Welcome to the New Year with all its hope and expectations and joys – and worries and sorrows and troubles and fears concerning what is going to happen next. Don’t you wish that you could have an immune system which would prevent all bad things form happening to you and to the ones you love? You know what I mean, some kind of invisible shield which would protect from any and all vulnerable situations. Have you stepped bravely into this New Year or are you looking at every day and every move you make with fear and trepidation? Because you have lived this long you know that there are all kinds of evil forces marshalled against you.

Much of the time we are in a mild panic about all the things in our environment. We can be in a panic about germs, viruses and things that go bump in the night. The forces of darkness scare us the most. I read somewhere that most of us are more afraid of the dark than of anything else. The big fear of course is death and second is fear of the dark with a fear of public speaking closely related. No wonder the holy writer to the Ephesians tells us about the world forces of darkness and the invisible spiritual forces of wickedness. No wonder we all want to put on some kind of spiritual protection to keep us from giving in to these powers that haunt our existence.

I wish that I had a pill to prescribe to all my spiritual children (you) so that there would be a line of defence to hold off the devil from entering and controlling your life and the lives of the ones you love. I do not have such a hoaxes out of focus thing to grant. But I do have a clear knowledge and understanding of just what the Heavenly Father wants for us all. Through the miracle of Baptism God provides you with the understanding of just what you are up against. With this we grasp the understanding that the devil is more than our enemy he is the prince of the air, the ruler of the world and fixated on bringing us down to his level.

The Word of God which is a big part of our baptism and our daily life gives us the power to be immune to the terrible stuff around us day-by-day. You need this power day-by-day because you like me have no power to prevent the devil from getting into your heart and mind and taking control of your existence. I am sure that you know this and can probably sight chapter and verse of the times that his demons have succeeded in taking over.

If by chance you are reading this and you are not a regular partaker of Word and Sacrament ministry then you need to read a little further to see what can be done to get the correct kind of spiritual food. You need to be strong from the inside out and this can only happen with that which comes from the outside. The Word of God is the only way by which the Father and the Son can enter you and give you the power to fight the devil every time He decides to get into your heart and mind.

I suppose you know where to get all this done but, I am going to remind you anyway. First the miracle that He gave you in Baptism made you His own and gave you the right stuff. It is all about God and He did everything for you when you were born again that day. With that accomplished you need to attend worship regularly, go to Bible study and Holy Communion, where you will receive the spiritual strength you need day-by-day! You can’t get it anywhere else. This is not a prescription for a magic pill but rather it is an entire change of life style. You are aware that you are born sinful and without any power on your own to be spiritual.

From the time you were born the power of evil has lived within you. Because He loves you, your heavenly Father can deal with your condition. With real unimaginable love He has sent His Son to make absolutely sure the devil can’t get you - he must flee from you! The Jesus who has entered your heart by His own choice is great, greater than “he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Yes, most assuredly God loves you and has claimed you as His own. Jesus by His death and resurrection for you is the proof.

We have fun rejoicing every day in the great blessings we have received as the Heavenly Father’s own dear children. He has given us faith, the forgiveness of all our sins, and all the protection we need. Now we can step into this New Year because we have everything we need to ward off the devil and his demons day-by-day as God the Father in Christ Jesus protects, empowers and guides us.

Rejoicing in His days
Pastor Krestick