1 Maccabees 7:47-49. After the defeat of Nicanor and his army, the victorious Jews seize the spoil and plunder and cut off the head and right hand of Nicanor (which he had stretched out against the Lord). The head and the hand are brought to right outside Jerusalem where they are displayed. Then the people celebrate greatly, it was a day of great gladness, and they establish a yearly celebration to commemorate that day. And after that "the land of Judah had rest for a few days."

I keep waiting for a "big day" like this, a day when at least one enemy has clearly been defeated and we can celebrate. Those days will come, I know, but I also must not overlook the gift of each day itself. The truly biggest day, the biggest victory, has already been won - Jesus has defeated Satan and even death itself! So every day should be a joyful celebration of that.

Further, each day brings some aspect of Jesus' victory into someone's life - these little victories are being won all the time, I just don't always see them, but sometimes I do. Not everyone is to be defeated like Nicanor, in fact God would like there not be not anyone who has to be defeated like Nicanor. How much better would it have been if Nicanor had converted? This is what I should be (and am) praying for for all of my "enemies."

Also, note that even after the defeat of Nicanor and the celebration, the land of Judah only had rest for a few days! In this great battle that we are in, I keep asking for some respite, but I sometimes fail to see that God gives me rest quite frequently, it's just not permanent. My rests last an hour or two, or maybe, if I'm lucky, a whole day. There are too many battles being fought for the rest to last too long, that will be the reward at the end of all of this!