Your prayer for blessing and for victory over the devices of Satan is a prayer in which every gracious heart can join, and we do stand with you in faith and agreement before the throne of grace.
We would have you remember that the blessings which are most to be desired are not temporal but spiritual. Temporal blessings are not definite marks of Divine favour, since God gives them to the unworthy as well as to the righteous, and they are soon gone. But we are taught to bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. These are the rarest, the richest, the most enduring of all blessings, priceless in value. He has really given us all spiritual blessings in Christ, and you who are in Christ are in your Father's house where He has made over His whole estate of spiritual wealth to every believing child. There is your true favour, not in outward abundance only, but in forgiveness, freedom, and favour through the blood of the covenant, in the new heart which the Lord promises, saying, I will give you a new heart, and in all the grace which flows from union with Jesus.
And concerning victory over Satan, take comfort, for Jesus wins the victory and He will not enjoy it alone, He will glorify His people. The Seed of the woman shall trample on the serpent. Because He has poured out His soul unto death, Satan's power is broken, and He shall ask, Father, give them power and victory, and it must be done. Satan indeed rages because he knows his time is short, and he goes about like a sentinel watching for souls under his power, and he considers the saints as he considered Job, seeking a place to wound us. He blinds the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them, and he raises objections and wrong inferences to keep men in darkness. He will tempt you whether you are successful or cast down, whether you carry a heavy load or a light one.
Yet be of good cheer, for Christ opposed Satan and won the day, and saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. When the temptation was ended in the wilderness, Satan departed and angels came and ministered. So shall it be with you who look to Jesus. If you can see a little of the beauty of Christ, be very jealous over that sight, and keep close to Him who is your victory.
Let us pray together. O Lord, open to our brother and to us the riches of Thy covenant blessings. Give us to know more fully all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, and to bless Thee with grateful hearts. Let the victory which Christ has won be manifest in this life, trampling down the principalities and powers of darkness, breaking the snare of the tempter, and delivering souls from blindness into Thy marvellous light. Guard Thy people from the consideration and assault of the adversary, and when he departs, send Thou thine angels charge to keep us in all our ways. Let Thy glory be seen not in mere outward show, but in holiness, in love, in the salvation of myriads of souls redeemed by precious blood. This we humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, with thanksgiving, Amen.
