No Doze

Today's power scripture comes from Judges 16: 19-20 (NIV): “¹⁹After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.²⁰Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.”

     This of course is the story of Samson and Delilah or what we can call Devilish Delilah and the fall of Samson.  After many other attempts to find out the source and secret of Sampson’s strength, Delilah kept nagging and persisting and needling Sampson until she wore him down. All the times before he was on his P’s and Q’s but finally he let down his guard.  In similar fashion the devil is unrelenting.  He wants you to fail and he will continue needling and nagging and prodding and pursuing you until he wears you to the point of fatigue…then he lulls you to sleep.  And he will put you into a deep sleep and steal what is rightfully yours if you try to operate in our own strength.

     Samson became cocky and this arrogance led to him thinking he was in command of his gift instead of realizing that the gift was a point of grace to be used by God. Do not be deceived that the power, poise,  intellect, charm, commanding voice, melodious tones, speaking prowess, healing hands, leadership ability, cooking dynamics, hair styling wonderment, academic skills, athletic ability, acting acumen, business savvy, curvy body, smooth skin, tall statue,  or ability to whistle and chew gum at the same time has anything to do with you….
All of what we are, do and can become is for the glorification of God.   When we lose sight of that we become easy prey to the devil to use our very gifts against us.  In your own time, read the entire passage about the wiles of Delilah, you will see that in every other instance when she asks Sampson for his secret of this strength she did the deeds herself; whether it was binding him with bowstrings or braiding his hair. But when she realized that she had finally gotten the real truth from him….she called for reinforcements. The devil will do the same. As long as you stand strong in the Lord the devil will keep chipping away because he knows that even if he brought an army of thousands against you as long as you are operating in the strength of the Lord - he is defeated.  But when you lose that edge -  and he knows it - he rushes in with reinforcements to make sure he cuts you from your source.   
       Stay on guard. Do not be caught sleeping. Remember that the battle is the Lord’s and do not try to operate in your own strength, relying on your own abilities and instincts – you will lose every time.  Abide in the Lord and he will abide in you.

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Have a productive weekend; see you on Monday! Be blessed!   Dr. JoAnn