Psalm 73
1A psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
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It's toward the end of my vacation here in Taiwan and just when I thought I can let my guard down... the enemy found a way to slip through the crack. Last night when I was sleeping, I was attacked spiritually. My mind was awake but my body was if though dead. I couldn't move nor speak (even though I tried to shout) and my blanket was opened up for my body to be exposed to the cold. I prayed immediately in my mind in the name of Jesus to rebuke the spirit, and it receded. I was then able to move and recover my blanket. In the house in Taipei, there are idols set up here in the living room. I saw those the first day I got in and I prayed over myself for protection and God answered. Last night, the arrangement was a bit different. I felt a bit strange when I got back home, but didn't think too much of it. God kept me alert until close to 3 am but I didn't spend the time to pray. I went to bed and didn't pray. I let my guard down.
Praise be to God for His faithfulness. When I resist the devil, he flees. I used worship songs together with God's word to strengthen myself and was able to go to sleep. Then, I was bothered by this terrible dream. How I felt that I was alone... set trapped to... and abandoned. But these are the lies of the enemy. I will seek God and Him alone has the power and strength to save me.
Yes, Lord! In Jesus' name, You have saved me. Covered me with your precious blood and kept my heart pure for You. You will redeem me entirely without fail for there is none that can compare or overcome You.
Labels: Attack, Doubts, Faith
