Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, August 1, 2021
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Our greatest enemy may be that which we cannot see or fight.
Jesus’ followers were preparing for a fight. They knew Rome was an oppressive power that needed to be extinguished. They were unprepared to fight the real enemy—the darkness shrouding the spiritual health of God’s people.
The people had for too long been following rites and rituals that no longer served the greater good. They had been twisted and turned so that the spirit of the good they sought no longer drove them.
They were encouraged to prepare themselves for a fight—not with weapons, but with things of the spirit—truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, prayer, and proclamation. And truly, the enemy was not outside, but within.
It’s hard for people to accept that their biggest foe might be within themselves. It’s so much easier to blame other people or circumstances for our woes. But only we can prepare ourselves to fight for ourselves. The battle can be arduous, but we are worth fighting for. Our spirits are worth the hard work to do some self-examination, nurture self-awareness, and cultivate healthy spiritual practices
![1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24], God’s Care for the Widow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/bf37035e-33d5-439f-a0d6-a68b02d0f1bc/24-11-03.jpg)
