Unguarded Strength

There is a place we can come to where we feel as if we have conquered the world. We have figured out everything we need to do for life and living. We have a comfortable income, we have a nice home and car – the family is doing fine -all is right with the world. It is at this point that we need to be aware – for it is here that it may be revealed that “unguarded strength is double weakness”. It is at this point that our adversary stalks us looking for a place where he can attack.

King David in his old age no doubt began to lament over his failure to rear his children in all the ways of the Lord. When his son Absalom rose up against him to take the kingdom and in the process died, this staunch warrior mourned more over the death of his son than he did the nation that was saved.

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! 2 Samuel 18:33 (KJV)

Afterward Joab came to him and said:

⁵ And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

⁶ In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

⁷ Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. 2 Samuel 19:5-7 (KJV)

We can gain victory all of our life, and at any point, put it all at risk – for hidden things in our heart that we have not reconciled. When the test comes, it never comes as we think it will – it is always when we think we have it all together.

Maria