Thurs., 6/27/19 Devotion (Isa. 59:19b)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 59:19b, which says this:

"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him."

Floods can hit at very unexpected times. Everything can seem perfectly nor-mal, when, *boom!*, here comes a wall of water. The devil is often subtle and sly; but sometimes he is brash and bold. Thankfully, for all of those who are clothed in Jesus' righteousness, at the very moment of the spiritual "tsunami," the Spirit of God intervenes, blocking the torrent from sweeping the people of Christ’s church away.

The "standard" the Spirit employs is the cross of Jesus. As we put our faith in Christ, we are lifted up with Him, even in His glorious resurrection power. And no assaults of Satan can reach heaven, where the redeemed are seated with the Messiah, (Col. 3:1).

[Puritan quote of the day: "He who prays only when he prays with others would not pray at all, where it not that the eyes of others are upon him.”
—Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "Hypocrites deficient in the duty of prayer"]