Hello, Everyone! Greetings and Blessing in the Lord be unto you!

Every Sunday, I purposely set aside some extra special time to spend with the Lord. I get the 3 translations of the Bible that I have (Amplified, NIV Scofield Reference Edition and the King James versions) and all the prayers that I have typed up and printed off. I also keep a printed copy of the visions given to me and the promises and scriptures that I have been guided to by the Holy Spirit. Part of my aggressive spiritual warfare, against the enemy of our soul, is to remind him and read out loud the promises, scriptures and visions from the One who has defeated him and won for us the victory! Glory!

Jeremiah 29:11-14

“ For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all our heart. I will be found by you”, declares the Lord.

On Good Friday, April 10, 2009, I was once again directed to this scripture. I love it and it has been one of my favorite scriptures my whole life. I also know, whenever the Holy Spirit brings it to my mind, the Lord is getting ready to bring a mighty move in my life.

The following Sunday was Easter. During my special praise, prayer and worship with the Lord, I was reading in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) the scriptures and events leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord. I was directed to Luke 21:34-36.

Here Christ is speaking to His followers about things to come.

“ Be careful and be on guard or your hearts will be weighted down, overburdened, depressed with headaches and nausea, of self-indulgence, drunkenness, the anxieties of life or the worldly worries and cares pertaining to the business of this life” (Does this sound like most of us at some time or another during or life? I have so been there.) Jesus goes on to say “that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”

“Always be on watch (be discreet, attentive and ready) praying that you may have the full strength and ability to escape what is about to happen or take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Lord has plans for us. The defeated enemy of our soul also has plans for us. Christ is telling us how to always listen for His voice and hear Him. He has all knowledge and knows what is about to happen to us. He also knows what we need to do to get through and sometimes totally avoid what is headed our way. The enemy of our soul is always trying to keep us in a position to where we cannot hear the voice of the Lord because we are so weighted down with the junk that he has for us. The result is always the same: things close in on us and we are caught in the enemy’s trap.

I asked the Lord what He means in this passage that we may be able “to stand before the Son of Man”. The answer that I heard is this: Jesus gives us the ability and the strength to overcome the power of the enemy. We receive it from Him by spending time with Him and being in His presence. (“Be strong in the Lord, be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless might provides.” Ephesians 6:10 AMP.)

If we are abiding in the secret place of the Most High, we can always hear His voice. It is when we are letting the enemy get into our heads and letting the busyness of this life occupy our thoughts, actions and decisions that we get ourselves into trouble and miss what the Lord is trying to say and do for us. When we allow the enemy and what he has to offer a place in our lives, his noise is screaming louder in our ears than the Lord is in our hearts. Jesus let us know that we can get the enemy out and prohibit his entrance in the first place.

Jesus is letting us know that what He did on the cross was more than what we realize. He gave Satan the final blow that sealed his destiny. Christ is totally victorious and freely gives that same victory to all those that believe in Him.

“Behold! I (Christ) have given you authority and power…and the physical and mental strength and ability over all the power the enemy possesses, and nothing shall in any way harm you.” (Luke 10:19 AMP)

Easter…Glory to God!

In His Service,

Robbie Goodwin