It happens to all of us.  It happens among friends and family members.  It happens in God’s church, that group of people, collectively, that you thought you could trust.  Surprise!  An attack on your character, your teaching, and on your own family for good measure, surprises you from behind the scenes.  What just happened here?  Why the attack?  And why find out through the gossip mill that finally made its way to you?  That compounds the hurt!  Surprise attacks are painful down to the core of our being. 

What is the best action to take?  Call on God.  Sounds simplistic, I know, but HE is the One and Only to be trusted.  With God all things are possible.  With God is true victory over the evil one who is at war with God.  Our enemy is limited for the only tool he has is to drive a wedge of hurt among his people with deception.  Evil uses deception in all forms and assumptions of character by planting seeds of doubt.  His goal is to demolish the relationships of family members and friends.  His ultimate goal is to destroy God’s church established by His Son, Jesus Christ by attacking each family in the church.  Those reconciled to God through Jesus are under constant, immediate attack.  The best line of defense is to not be surprised with it happens and be prepared for the battle.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:12-13 ESV

David had a surprise attack from the enemy to the south while he was fighting diligently in the north.  He sent his best men to win the victory over the enemy.  But first, David  called on God with immediate honesty, passionately asking for His help.  This “surprise attack” was of no surprise to God.  David’s faith is seen at the end of his request, “In God we’ll do our very best; he’ll flatten the opposition for good.”  David knows that God is with him to the end.  In David’s heart, faith was conquering fear.

David didn’t trust in himself or in his capable officers or his valiant soldiers (v. 11). He trusted fully in the Lord, and the Lord honored his faith. The enemy would be completely defeated.  David looked forward as a leader, not backward.  He encouraged those who fought with him with his extreme faith in God as the ultimate Victor.

All of our attacks, sudden unforeseen changes in our lives, loss of friends or family relationships, are of no surprise to God today.  Go to God for help.  Run to God for the victory over doubt.  We will find He is already at work on our behalf.  Let His Holy Spirit settle our minds with peace in and through each battle for our souls.  No regrets when we do!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 60, The Message

A David Psalm, When He Fought Against Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah and Joab Killed Twelve Thousand Edomites at the Valley of Salt

60 ^1-2 God! you walked off and left us,
    kicked our defenses to bits
And stalked off angry.
    Come back. Oh please, come back!

You shook earth to the foundations,
    ripped open huge crevasses.
Heal the breaks! Everything’s
    coming apart at the seams.

^3-5 You made your people look doom in the face,
    then gave us cheap wine to drown our troubles.
Then you planted a flag to rally your people,
    an unfurled flag to look to for courage.
Now do something quickly, answer right now,
    so the one you love best is saved.

^6-8 That’s when God spoke in holy splendor,
    “Bursting with joy,
I make a present of Shechem,
    I hand out Succoth Valley as a gift.
Gilead’s in my pocket,
    to say nothing of Manasseh.
Ephraim’s my hard hat,
    Judah my hammer;
Moab’s a scrub bucket,
    I mop the floor with Moab,
Spit on Edom,
    rain fireworks all over Philistia.”

^9-10 Who will take me to the thick of the fight?
    Who’ll show me the road to Edom?
You aren’t giving up on us, are you, God?
    refusing to go out with our troops?

^11-12 Give us help for the hard task;
    human help is worthless.
In God we’ll do our very best;
    he’ll flatten the opposition for good.

TRUTH:  In God we’ll do our very best.  God will fight our battles.

Proverb 20:6-9, The Message

Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,
    but where on earth can you find one?

⁷ God-loyal people, living honest lives,
    make it much easier for their children.

^8-9 Leaders who know their business and care
    keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
For who among us can be trusted
    to be always diligent and honest?

WISDOM:  Keep a sharp eye out for who can be trusted!  God will help us to see integrity in others if we ask Him.

Abba Father,

When the surprise attacks come, as they have and always will, may we immediately run to you for help.  May our surprise attack be a lesson in living expectantly, faithfully knowing that you are with us always.  Continue to grow your character traits in us.  Change me.  Transform me to be all you created me to be.

In Jesus Name, Amen