Powers of this Dark World

     A pastor told a story about an elderly man that came to talk to him about bitterness in his life. The man was angry and his body was physically twisted up and his hand's gnarly. After prayer with the pastor to forgive the other person, years of self-torture and hatred began to disappear and the pastor said the man's curled up fists unfurled. His handicap was self-imposed through years of unforgiveness.
     That's what can happen to any of us, especially in the days in which we live. Today's senseless bombings at the Boston Marathon could call us to cry out for justice and become angry with those that set off the destructive devices that maimed and killed people today. But this kind of justice is beyond our ability to judge, beyond our ability to comprehend, and it's a fight that is not of the flesh, but of the principalities.
     Today's travesty can only be given to God. His Son died for the evil sins committed this fateful afternoon. We are left to go to our knees and pray for the lost, the injured, their families, and the bystanders that are still in shock at what happened. We don't know why, but we know who. There's a darkness prowling the earth seeking those he can maim, injure, and kill. His name is Satan and we are called not to fight him, but to stand firm against him through the power of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.