Alert and Courageous

I have this tendancy to get so focussed on what is in front of me, that I end up losing direction. The following is an understanding that has been shown to me, that is meant for all of us.

Book of Jasher 23:34-40

..(Satan) hid himself from them, and he went and passed before them in the road; and he transformed himself to a large brook of water in the road, and Abraham and Isaac and his two young men reached that place, and they saw a brook large and powerful as the mighty waters.

35.

And they entered the brook and passed through it, and the waters at first reached their legs.

36.

And they went deeper in the brook and the waters reached up to their necks, and they were all terrified on account of the water; and whilst they were going over the brook Abraham recognized that place, and he knew that there was no water there before.

37.

And Abraham said to his son Isaac, I know this place in which there was no brook nor water, now therefore it is this Satan who does all this to us, to draw us aside this day from the commands of God. And Abraham rebuked him and said unto him, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, begone from us for we go by the commands of God.

39.

And Satan was terrified at the voice of Abraham, and he went away from them, and the place again became dry land as it was at first.

40.

And Abraham went with Isaac toward the place that God had told him.

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I was inspired by this. Satan sees our destination, and our obedience to 'go the distance' to serve in the Lord the Father's will.

Satan understands that we can be deceived, and also, that we can be so head-strong that we do not consider what is in front of us when we are focussed on our goal in the Lord.

The enemy can separate us by our fear or frustration from completing our tasks in the Lord. If we do not stay aware of what is placed in front of us, we can lose sight of what we hope to accomplish.

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1 Thessalonians 5:6

6

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

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It is not just to remain alert. We also have to show courage during moments when fear, or worse, doubt, begins to separate us from our faithfulness. This courage doesn't mean we run into the fire, it means we have the courage to not fear the fire we are already surrounded by.

Abraham in this story, became alert, and showed courage enough to rebuke Satan, as he and Isaac were acting on faith that they were obeying God's will. The courage to call out the enemy, is not done without first being alerted to his presence.

So what shall we say? The enemy does not appear without purpose. The enemy shows up when we are acting in the Spirit this world does not recognize. So when you are serving in the Lord by the life in you, be alert to what is placed before you. A distraction, a deception, any form of lie you have not repented..all these things are likely to be placed before you, with the intention of seeing you separated from your faithfulness. And expect this. If and when you do become aware or these trials, show courage and call out the enemy before God.

'I rebuke this impure spirit by the authority of Christ within me! Remove yourself from my presence!'

Carry On!