The Conflict

 Although our reward is not of debt but of grace...

Yet the necessity of struggling against and overcoming our spiritual enemies, is constantly urged upon us. 

Every motive drawn from danger on the one hand, and from delight on the other, is presented in order to rouse us to a vigorous contest. 

How numerous, subtle, and powerful are our foes!

The world appeals most attractively to our natural susceptibilities. 

Satan assumes at one time the form of an angel of light; and at another, advances boldly to the attack, in all his hellish malignity.

Our own hidden lusts are ever ready to kindle in the soul an unhallowed excitement.

What a troop of spiritual enemies! 

Blessed be God, we have not to meet them alone and in our own strength!

Greater is he who is with us, than all that are against us. 

The spiritual armor is offered to us; and, invested in it, we are prepared for a successful warfare.  

Jesus too, the great Captain of salvation, has already achieved a signal victory over these foes...

And he promises to stand by us...

To strengthen our weakness...

And to lead us on to certain victory.

He has moreover held forth a glorious reward, "He who overcomes will inherit all things." 

Yes, all that Heaven has of happiness, shall be ours. God will be our God, and we shall be his adopted children. 

Here is an all-powerful stimulus to animate us in the conflict. 

Look then steadily at the crown of glory! 

When the world allures, remember, it is a foe in disguise. 

When Satan attacks,  raise the shield of faith to ward off his fiery darts. 

When the flesh pleads - take a determined stand against its clamors. Yes, crucify it!

Soon the warfare will be over. The last enemy, which is death, being conquered - nothing will remain, but to enter upon the glorious, the everlasting reward!

PRAYER...

Surrounded by the enemies of our souls, we look upwards to you, O God, for help. 

You know their power and their malignity and you are acquainted with our weakness. 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Everywhere around us, are the allurements of the world. 

Without your protecting and supporting hand - we must inevitably fall before the power of the tempter. 

How often indeed have we been overcome by evil! How often by our melancholy lapses, have we proved our own helplessness! 

The flesh has corrupted us, the world has allured and deceived us. 

Satan has suddenly attacked and prostrated us...

And were it not that your mercy is boundless, that your love is unchangeable - we would long since have been abandoned to the powers of Hell. 

But thanks to your name, O God, you have made a way for our escape with every temptation. 

When, overwhelmed with shame and sorrow at our fall, we have ventured to cast an imploring look towards the mercy seat...

You have been ready to pardon, restore, and strengthen us. 

We come to you anew. 

We beseech you to invest our souls with the armor of righteousness. 

O put your strength within us.

Help us to watch unto prayer. 

Instead of confiding in our own arm, may we make you our refuge and our fortress.

In all times of temptation, will you deliver us. Uphold us by the right hand of your righteousness. 

Enable us to war a good warfare. 

May we, without presumption, look forward to the rewards of the faithful...

And impelled by the glorious "hope set before us," may we, through grace, overcome every foe...

And at last be invested with the privileges and honors which are promised to all your children, for Jesus' sake. 

Amen.

~Jared Bell Waterbury~