“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” Isaiah 54:17

When I think about this scripture, I think about one of my favorite cartoon rivals as a child—the story of the “Road Runner vs. the Wile E. Coyote.” If you remember that cartoon, the Road Runner was always minding his business, doing what he’s supposed to do, but there was this relentless enemy who would not leave him alone no matter what. It seemed like it was his life’s work to destroy the Road Runner, so the  Road Runner had to constantly be on alert for his arch-enemy. The Wile E. Coyote was so crafty in the methods he chose, but it didn’t matter because nothing worked. In fact, every scheme he plotted led to his own humiliation. I find that scenario so interesting because I see that very clearly in the way that the enemy attacks us. As we strive to do what we are supposed to do as Christians, this enemy uses anything he can to destroy us. That’s where this scripture comes into play. There is no weapon that the devil can think of that will prosper against us. I came across an article written by TIME magazine called “The 9 Rules of Every Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner Cartoon,” and two of the rules really stuck with me. The first states that the Wile E. Coyote’s biggest threat is not the Road Runner, but is gravity. The same goes for our enemy, Satan. Satan is known as the “fallen angel,” so from his fallen state, he tries to accomplish his goal. No matter what he tries to do, his efforts have already failed before they get started, because he is already defeated (fallen). If you are a child of God then you have already been forgiven and exalted above evil. That’s why the Bible says the Lord will make your enemy your footstool. That same weapon Satan uses will be the instrument for his own humiliation. He’s humiliated because God will take what was meant for evil against us and will use it as an opportunity to actually prosper us. So remember that the attack Satan launches against you is coming from beneath you. It’s not coming from above. We are already above it from the very beginning. The other rule that stuck out to me is that the Road Runner must stay on the road in order to maintain his upper hand against his enemy. He never forsakes his assignment as the Road Runner. I encourage you today, as a Christian striving to live holy for Christ, you have to stay on the correct road and fulfill your assignment. Do not veer off the path trying to outsmart the enemy on your own. If you stay on-track, you will be in-line with the blessings, protection and victory that the Lord has already prepared for you. When we veer off our assigned path, we automatically end up in the enemy’s territory which gives him the upper hand against us. Notice, the Wile E. Coyote’s attacks always occur on the Road Runner’s path, meaning he has to seek out the Road Runner in order to attack him. The road is unfamiliar territory to a coyote, who can normally be found in woodlands, prairies and forests. But when he pursues his victim, he ventures off into their territory and loses the home court advantage. A good example for us is when we praise instead of complain. Satan cannot prosper against us in an atmosphere of gratitude and praise, so maintain your upper hand and praise God in the midst of not-so-good circumstances. Finally, the scripture says, “no weapon formed against you shall prosper,” but I want to submit to you this revelation that God gave me this morning. While the weapon itself may not prosper, you will prosper from it. Whenever the enemy attacks you, it presents an opportunity for God to elevate you. So, the next time an enemy emerges in your life, I want you to get excited because that means that God is setting the stage to bless you. The Bible says in Psalm 23 that “He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” Be encouraged in knowing that when you are under attack, this is not the time to give up, but it’s really time to look up and watch how God turns this situation around in your favor. In short, take this lesson from a classic cartoon that no matter what negativity comes against you, it’s coming from a position that is beneath you. Remember that you have to stay on the right path in order to position yourself for God’s provision, and if you do, He will turn those weapons against your enemies to humiliate them and to elevate YOU!