Today's Verse - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

—2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In our battle against evil, we utilize the spiritual weapons of God, which enable us to discern the truth, protect ourselves, and deliver us into the freedom that victory brings (Ephesians 6:10-19). The devil's frequent tools are deception, distortion, and death. God's grace enables us to see through these deceptions and break their deceptive grip on the minds of men and women, freeing them from fear and temptation. God's power broke the barrier of death and gave us victory in Jesus Christ. And what is our task in this victory march? To obey our LORD and help others to do the same, finding his grace and power sufficient to help us overcome all that we face that could defeat us.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father, please use us to defeat the power of the evil one, his demonic horde, and his corrupting influence on the lives of people we love and in the leaders of this world. We rebuke the evil one in the name of Jesus and by the power of the blood of the cross and in the empty tomb of the resurrection, where we find our deliverance and victory. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

—Psalm 32:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Out of the attacks of evil one come the victories of God and the victory chants of God's people. Let us make God our refuge, our hiding place, and our source of security. The LORD Almighty is our hope in times of trouble. He protects us from trials, troubles, temptations, and gives us songs of glorious deliverance!

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for the confidence we can have in your power and might to deliver us from every attack of the evil one. You are worthy of all glory, honor, power, and praise. In the name of your Son and our LORD Jesus Christ, we thank you for deliverance and praise you because of your might and our deliverance. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but 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

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The battle we face is not a physical one. It is not one against other people, even if they hold us as enemies. Our battle is part of our war with powers that we cannot easily see, yet which are powerful and pervasive. We must not dismiss this spiritual battle as an imaginary, irrelevant, or outdated. Just as clearly as Satan was crouching at Cain's door, desiring to have him, so he crouches at our door as well (Genesis 4:7). Just as the evil one tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13), he will use his demonic forces of evil to do all he can to defeat, destroy, or corrupt us personally. We must take this war seriously and recognize the power of our evil foe. However, we must not fear this battle or the evil one behind it. We shared in Jesus' ultimate victory over the evil one and his minions on the cross and through his resurrection when we were baptized in faith and raised with him in the power of God (Colossians 2:12-15). Our lives are now hidden with Christ in God, and we will share in his glorious victory when he returns (Colossians 3:1-4). Until then, let's recognize the struggle we face and enter that battle to win in the name of Christ Jesus our LORD!

My Prayer...

Father, forgive me for the times I have not taken the threat of demonic powers and the evil one seriously. Please give me a holy revulsion for anything unholy, ungodly, or wicked. Please awaken me, as I am determined not to let the evil one or his influences deceive me. Deliver me from the power of the evil, and the evil one. In the mighty name of Jesus, I confidently pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.