SPIRITUAL FOX-HOLES

What is a fox-hole?
 Webster describes it as: “a pit dug usually hastily for individual cover against enemy fire.”

               You’re walking along on a sunny day, perhaps whistling or singing, when suddenly you step in a gopher hole (or in our country, an armadillo hole). You turn your ankle and fall flat on your face. The pain is so sharp and unexpected that you feel yourself losing consciousness and your world becomes very dark.
               Often we can handle this physical pain much better than emotional or spiritual attacks which may be very similar.
               Many of my Christian brothers and sisters have come under this attack labeled “Depression”. We can give it a clinical name and cover some of the pain through chemicals. I am not saying that God is against medication and doctors. Each of us must hear from the Holy Spirit for ourselves in every situation or circumstance.
               By the signs of the times, I do believe that Jesus is coming soon…” and blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching:…” (Luke 12:37). Please read all of Luke 12:35-40, which ends with verse 40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour which ye think not.”
               As the time draws near, there will be more people who turn away from God and succumb to the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11). I do not think this means that they will be lost to God if they are His children because He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.
               We are children of Peace, but God’s Word says there is a time for war and a time for peace. Although the war was won at Calvary, there will be many battles until the day our Lord returns for us.
               If you are experiencing some of these very dark attacks, I believe the Holy Spirit will give us some strategy to overcome them. Satan either knows his time is short or he thinks he is winning because he sees evil multiplying on the earth. Therefore, he steps out with even more diabolical, complicated attacks on the children of God. Remember his warfare is in the battlefield of our minds…our thought processes. Hold on to the TRUTH that we have the mind of Christ so that we hear truth and not lies.
               This “dark depression” is only one kind of attack Satan is using against some people. I do not know who you are, but you do and God does. If you are not under this attack, please pray for warriors who may be.
               When we have had enough of this, we will ask God to show us how to use both our offensive weapons as well as our defensive weapons. They are all listed in His Word. He has not left us defenseless; although this is one of the main lies Satan is trying to use against people when they are unexpectedly wounded by this weapon.

GOD’S STRATEGY
(As far as I have learned.)

l. Know Your Enemy – Recognize the wiles of the devil. (Eph. 6:11) And remember that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy and that God comes to bring life.
2. Be Prepared –  Put on the Whole Armor of God Daily. (Eph. 6:18).
3. Stored Up Have ammunition ready each morning. Then when you need it the Holy Spirit will bring it to your memory.
4. When The Attack Comes  Praise God, it may not come every day, and is less likely to come when the enemy sees how prepared you are.
               A. Know ahead of time what you plan to do. The Holy Spirit may have given you a special word such as: “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Or “Be still and Know that I am God.” Or, something like, “Just cool it. This too shall pass…it always does. The sun will shine again.”
               B. Picture yourself in God’s Fox-Hole where the enemy cannot penetrate.
               C. Write down scriptures ahead of time that can be used as weapons…such as: “When I am weak…then am I strong.” Remember our confession in Fresh Bread #40…”The Power of God is resting on me today…as needed.”  “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” “My God is for me. He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
                               l.) You must write these down and keep them handy…because the devil comes to steal the Word…and when you are under very Heavy Fire, which deep depression is, you may feel like God is far away. You may wonder if He has deserted you and left you to fight this battle alone. Read these scriptures out loud as many times as necessary until your faith returns. Remember: Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Truth will always conquer the lie if you will simply speak it…especially out loud.
                               2.) Call Another Believer  Someone who you have asked to be prepared to back you up and remind you where you are. They will recognize this attack whether you do or not. Set aside your pride and ask them to pray for you and give you ammunition (the Word – scripture). It will refill you and make you strong again in the Lord and the Power of His might. (Eph. 5:10).
               D. Pray for Other Believers in their Fox-holes. You are not the only one under attack: millions are. Consider it an honor to be chosen to be in your Lord’s army. Satan attacks those who are a threat to him and his army. Remember whose you are: “You are the seed of God and His SEED remains in you.”…no matter what. (I John 3:8-10).
               E. Whether I Live or Die, I am the Lord’s.  And if you really want to shut the mouth of the Liar…just say with conviction. “Whether I live or die, I am the Lord’s.” When you remember that the last enemy to be overcome is death…and you recognize your need of faith instead of fear, this will remind you of the time when you overcame the fear of death. At that place you became a mighty warrior indeed. All soldiers who sign on for duty have already counted the cost and are willing to give their lives when necessary.

HAND GRENADE

               Like a hand grenade in your fox-hole, that Satan cannot pull the pin from; pick it up, and throw it back at him by using the Prayer of Job when he prayed for his friends. Pray for all of God’s children, especially the Jews, all over the world.
               And as Paul asked for prayer, in humility, I ask for yours. “And as for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth (or write) boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20).
               I pray this same prayer for all of you who recognize God’s call on your life to send forth His Words of Truth through whatever doors He has opened for you.
               Although the battles can seem overwhelming at times, the Peace and Joy, that God gives us is so precious that we delight in going where He wants us to go and doing what He wants us to do: even when we must battle in Fox-holes from time to time. We are definitely in training.
               Many of you are aware of the “little-foxes”, but perhaps God has promoted you in His army to tackle a Big Fox…like “Depression”. He will teach and train you HOW to win.
               If we are not in a fox-hole today…it is our duty to pray for those who are. We all have assignments. And we get to share in present day victories as well as in the Final Victory. 

 

“Come Lord Jesus.”