The snap was crystal clear. I knew I had broken my “pinky toe”. Yes, I was trying to get back to bed in the middle of the night without waking Bill or Collins. We were in an unfamiliar hotel room in St. Louis while watching Thomas play in the US Junior and I had chosen not to turn on a light to go to the bathroom. No one moved in the darkness but me as I was in terrible pain. I crawled to the bed and laid awake the rest of the night.
The next morning it was obvious of the split toe on my right foot. The pinky toe was veering a far right from my other 4 toes and it was purple. I could have totally avoided that painful break….and 8 weeks of agony if I had just chosen to “turn on the light!”
That is exactly what we do at times in the Christian life…..we fail to turn on the “light!” We are called to dispel the darkness and walk in the “Light of God’s word.” Many times as Christians we can lead lives of “brokenness,” limping along because we fail to choose truth in the face of every lie.
Satan and his demons shoot arrows of temptation, accusation, or deception at us seeking to keep us in the dark and many times we unintentionally try to walk and withstand without turning on the light.
We are called to turn on the “light” by raising the shield of faith Ephesians 6:16, “Above all taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” We are to deflect the attack and walk on. As we claim the truth of God’s word, we grow stronger with every step.
We need to turn on the “light” in our thoughts. A great way to dispel the darts is to have verses in God’s word readily available. To say to ourselves….
“No weapon formed against me will prosper……” (Isaiah 54:17).
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength….” (Philippians 4:13).
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9)
“Come near to God and he will come near to you…” (James 4:8).
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19).
“…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).
“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul” (Psalm 94:18-19).
Today, do not be surprised or in shock at the enemy’s attacks. They will come. We live in a fallen world.
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (James 4:17)
Rejoice…the defeat of your enemy…is a conscious action and decision on your part. Every battle you face is a spiritual one. Battle with the only weapons..spiritual ones.
Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
We are not meant to fight the battles alone. “Broken Toe’s” can be avoided turn on the “light” dispel the darkness…claim God’s truth and share it with others. Psalm 119: 105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”