet Satan has a mapped out strategy.

So the next time you feel dirt thrown in your eyes or the words "Give Up" in your ears, head to the War-Room.  Buckle up that belt of truth around your waist and place the impenetrable breastplate of righteousness over your heart.  Pick up that shield of Faith that will protect you when the arrows of Satan's wrath head your way.  Place that helmet of Salvation over your head where nothing can mess with your mind and secure with velcro that sword of the Spirit.....the Word of God....firmly in your hand.

And lose the white flag, for goodness sake...YOU'RE GOING TO WIN THIS BATTLE!