Never Run Alone

Never Run Alone

by David Brenneman 

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord." Psalms 31:24.

We who are in Christ are never to run the race set before us alone, nor are we to run ahead of God.  We aren't to decide who is or isn't worthy of salvation in Christ Jesus.  Jesus died once for all.  All who are human beings are image bearers of the Lord Jesus Christ, beginning with Adam. 

While yes there will be people who rage at God in various ways, we're to still be who we are in Christ. 

For me, of late, it's a tremendous struggle. Being around people who are in fact raging against God.  To the point that they are altering their bodies into their image of themselves.  

The battlefield is for our minds, considering that the Spirit resides in our hearts.  The Helmet of salvation protects your mind.  As was made abundantly clear to me yesterday, there never should be a time when we lay down the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  It has no sheath, no scabbard, to put it away in. The enemy of God is relentless because he doesn't tire.  His attacks can be relentless when permitted by God.

It's a very commonly repeated line from the movie "Avengers: Endgame" that one particular character should have gone for the head of the primary villain.  

Satan knows how to impact the decisions of the heart.  Watch any gladiator type movie and you see the armor on, the sword flashing, shield blocking the oncoming blows.

That's an apt description of day to day life.

We seriously fool ourselves when we think that we're able to let our guard down.  Proverbs speaks to what defines a fool.

Our hearts and minds, until we're with Jesus, will be under attack.  Even when we're alone.  

Being alone, separating on purpose, from other Believers, from spouses who are ours by that Covenant relationship, sets us up for attacks.  Even Paul wrote that any separation ought to only be for a predetermined time for a specific period and then the coming back together must happen.  We're not to give the Devil an opportunity.  

Many relationships are ruined because of individual choices to think that there's no harm in doing something separate from others.  

Doesn't even this world teach you that if you're visiting a foreign country to always use the buddy system?  

In Christ we need to stay strong in the Lord.   To walk in Christ as we've been called.  Not to get ahead of God.  As one person's writing said...it's not for us to hold God's hand, we would be prone to letting it go.  We need Him to hold our hand so that He never let's go.

My Dear Reader, to think that you're not under attack is to be deceived.  You are always at risk of attack.  It's why you should be wielding the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. You should be in it daily. You should be in constant communication with Jesus.  

Do not allow compromise to enter into your thinking.  Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy whatever God's said is important.  It is he who destroys marriages, not people.  It is he who destroys bodies, not individuals.  It is he who steals the mind when given access to it.  Whatever is important to Jesus, is what Satan wants to have to himself, if it's out of his hands, because those he's after are saved, he will seek permission to attack.

The Truth said that in this world we would have tribulations.  "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”" John 16:33.  

We will seek peace.  But it's only found in Jesus.  It's not found in vacations, it's not found in money.  It's not found in even us getting what we want out of life. 

Never run alone, never run ahead of God. 

Soldiers in battle array as outfitted with the whole armor of God in Ephesians6...only work best side by side with others so equipped. 

Dedication to training is what gets a raw recruit to become a fighting machine.   

The military has a training manual.  Not several to choose from, but one manual. 

In Christ we have one training manual. It's the Bible.  We have one instructor, that's the Spirit.  What He says, we're to do.  Even if it doesn't make sense, even when it's not what we personally want.  

Never Run Alone...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.  He has a Godly life desired for each Believer.  But we must seek Him. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. Lockman Foundation.