Here Satan is represented as a conquered foe, and even as a degraded antagonist. He has been “disarmed.” One is reminded of the figure of a scarecrow on a farmer’s field where the dead birds are hung up as warnings against other depredators. He cannot harm us, although he may alarm us.

He is beaten before the battle begins. We enter the fray with the prestige of victors. Let us hold this high place as we meet our adversary. Let us treat him as a defeated enemy. Let us not honor him by our doubts and fears. It is not our valor or our victory. It is our confidence in Christ, the Victor, that wins.

“This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Our triumph has already been won by our Leader, but we must identify ourselves with His victory. Let us never dare to doubt!

“And the hostile princes and rulers He shook off from Himself, and boldly displayed them as His conquests when by the Cross He triumphed over them” (Colossians 2:15 WNT).

Says Dr. Weymouth: “Stand your ground in the day of battle, and having fought to the end, remain victors on the field!” “Victors on the field”—I am thrilled by the inspiring word. After every temptation—the temptation which comes to me in sunshine or the temptation that comes to me in the gloom—after every fight, victors on the field, the Lord’s banner flying, and the evil one and all his hosts in utter rout, and in full and dire retreat! J. H. JOWETT

Describing the force of the waves which beat on the Eddystone Lighthouse, a writer says: “But without a quiver the lighthouse supports those terrible attacks. Yet it bends toward them as if to render homage to the power of its adversaries.”

Let us meet the storms of life with the fixedness and plasticity with which the lighthouse overcomes the wild tempest.

Fastened to the Rock of Ages, I shall not be moved.

If a person allows it, he can find something at every turn of the road that will rob him of his victory and his peace of mind.

Satan is far from retiring from his work of attempting to deceive and destroy God’s children.

At each milestone in your life, it is wise to check the temperature of your experience in order to be keenly aware of the surrounding conditions.

If you will do this and firmly exhibit your faith at the precise moment, you can sometimes actually snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat.

Faith can change any situation, no matter how dark or difficult.

Lifting your heart to God in a moment of genuine faith in Him can quickly alter your circumstances.

God is still on His throne, and He can turn defeat into victory in a split second, if we will only trust Him.

God is mighty! He is able to deliver; Faith can victor be in every trying hour; Fear and care and sin and sorrow be defeated By our faith in God’s almighty, conquering power.

Have faith in God, the sun will shine, Though dark the clouds may be today; His heart has planned your path and mine, Have faith in God, have faith alway.

When you have faith, you need never retreat. You can stop the Enemy wherever you encounter him. MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH

It is easy to love Him when the blue is in the sky , When the summer winds ar e blowing, and we smell the r oses nigh; There is little effort needed to obey His pr ecious will When it leads thr ough flower -decked valley , or over sun-kissed hill.

It is when the rain is falling, or the mist hangs in the air , When the r oad is dark and rugged, and the wind no longer fair , When the r osy dawn has settled in a shadowland of gray , That we find it har d to trust Him, and ar e slower to obey .

It is easy to trust Him when the singing bir ds have come, And their songs of praise ar e echoed in our heart and in our home; But it’ s when we miss the music, and the days ar e dull and dr ear, That we need a faith triumphant over every doubt and fear .

And our blessed Lor d will give it; what we lack He will supply; Let us ask in faith believing—on His pr omises r ely; He will ever be our Leader , whether smooth or r ough the way , And will pr ove Himself sufficient for the needs of every day .

Trusting even when it appears you have been forsaken; praying when it seems your words are simply entering a vast expanse where no one hears and no voice answers; believing that God’ s love is complete and that He is aware of your circumstances, even when your world seems to grind on as if setting its own direction and not caring for life or moving one inch in response to your petitions; desiring only what God’ s hands have planned for you; waiting patiently while seemingly starving to death, with your only fear being that your faith might fail—“this is the victory that has overcome the world”; this is genuine faith indeed. G EORGE MACDONALD

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.—Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.—And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.—Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.—Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.—This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.