Lure The Wolf

Have you ever wrestled with a wolf before? Perhaps you have but you just didn't know it. Today's story is about something we have all experienced in our lives, and how we can ultimately face it.

In the movie The Bourne Legacy, Jeremy Renner actually lures and wrestles with a wolf. He defeats the fearsome animal by using a very powerful weapon - his brain.

The wolf in our lives is Satan. He can be fiubd in our fears and our doubts. And we really don't have to lure him at all. He already prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Or was that a roaring lion? (1 Peter 5:8) Lol!

Most people in Jeremy's situation would have been terrified and eaten alive. The ability to overcome our fears is essential if we are ever to overcome our enemy - Satan.

What is your biggest fear? Is it death? Loneliness? For me, my biggest "fear" was not being loved. I should say it used to be a fear. I was able to defeat that fear by utilizing an incredibly powerful weapon - Jesus.

When Joshua was about to lead God's people into the promised land God gave Joshua a command - "be strong and courageous." He used those words four times in the same chapter!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

Our biggest weapon in ANY battle is God Himself. And He will always be with us wherever we go! And should we ever "lure Satan" (the wolf) into our lives, let Jesus defeat him!

The reason that Joshua and the Israelites were successful in capturing all of that land was not because of their own ability. It was because that God fought all their battles for them.

Have you been facing any battles lately? Have you allowed God to help you in fighting them? Or have you tried defeating them on your own?

God can overcome ALL of our fears . . . if we let Him. Be 'strong and courageous'! Call on the name of The Lord and be saved from ALL of your fears.

Wolf Scene - The Bourne Legacy

[This story was inspired by a song from the John Wick soundtrack, entitled Lure The Wolf.]

Lure The Wolf - John Wick soundtrack

Ambush!

The Russian government just pulled its troops out of Kherson in Ukraine. The media says this is "a major military defeat for Putin." Really? What if it's a trap?

We all believe what we want to believe. Whether it is a trap or not, that remains to be seen.

Have you ever read the story of Joshua and how the Israelites caprured the city of Ai at God's direction? God said to Joshua, "Set up an ambush behind the city" (Joshua 8:2). Then Joshua commanded his troops:

"Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them, you are to rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. And when you have taken the city, set it on fire." - Joshua 8:4-8

Putin recently put a new man in charge of his army in Ukraine. And this man's first move was to retreat? I don't think so. Not unless something else is going to happen.

Satan is a better strategist than any military general. He can convince us that everything is going to be alright as he draws us into sin after sin after sin. Jesus said this to His disciples:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard;" - Matthew 10:16-17

Everything may seem like "pumpkin and spice and everything nice" but we are all in a war, a spiritual battle. Our general is Jesus. Following His commands is critical in this world we live in today.

This was God's command to Joshua before the Israelites entered The Promised Land: 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

We need to remember that.

Strong and Courageous

What does the face of courage look like? We have seen the look of it on the faces of every Ukrainian we see. Some are crying, some looked worried, others look scared. I think it is possible to be all of those things and still be courageous.

The guy in the foreground of this picture is the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. You all know that. Look at his face.

If the Russins captured Zelensky, what do you think they would do to him? I think he and his buddies here would be executed. Dead men tell know tales.

Now let me ask you another question. What expression do you think Jesus had on His face before He was crucified? I bet it would have been similar. One definition of courage is knowing something bad is going to happen but going through with it anyway because you know it is this right thing to do.

Jesus didn't want to go to the cross, but He did it anyway. Why? Because something greater was about to happen. It was all part of God's plan. Jesus gave up His earthly life so that God's will for the rest of us could be completed.

Have you ever read the first chapter of Joshua? There is a link at the bottom of the page. In one short chapter, God tells Johua to do something FOUR times! What do you think it was?

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous." - Joshua 1:6-7

Why did God want Joshua to be "strong and courageous?" Because Joshua was about to lead his people into multiple wars, all so God's will could be accomplished. Did you know that Josuah and Jesus (pronounced Yeshua in Hebrew) share the same name?

And what is God's will regarding the Ukranian people? I don't know the answer to that. But I think that being strong and courageous is playing a part in it. Is Zelensky a Christian? I don't know that either. But he sure is acting like one. He is willing to sacrifice his life to lead his people. Wasn't Johua willing to do the same thing?

That brings me to this question. How are we as Christians to act as we watch the ravages of war on our safe little television screens? Are WE being strong and courageous? And what about our government? Zelensky has asked for help several times. What have we given the Ukrainian people? Has our president been strong and courageous?

We need to be praying for all of the above. Zelensky, Putin, Biden, they ALL need our prayers. Let us be strong and courageous as we approach God's throne in prayer.

Joshua 1