The Power of Conjunctions

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me. Psalm 129:2 (KJV)

David had a right take on life. He knew how to state the problem as well as stand on the promise! He was not one who feared to acknowledge the truth of his external circumstances or the internal battle of emotions, but that was not his final statement. He was a man of conjunctions! The “yet” of this verse lets the reader know the previous phrase is not the end of the story. It is like saying, “Even though THIS is happening to me it will not do me in.” May I too look for God’s conjunctions in my life.

Afflicted is an interesting word. It comes from the same Hebrew word that means cramp, besiege, bind up, oppress, shut up, trouble, and vex. It is the actions of an enemy who is intent on destroying you. For some that would be the people in their life, the circumstances of their life, or the thoughts that rage within them. But what I must daily realize is that those are merely the tools the enemy of my soul is using against me. He will take anything within reach and present it to me with his own twisted interpretation. He is a master at misrepresentations and false advertisements. He is out to slander God, me, and the people in my life. He will stop at nothing to get me to believe lies, live in defeat, and retreat in hopelessness and tears.

But I have the assurance of God’s Word that he will not prevail. In order to have the victory he must be stronger, predominate, and superior. One need only look at the New Testament twin verse to see that is not the case. For I John 4:4 becomes the battle cry of every believer as it proclaims, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Last night my thoughts became dark and I could sense myself slipping into an all too familiar pit of despair. The enemy was delighted as long as I curled up with my own thoughts and his lies. But he quickly retreated when I began to proclaim the truth found in God’s Word. All it took was a reminder that he will not prevail.

Father, help me to be more aware of where the thoughts are coming from and who the real enemy is! I cannot afford to listen to him or interpret life through his grid of lies. You are Truth and I trust You alone to define me and interpret the circumstances of my life. Amen.