Daily Affirmations - Day 7 - Take Up Your Positions - Humble Yourselves
Day 7: Humble yourselves
It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them (Psalm 44:3).
Heavenly Father, You have not left us unaware of the spiritual realities outside the realm of flesh and blood. Your guiding wisdom warns us of an ongoing struggle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
You have not hidden from us that the devil's schemes are crafty, cunning, deceptive, and evil (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3,14; Ephesians 6:11; Revelation 12:9); yet You have instructed us to resist him (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9). You have equipped us for this struggle.
Not only have You given us the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17), but You have also given us Your Spirit, in and through whom we can pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18). And in the humble submission of prayer we take our stand in the power of Your might (Ephesians 6:10). Your promise makes this clear: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).
Almighty, Sovereign God, where You lift us, Never foe can follow, never traitor stand.* For we know that You raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:20-21).
And in Your amazing grace You raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).
O Father, You have offered us grace beyond all measure, riches beyond all compare. Yet we are still often tempted by the meaningless and empty aspirations, ambitions, adulations and acquisitions of this world.
Lord, You alone can raise us up. You alone are our victory. You are our peace. You are our rest.
Help us to put on the full armor You have given us. Help us to resist the devil. Help us to humble ourselves before You, taking up a position of complete surrender— complete submission to You.
Like a river glorious
Is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller ev'ry day;
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.
Chorus:
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest;
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow
Of His mighty hand,
Never foe can follow,*
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.
Ev'ry joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Trac'd upon our dial
By the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.
~ Frances R. Havergal, 1874
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