From the Home Place

April 24, 2026

At 3:30 this morning, the temperature is 30 degrees with a light shot of snow. There could even be a couple of little tastes of rain this afternoon! It will be a cool one with 40 for a high, along with winds out of the NE gusting to a pleasant 24 mph.

Last night was zoom meeting. Oh my, how my young friends are getting attacked by the enemy. It is so difficult to deal with an enemy you cannot see. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6, “for our struggle is against…the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” The word “wickedness” is translated as “evil” in other translations, but it literally means “malicious.”

As such, our spiritual enemies have no scruples, no boundaries that they will not cross in their attack against God’s children. Their intention is always to destroy anyone who professes to walk with Jesus Christ. It is only by God’s amazing grace and by standing firm in our faith that we are able to withstand such evil attacks.

Before I became a “believer,” I walked in the ways of evil. My attitudes and actions were influenced by Satan. But, when I committed my life to Jesus, I scorned the devil, making him my number one enemy, and war was declared!

I think that most of us have heard the saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Well, the Greek word translated “wickedness” here in Ephesians 6 is in the “female.” Indicating that our spiritual enemy is like that “woman scorned,” the worst of evil, wanting nothing but revenge. Now hear me clearly, I am not saying that women are evil! In fact, it is the female of our society who shows us the gentle, caring, nurturing side of God our Father. She is the crown of all creation; she is her Father’s blessed child. But when her heart is crushed, all she wants is an extremely painful revenge. That is the word “wickedness” here in Ephesians 6.

And that, my friends, is the kind of enemy who would like to attack each Christ follower every day. As Paul writes in verse 13, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God.” Our loving Heavenly Father has provided us an armor of protection against such “wickedness,” but we have to put it on daily.

As such, may I suggest that you set to memory Ephesians 6:14-18 and that you learn to prayerfully put on this armor each day before you get out of bed. Don’t just pray the armor upon yourself, but for other “saints” as Paul mentions in verse 18.

Allow me to close our conversation with Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” As you daily put on your armor, trust in God’s power to protect you and “stand firm,” unmovable, against “wickedness.”

As my group of young men can tell you, the “attack” is real, the “enemy” is real. I will tell you honestly that “the full armor of God” is also real. Just like salvation is an individual choice, so is putting on the armor an individual choice. Neglect it, and there will be “hell to pay” because Miss Wickedness will have here revenge!

Standing firm with you, Neal