A few days ago in my quiet time, while I was singing in my heart a few worship songs, I came to the words: "We go not forth alone against the foe". They are from the great hymn "We rest on thee our shield and our defender". I had a picture of myself being confronted by the evil one. He was strongly opposing me, seeking to persuade me to believe his lies, to tempt me, to discourage me, to draw my eyes, my trust and my worship away from Jesus. He was accusing me, despising me, telling me I was worthless, of no significance, etc., etc.

Where was Jesus in this picture? He wasn't standing in front of me off to the side evaluating my performance. He wasn't being critical, fault-finding, judgmental and condemning. He wasn't frowning in disapproval at my struggles. He was standing right alongside me. We were facing the foe together. He was whispering truth into my ear. He wanted me to feel his presence – his sweet warm breath on my cheek – and to be reassured by his grace and loving kindness. In my picture he didn't take his eyes off the foe. I think it was because he wanted to remind me that in the fiercest battles I have had to face, and will have to face in the future, he has, and always will be, right by my side and fully aware of every subtle cunning device of the evil one (2 Cor. 2:11).

Satan attacks the mind – our thoughts, our understanding – and seeks to turn us away from God's plans and purposes for us. When we believe his lies we are partnering with him. Remember how he manipulated Eve. But he is a totally defeated foe and we have the helmet of salvation to defend our minds from all his lies and insinuations. in our fight against sin, the flesh and the devil, Jesus is with us, not against us or distant from us. What a Saviour!

I woke up this morning singing in my head another great hymn.

One day when heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my Saviour is He!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore