In the previous devo "My Stronghold" I spoke about how Abbie overcame her fear of the dog’s (the enemy’s) ankle biting and harsh bark and stopped taking the ‘scenic route’ by deciding one day to charge directly toward the enemy.

It doesn’t mean that the enemy did not come to test her fear and strength again. As we continued to run during the season the dog would periodically come sprinting towards Abbie and without hesitation Abbie would take off sprinting directly towards the dog and every time the dog would retreat fleeing back to house. The season came and went and as we started up running again this season we were running by the same house and out of nowhere in a different location than the previous times the dog came screaming at full speed directly towards Abbie. The dog was taking an angle and direct line towards Abbie that she was unable to see the approaching dog, and like something out of an old Batman and Robin episode, POW! Turning her head a splint second right before the dog nailed her with his body she took one right in the kisser as the enemy sped back home. Abbie started to shake her head after the blow and I noticed she was drooling very profusely from her mouth, I thought maybe that she had cut her lip with one of her teeth or something but as I check her over the dog had actually knocked clean out one of her front teeth!

Once we start that FCA huddle and make a stand for Christ in whatever He is calling us to do we must be ready for the enemy’s attack because of the work we are doing for the Kingdom. Although many of us stand ready with the Armor of Christ, (Ephesians 6:14-17), over time we can naturally become complacent when the enemy is silent for period of time.

Then when the enemy strikes us from an angle and speed we don’t expect we must rely on God’s strength to endure through the affliction. We should rejoice in this affliction (Romans 5:3-4) because we know that we must be doing some great Kingdom work for Christ if the enemy is taking the time to come after us. 1 Peter 4:12-18 says that we should not be surprised when a “fiery ordeal arises among to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.” “Knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world” (1 Peter 5:9b).

After a few days of soreness and soft food Abbie’s mouth was back to normal and her spirit strong as ever. We too need to “Resist him, firm in faith” (1 Peter 5:9a) that we ourselves may “boast about you among God’s churches-about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure.”(2 Thessalonians 1:4).