Sat.'s Devo - Word for the Year

Every year I ask God for a word and my word for 2010 is "contend". I looked up the word in the dictionary and it means to stretch out, strive after, to strive in combat or opposition; fight, struggle; to strive in competition; compete; (to contend for a prize); to hold to be a fact; assert(we contend that he is guilty). In this world of chaos and fear we are going to have to contend for peace. In a business where I am dependent on people wanting to beautify their house and have custom-made accessories I am going to have to contend to believe God is able to complete what he started in me.
The word "contend" is mentioned 14 times in the Bible. It's first mention is in Deu. 2:9 where God is telling Moses NOT to contend with the Moabites because he has not given them their land, nor the Ammonites (vs. 19). All the way they walked God had gone before them and killed their enemies till they got to the river Arnon where God said, "Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you."
That is what we as God's children are to do this year: contend with the devil over what God has given us. God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness and we need to appropriate our rights as children of the king. We need to say as Jesus did when tempted by the devil: "It is written...." In Isa. 49:25 God says, "I will contend with him that contends with me, and I will save your children."
Jude exhorts us to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
So what are we going to contend for? Peace, rest, joy, faith, love, forgiveness, hope, truth, perseverance, healing, deliverance, salvation, wholeness, provision, blessing, and a more intimate walk with our Lord and Saviour knowing that our God has given us all authority and power over everything he has created, esp. the devil. May we use this power to further your kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven