GOD’S WORD FOR APRIL 1
GOD’S WORD FOR APRIL 1 ~ ~ 2 Samuel 2:18~ ~“And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel [was as] light of foot as a wild roe.”
When a gazelle, (as well as most deer, and other prey animals) sees a creature that threatens, it springs straight up into the air. If you have a house cat, you’ve probably seen your pet do something similar when someone tries to sneak up on it. This strange behavior is called stotting.
At first glance, it would seem that stotting is counterproductive. Time and energy that might be used in running away from a predator seem to be wasted by springing up and making the prey even more noticeable.
There obviously is a good reason God created so many prey animals with this instinct and ability. Man just doesn’t know exactly what the reason is, but those who study these things have some possibilities:
It could simply be an alarm signal to other members of the herd, (but this isn’t highly likely with your pet cat, since….well, we know cats don’t really care.)
It could be that several of them do it in the herd when a predator is approaching, to confuse the predator, since predators have more straight-forward sight than prey animals, because of eye placement. It might be confusing to them as to which one to go after first.
It could be a kind of “I see you” message to the predator, and, again confuse him in his stocking.
Whatever the reason, Researchers noted that stotting does seem to discourage cheetahs from continuing to stalk a gazelle.
It’s good that God gave His prey animals a way to have at least a chance to get away.
We have a predator that’s always stalking us, and God gave us methods to protect ourselves from him too.
When demonic powers stalk us, after we’re a child of God, they can only attack our minds. They can’t affect our spirit, nor take away our salvation in any way.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
But they can definitely put thoughts contrary to the commands, promises, and the Word of God into our thoughts.
They delight in making us depressed, making us think we’re not doing anything right, and on and on.
There is one defensive weapon we have to stand against them, and it’s the Word of God. The armour described in Ephesians chapter 6 is all based on the Word as a defensive armour, along with a God-honoring lifestyle.
First, we need to talk to the Lord and repent of any sin we know of, or don’t know of, so the demonic accusations have no basis. We know that when we confess our sins, they are forgiven because of Jesus payment for them.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Then we do what Jesus did. Profess the Word of God pertaining to whatever the evil is accusing us of, or however it is making us feel.
For this, we need to have handy, either in memory, or cards, notes, or other ways—–scripture promises that pertain to the thoughts we’re having. It should be handy, because if we’re being attacked, we aren’t going to feel like searching through scripture, until we do what Jesus taught us to do when He was attacked, and they leave.
Give them the Weapon of “It is written.” You will literally feel those feelings leave as they high-tail-it back to hell!!! Think of it as our spiritual “stotting”.
Then that’s the time to PRAISE THE LORD!
Live in the Light of Our Lord 