Having been sick this week, I've had a little more time than usual to catch up on the news. After the terrorist attack that claimed fourteen lives in New Orleans last year, extra security measures were being put in place to prevent anything from happening like it in the major cities. The amount of preparations in cities like New York is staggering. All for 1 million people to watch a ball drop and start singing "Auld Lang Syne." I never have understood what that song means - "Let old acquaintances be forgotten and never brough to mind?" I can assure you of one thing at the risk of sounding square, I'd far rather be home on New Year's Eve - safe, sober, warm. However, for many New Year's is a major holiday. 

The though occurred to me that if the world puts in that much planning for one night of partying, how much spiritual planning should we put in for our new year? You're probably thinking that I'm referring to New Year's resolutions - I am not. What I am saying is that we are engaged in a daily warfare, not against terrorists but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. 6:12) This conflict is no less real. The enemy is always against us, he will use every source of temptation possible to distract, discourage, and deter us from the goal of following Christ. He will plant thoughts in our mind to cause us to doubt God and His Word. That's the same tactic he used with Eve in the Garden of Eden. He's still using it today! (see James 1:13-15).

We must always be alert and ready to fight the spiritual battles against the world, the flesh and the devil. Sometimes we feel defeated by sin or the world around us. Often we feel overwhelmed and exhausted - But remember the promise of I John 4:4 - "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."


                                                                                                                                                                  - Pastor Carpenter