Life Plan Devotion #92 [God's Armor--Helmet of Salvation, Part X]

The fear of sickness and disease, the third most common fear used by Satan to try to discourage and defeat the believer, is prevalent in the Body of Christ today. The reason that Satan is so successful in using it, in putting sickness and disease in the bodies of believers, is because believers do not realize the power behind their Helmet of Salvation (Deliverance), part of the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:17). They do not know what the Word of God has to say about sickness and disease, especially about how to obtain healing, so they are unable to successfully wield the Sword of the Spirit, to fend off the attacks of Satan within their body.
The Helmet of Salvation (Deliverance) and the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) give you protection and ultimate victory from sickness and disease, but you must know the promises of healing found in God's Word, qualify for them, and claim and speak them into your life. If you do that, "the length of [your] days [will be] 70 years--or 80, if [you] have the strength" (Psalm 90:10). If not, though, "[your] span [will be] but trouble and sorrow, for [the years] quickly pass" (Psalm 90:10).
Sin, sickness, disease, and death were ushered into God's perfect Garden when Adam and Eve listened to Satan's words of doubt, believed his deception, and gave in to his lies. The moment they did that, they qualified for the promise of God, when He said, "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). You see, that's how God works. He teaches us, warns us, and then, when we disobey, He allows the consequences. Praise God for redemption through the Blood of His Son, which gives us forgiveness of sins and healing of our body, if we will avail ourselves of it.
God says to Moses, and to believers today, for He does not change and neither does His Word, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD who heals you" (Genesis 15:26). When sickness results from not listening to God, not paying attention to His Word, not doing what is right and what is commanded in His Word, then God will allow you to experience the consequence, the sickness and disease. However, if you listen, pay attention, allow God's Word to change your heart and affect how you live your life, God's healing will be yours.
We live in a fallen world, so there will be plenty of opportunity for the enemy to win the battle of sickness and disease in your body, but while he may appear to win the battle, with God as your Jehovah-Rapha [the God Who Heals], you will win the war. That does not mean that we would live forever, but "though outwardly [our bodies] are wasting away [wearing out], yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day," so "we do not lose heart" (II Corinthians 4:16). God wants you to be like Moses, to live a long life, and when you have fulfilled the number of the days of your life, that you go to be with the Lord like Moses, whose "eyes were not weak nor his strength gone" (Deuteronomy 34:7). Moses walked to his own funeral, and so should you!
Do not give in to the notion that sickness and disease is just a part of life. Do not fear the one who will seek to bury you, for "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (I John 4:4)! The Greater One is your Healer!

Proverbs 4:18-19 [NIV]
"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble."

What this has to do with weight loss: When you are righteous, in right standing with God, you have light for your journey, even your weight-loss journey. That Light will help you see that which can cause you to stumble, even on your weight-loss journey. Allow the Light of God and His Word to reveal the path you must take, to health, healing, and wholeness in your body.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, much of the sickness I experience is due to my own poor decisions and choices, but I thank You that it doesn't have to be that way. If I listen to You and follow Your Word, I will live a healthy life, full of healing. Lord, Satan is used to winning many battles of sickness, but I desire to win the war of wellness. Help me to see my part in doing that, to partner with You, my Jehovah-Rapha, my Healer. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, choosing obedience to God's Word over the deception and sickness of sin.

Life Plan Devotion #89 [God's Armor--Helmet of Salvation, Part VII]

We have looked at the first of the top 5 most common fears used by Satan, the fear of want and lack. Praise God for the Helmet of Salvation and deliverance which, when coupled with the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) gives you protection and ultimate victory from the fear of lack and the second most common fear from Satan, the fear of peril.
I read somewhere that 90 percent of what we fear never happens, and 9 percent of the remaining 10 percent we make happen. How many times have you heard someone say, "I knew this would happen!" Job, of the Bible, said something similar (Job 3:25), and we are no different. We just have greater opportunity to give in to fear today.
The enemy has much to work with today, to bring to you, the believer, fear of peril. There is real danger all around--drugs, guns, and people full of evil intentions. The prince of this world has many followers, who care not for sanctity of life. HOWEVER, "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (I John 4:4)! Do you believe it?
The Bible warns us that Satan will prey on people. Revelation 2:10 tells us to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." I want you to notice the phrase "as a roaring lion." You could insert the word "like" for "as" (as many versions do). That tells me that Satan tries to act like a roaring lion, but he isn't really one. Even if he were, Jesus says to you, the true believer, "I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19).
There are many verses in God's Word, which are meant to reassure you that God is ready, willing, and able to help you be safe from every dart of danger from the enemy. We will focus on one devotion dedicated to that. Until then, repeat after me, "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6).

Psalm 56:3 [NIV]
"When I am afraid, I will trust in You."

What this has to do with weight loss: There are many opportunities to give in to fear on the weight-loss journey, for there is always the danger of failing to use our tools and going back to old habits and regaining weight. That's just what the enemy wants you to do, too, but you can say, "When I am afraid, I will trust in [God]." Trust Him to help you, even in matters of weight loss. The Hebrew for the word "trust" in Psalm 56:3 means "to hasten to for refuge." Have no fear; run to Him.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, there are many opportunities to fear, yet so much of the time fear is just False Expectations Appearing Real. Even when clear and present danger surrounds me, I place my trust in You. I rely on You, I depend on You, I run to You. Help me to search the Scriptures for promises of safety, to claim them, and speak them into my life. I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen."

Go forth today, choosing faith in God over fear of danger.