Daily Devotions

Standing Strong

through the Storm

Daily encouragement from the bible with stories from the persecuted church to help you stay faithful through persecution.

Choose by date

Download PDF

Download a PDF version of these Daily Devotions especially designed for use on a mobile phone.

The Sword of the Spirit

23 April

Scripture is God’s Word to us. Get to know it. It is the source of truth, assurance and comfort. Learn its lessons. Let God use it to speak to your heart. Look to it to cut through the enemy’s lies and spiritual deception, and to reveal the truth. Use it to persuade others about God’s love and forgiveness.

When God’s Spirit impresses us with a verse or a passage of Scripture to use in our battle against the enemy in a particular conflict, we are able to defeat our enemy. The Bible calls this taking the sword of the Spirit.

Jesus defeated Satan the three times he was tempted in the wilderness by using the sword of the Spirit. (see Matthew 4).

Ruth’s world changed when she chanced to find a Bible. She was fifteen when she was rummaging through her Muslim family’s library. She found it hidden behind the other books. She says, “I quickly read a few pages and the message immediately touched my heart, even though I understood practically nothing of it. Secretly I began to read the Bible regularly in my room. I knew that I had to do more with this. I wanted to get to know Jesus better.”

She adds, “I don’t remember how it happened, but my family realized that I was showing too much interest in Christianity. My whole family was against me, especially my mother.”

“You’re a Muslim,” she said. “Why are you throwing your life away? Why aren’t you like other girls? You’ll soon be going to university and then you’re going to marry a respected Muslim!”

Ruth’s voice falters and for a moment, she doesn’t say anything. “I suffered a lot,” she continues. “But still I kept reading the Bible in secret. The Lord Jesus keeps drawing me closer to Him.”

Response

Today I take the sword of the Spirit so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.

Prayer Points

Lord may the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands today and in the hands of those reading it for the first time.

From DAILY NUGGETS FROM THE LION’S DEN
Devotionals to help you “Stand Strong Through The Storm” by Paul Estabrooks. Used with permission.