We have an enemy. His goal is to lead your heart away from
God and godliness.
This master of subtlety and conniving, knows your areas of
weakness and mine. He often uses our pride and our selfishness to prompt us to
action. In the first generation of mankind, our adversary was already using anger and
resentment as a lure. Notice the warning
God gave to Cain.
“Abel, on his part
also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the
LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his
offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then
the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do
well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must
master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the
field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” Genesis 4:4-6
Anger becomes a problem when we allow it to remain in us. “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let
the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity (or
place). Ephesians 4:26, 27. Like Cain, when we allow anger to stay, we also allow
Satan a place in our heart. Cain allowed his anger to fester and grow and
overtake him. His anger opened the door for Satan (who was crouching just
outside the door) to work in him.
What is the remedy for injustice and our anger because of wicked
schemes? How do we respond? Not in anger…
“Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He
will do it.
He will bring forth
your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as
the noonday.
Rest in the LORD and
wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of
him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who
carries out wicked schemes.
Cease from anger and
forsake wrath;
Do not fret;
it leads only to
evildoing.”
Psalm 37:5-8
This you know, my
beloved brethren.
But everyone must be
quick to hear,
slow to speak and
slow to anger;
for the anger of man
does not achieve the righteousness
of God.
James 1:19, 20
My enemy wants to infiltrate my mind and my actions. How do I close the door on this adversary who is crouching just outside the door?
Commit my actions to Him
Trust Him to take care of it
Rest and wait patiently while He works
Do not be angry or fret over it
Listen with mouth closed
Do not act in anger.
Father in Heaven,
You know the injustices, accusations, and
wickedness around us today. I pray that I will respond without anger and
resentment. I pray that I will respond with total trust in You to bring
judgment and not take judgment into my own hands. I pray that You will give me the
strength and courage to look to You and rest in You when all around me is
turmoil, strife and anger of men.
May I never fall for Satan’s lie and act in
my anger and distress. I pray I will behave in a manner pleasing to You, no
matter the circumstance surround me.
I pray for those in distress today. I pray
that You will surround them and they will look to You instead of the enemy.
I pray these things in Jesus’ most holy and
righteous name, Who is my example of not returning insult for insult, and when
reviled, did not revile in return.
If you are a pet owner (or have a
pet that owns you – I’ve never really been sure how that works) then you know
the back story to this photo. For those who live lonely lives or have sparse
imagination, this picture was taken in the bathroom. Keep in mind that there is
only one door in and out of that particular room and he was standing in front
of it. All of that is irrelevant after 30 seconds when you know who doubts what he knows to be true and implements his locksmith
skills to confirm my location and dispel his doubt.
I used to bask in the thought he
just loved me so very much he couldn’t stand a moment without me. Now, I face
the reality that perhaps he just doesn’t want to lose me. I wear many hats, one
of which is the feeder of the dog,
which places me in high standing with him. I hold onto the notion that he loves
me, but understand that love might be somewhat related to the contents of (or
lack thereof) his dinner bowl.
The groomer of the dog hat is also mine, although I can’t say he
particularly likes that part. Well, at least he feigns a dislike of the
b.a.t.h. part (don’t say it out-loud or he will immediately gain 1,282 pounds of
gravitational pull). Despite his protests, he does like the part where he is
lying on a warm towel in front of a heater blowing his fuzzy belly hair
backwards as if he were on a tropical island with an ocean breeze. This is also
the part where I remind him how special he is to me and how handsome he looks…as his eyes roll back into his little head and the snoring begins.
The protector of the dog hat is one that fits my head from time to
time. If there is a loud noise, he immediately begins to try find me. His story
would be that he is alerting me to the danger but, his big, bad-dog woofs from behind
my legs tell me he is afraid and wants my help.
Early on, I was the teacher of the dog, and he was eager
to please. He would eagerly find any toy I named and follow several commands.
Again, there were treats involved – so I admit that might have played a part. Nevertheless,
the bright eyes and stubby tail wags told me that pleasing me was the main goal.
Schnauzer patrol. You still there?
So, my little buddy follows me whether
I am going to the kitchen or inspecting the flowers in the yard. He is happiest
when we are in eyesight, specifically making eye contact with him. Likewise when he can’t see us or worse yet, sees
us leaving him (GASP) the crying begins. I’m talking about “screaming like his
toes are in a guillotine” crying. We
call affectionately call it the “EEEOOO” song. Some have compared it to a siren. It serves as “you forgot the
dog!” and “I see you going out the door!” all expressed with volume that denies the “miniature” in miniature schnauzer. He just wants to be with us. That is basically
all he asks (well, besides the dinner bowl).
As I considered his silly
forgetfulness at the bathroom door, I was reminded of my very own. When I leave
him, I always remind him “You be a good boy, we’ll be back in a little while”. When
he is required to stay outside for a moment while I go in for something, I let
him know it isn’t permanent abandonment by telling him “I’ll be right back, you
stay here”. He is OK with that - as long as he can see me through the glass
door. The problem with the bathroom door is that (for reasons beyond his
comprehension) it is opaque. So despite my reassurance of a quick return, he is
not satisfied until he sees for himself.
My Lesson
Understanding that, just between
us, I tend to leave the door un-barricaded. I do it because I understand. I
know God is real. I talk with Him and listen to Him and know He is as real as
the sky above and the earth under my feet. I know He is faithful to His
promises. I know that God will never leave me or forsake me. But…at times, I am
tricked into doubt. (Beware of the Father of Lies who tells you such things. He
has been around since the Garden and is still roaming around.)
You and I are not the first to
experience it. Perhaps you remember that God demonstrated great signs and Pharaoh
released the Hebrew children only to give chase after them. The people (who had
witnessed these great signs and wonders) came to an impasse with Pharaoh and
his soldiers behind them and an un-crossable body of water in front of them. Their first thought – they were going to die.
Moses reminded them “Do not fear! Stand
by and see the salvation of the LORD…The LORD will fight for you while you keep
silent” Exodus 14:13, 14. Their salvation came that day in the form of the
parting of a great sea, and “the sons of
Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were
like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And when Israel saw
the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people
feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and His servant Moses.” Exodus
14:22, 31
Now that’s something we wouldn’t
easily forget, right? Sure, easy for you to say. Three days later they were in
the wilderness and found no water. Of course, you know the story, God already
had it planned out and provided what they needed in a way they just couldn’t
see at the time. They needed to learn to trust Him. Years later, just before
they went into the promised land, Moses reminded them “Be strong and
courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them for the LORD your God is the
one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you”.
God came to earth in flesh to
demonstrate His profound love for us, and how we should walk before Him. Jesus
told His followers He would be killed (give His life actually) and then rise up
on the third day, yet when it happened they reacted in fear. After the
crucifixion, they were waiting in fear behind closed doors when Jesus appeared
to them.
Before Jesus ascended into heave,
He promised “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. I’m guessing He knew we would need to hear
that again.
If the Hebrew children saw miracles
and were still afraid and doubted what they could not see, the disciples who
walked with Jesus had fears, then perhaps fear is a bridge that leads to doubt.
It could be a fear that God has abandoned
us, or is not watching or will go back on His promises. Satan, our adversary,
our enemy, the father of lies would have us believe that. If these two examples
dealt wrongly with fear and doubt, then how should we deal with them?
Things to remember when dealing with fear and doubt.
We abide in Him. Like the schnauzer looking for assurance that all
is well, we stay near Him. Whoever confesses
that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God”. 1 John
4:15
God abides in us and is infinitely more powerful than our enemy. “The word of God abides in you, and you have
overcome the evil one”. 1 John 2:14
Abiding in Him brings His love within us.“God is
love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”1
John 4:16
His love casts out fear.“There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18
Without finger-pointing at all, I
recognize myself in both the doubts of a certain schnauzer, freed slaves, and the
disciples of Christ, simply because I am tempted to fear instead of trust. Any
and all of those fears are dispelled when I look to Him. I like to think that
is why He left the door cracked a bit – just so we can see Him and remember He
said “I will never desert you, nor will I
ever forsake you”, so we can confidently say “The LORD is my helper, I will not
be afraid.” Hebrews 13:5, 6.
My prayer
Most gracious and loving Father
in heaven,
Thank You for being so worthy of my trust,
and for the amazing patience You show me
even when I allow my fears blind me to Your presence.
Thank You for giving me Your
word
so rich in promises and assurance.
Show me new and fresh ways
to abide
more fully in You and Your word and
share that with a world filled with fear.
Help me to draw near to You
every day,
seeking Your face in all I do.
Thank You for giving me courage
in the face of fear,
by being with me and never leaving me.
Prod me to remember
to always look to
and trust Your hand to provide in ways
I might not be able
to see.
I pray in Jesus' name,
Amen.
~~~
From the Temple Institute. This Rabbi shares insights about the time of the exodus and the quick return of bitterness by those who had just been rescued. A very insightful look at human nature and the hand of God.
The famous chickadees (see blog
posts Chickadee Choices and Chickadee Conflict) who have been living
in our yard (or their yard depending
on your perspective) have been challenged. You may remember the sparrows from
earlier in the year that tried to take advantage of the chickadee’s nest
building. The intruding sparrows thought they could move into a furnished
luxury apartment, until my husband stepped in and made the door chickadee-sized.
The sparrows could no longer gain entrance and finally the chickadees were able
to finish their home and start their family.
This week, just as the babies
were coming out of their shells the sparrows returned. Even though they knew
they could not enter and use the nest themselves, they were determined to wreak
havoc on the chickadee family. They did.
They travel in a herd, or maybe a
flock. Their stampede certainly seemed like a raging herd of bulls. Through sheer
intimidation, numbers, and persistence they bullied the chickadees until out of
fear, the chickadees fled. With the naked little ones unprotected, the sparrows
were able to grab one and pull it out of its home. When I heard the commotion I
went out to help and found the babe sprawled out on the ground. Because he was
still moving I carefully placed the tiny fuzzy-headed body back in the nest with
his brother and scolded the sparrows. They almost seemed to laugh at me as they
flew off.
We checked on the status of the
siblings throughout the rest of the day and saw no sign of Mr. and Mrs. C. The
next day, still no parents had come back to rescue their children. They were
now beyond hope. Gone. Lifeless and alone in a box that was so full of hope.
The chickadees were given a great
opportunity. They had a wonderful nesting box. They had the perfect size
entrance hole so no intruders could trespass. They even had our pond for bathing, and lots
of worms for snacks. The one thing they didn’t have was courage to stand. All they had to do was to stand firm in the
knowledge of the security of the box, yet their fear got the best of them. They
gave up when it got hard, and their fear cost them the lives of their chicks.
I must confess I am tempted to
give up at times. I KNOW without a doubt that God has a plan, yet wonder
sometimes how He could possibly work out certain circumstances that seem so impossible.
I KNOW that His love is greater than any other and yet I still wonder if He
really could love me. I KNOW He created
me for a purpose, and still wonder if He can use me flaws and all. Fears and
doubt, all of them. Weaknesses that plague many of us, maybe even you.
The GREAT NEWS is, He knows and has given us exactly what we need to get through it.
Christians have Him living within
us and have assurance that He will never leave or forsake us! Matt 28:20 http://blb.sc/1QE5 We can
stand firm with Him alongside us!
Stand firm in Who He is - Creator of the universe. Almighty God.
Limitless in ability. He can never be overwhelmed by any situation. Job 11;7-10 http://blb.sc/EXDs
Stand firm in His Word. It is unchanging. It will never fail. It
will build you up in greater knowledge of Him which makes you stronger. The
life built on it, will not fall. Matt 7:24-27 http://blb.sc/EqZ1
Stand firm against the enemy. Our adversary roams about looking for
weakness and pounces at just the right time. Like the chickadees and sparrows,
our enemy strikes us in our weak points. Many times that is fear. So many, many
times we are told “Do not be afraid.” Heb 13:6 http://blb.sc/4WBp It is a common weakness among us
and the chickadees, but we serve the God of Peace. 2 Thess 3:16 http://blb.sc/4UAx
Stand firm in His promises. If He has given you a mission (He has)
He will provide a way for you to accomplish it, no matter the odds, or
circumstance, or situation. He WILL close the mouths of the lions. He WILL
provide an ark in the flood. He WILL be with you in the furnace and loose your
ropes and bring you through without even the smell of smoke on your clothes. Be strong and courageous when He
directs your path. Joshua 1:6-9 http://blb.sc/EJYX
Stand with other Christians. It may feel like you are outnumbered,
but working together with other like-minded believers helps. Phil 1:27-28 http://blb.sc/4T3r
Stand firm when it seems like the enemy is winning. You may be
injured by the enemy, but Satan loses the war. 2 Thess 1:6-10 http://blb.sc/F2Vc
Don’t give up! You may be outnumbered, but they are just
sparrows and they do not have access to your home. Be STRONG! 1 Cor 16:13 http://blb.sc/4Qsb
Father, we seem to have enemies all around us and yet with You within
us we KNOW we are safe. Thank You for Your true and steady Word to strengthen
and direct us. Help us to be an encouragement to others who are at a weak point,
so they will remain strong in Your strength. Help us to look to You when fear
besets us so that we will be faithful to do what You would have us to do. Thank
You for defeating our adversary.
Have you experienced fear and
the hand of God that overcame it? Share your story in the comment section to
encourage someone. Let's create some happy endings!
No doubt
about it, fall is arriving in the South.
The maple leaves are gloriously golden, and their winter guests, the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, have arrived.
The ladybugs
are looking for a warm spot for winter. Frogs
are moving slowly due to the chill in the air. Granted, “chilly” here means daytime highs in
the 60’s, instead of the 90’s and I realize that is comfortable for much of the
world, but in Alabama, that’s chilly.
Knowing that our first frost of the season is around the
corner, and it will soon be time to take our potted lemon tree into the sunroom
for the winter. That also means it is
“debugging” time for any and all things wanting to come along for the ride into
our home. Armed with a squirt (Southern
for “spray”) bottle of Malathion, I doused the tree and immediately little
critters begin to scatter. Before you send the hate mail,I am always careful to avoid the
blossoms and any honey bees. The yellow
jackets were particularly offended and let me know with their best “intimidating
and aggressive stare-down” they meant business.
Note: know your enemy before
you fire. I reminded them I was going to
be hard to catch, and still had ammunition.
It was a lively, albeit short dance, and as usual, my husband found it
humorous (from a distance I might add). Other
small beetle-like inhabitants coughed their last and fell to the ground. They looked similar to ladybugs, but were dark
brown and somewhat flatter than their red-backed counterparts. Well, at least I got ’em.
Day 2 – I got them, not their brethren and sisteren. They are back.
This time I spotted them all around the blossom clusters, and under
leaves. Sneaky little rascals they
are. Another dose of “medicine” for them
and many more surrendered and fell to the ground. My husband noticed some of their cousins had
made a home on the Angel Trumpet near the garage, so off this soldier goes,
armed for another battle, and expectant of victory. Note:
know where your friends are before you fire. As I was spraying, a little green lizard
scooted forward along a leaf, then turned back a gave me a raised eyebrow for spraying his tail. In all honesty, his tail didn’t even look
like a bug. I just got carried away I
guess. That’s the best defense I could
come up with on short notice. So, I
apologized, and warned him avoid any “wet” bugs on the lunch menu.
During my apology speech, it occurred to me that I tend to
react quickly, sometimes even before I pray.
Shame on me. God had already seen
the homesteaders, and taken care of the situation by placing a hungry lizard on
the job. If I had taken the time to
look, I might have seen him (although his camouflage is extraordinarily
good). But, as usual, I was in a hurry
to “fix” the problem in my own power. Note: seek out and/or know God’s plan before executing
your own. It is a hard lesson. Maybe you have experienced it too. Rushing in and acting before seeking His will
never ends well. Remember in the garden
of Gethsemane, when Peter took it upon himself to take action against the
soldiers who came to arrest Jesus? An
ear replacement later, he realized Jesus (God in flesh) had it under
control. Remember Abraham, Sarah, and
Hagar? God had it under control with a perfectly good, yet different plan, and yet
they didn’t wait for it. Remember the
wandering in the wilderness for forty years, and promise of a land flowing with
milk and honey? When it was time to act according to His plan, they were afraid. Maybe you and I also
need to take time to let Him work, instead of presuming He needs us to
act. When He tells you it is time to
act, act. When He says “wait” and that
He has it under control, let Him have it.
Note: He has a plan and it is under
control.
Father, we thank You
for Your glorious creation. Thank You
for the beauty all around us. We trust
Your great and mighty hand to deliver us, avenge us, and hold us securely today
and every day of our lives. Help us to
seek Your will before we act, and guide our every action to glorify You today
and every day hereafter.
How have you seen the hand of God at work today? Leave us a note, we would love to hear your
story!
There was a battle, and it was not
pretty. I didn’t see it, but my warrior
(husband) relayed the first hand account as he came inside battle-scarred and
in pain. He is charge of all of the yard
work now, and was using an electric trimmer on some hedges at his favorite
mother-in-law’s house.
What he didn’t know was that since their last trimming,
a new community had taken residence at the base of the bush. If you know flying, buzzing critters, you may
know they usually don’t like loud noises, and they don’t take kindly to their
homes being shaken and disturbed.
With
the noise of the electric trimmer in his ear, he didn’t readily hear the
buzzing of the unhappy shrub dwellers.
He said the “yellow jacket dance” was one of his best, but the little
guys were heavily armed. They (or at
least one) got him, and got him good.
His sweet little (excuse me, I meant to say big and brawny) leg paid the
price. It was brutal. We looked for the stinger, and found none on the wounded
appendage so we began our home remedies.
Alcohol, Witch Hazel, Campho-phenique, then went for the big drugs;
Benadryl and Ibuprofen. He was a brave,
albeit wounded, soldier.
I can’t say that I
blame them, I’m protective of my family and home too, but they didn’t consult
the proper housing authority before they took up residence. They drew first
blood, now there would be war. The one
who caused the pain and suffering of course, was the first to go. We waited until later that afternoon when (we
hoped) that all their clan was home, and doused it with a gallon (seriously, a
gallon) of insecticide. I came for moral
support and back up, so I waited outside the normal strike perimeter and tried
to look innocent. A few outsiders came
to inspect our activity, but none went into or out of their “front door”. (Believe me, I looked for any back door but
found none.)
Satan has taken the form of a serpent in the past. I don’t
know if he ever uses insect disguises or not, but as much destruction as these guys
can employ, we would not be the first to suggest a label of them their kind as “evil”.
I’ve heard people comment that when they
get to heaven, they will ask God why He ever made wasps, mosquitoes, hornets
and such.
Satan is the enemy of the
children of God, make no mistake. He
will employ every means available to harm us, discourage us, to cause us to
doubt or go astray. He has read the end
of the Book, and knows how it ends. He
loses and spends eternity in the Lake of Fire.
Eternity. No hope. No reprieve.
Because
he knows his time is drawing short, Satan is full of wrath (Rev 12:12). Knowing he is on the prowl and continually
seeking who he may devour, it behooves us to be prepared, to be armed and equipped. Our defense is our faith. His stings are described as fiery darts much
worse than hornet stings, but they can not penetrate or shake our faith because
it is the armor given to us by our Father.
Our shield of faith holds true against his attacks so we can stand
firm. The sword of the Spirit (the Word of god) is
our offence (Ephesians 6). By building
your faith, you create your own iron dome of defense. By studying God’s Word, you build your
offense.
Spend time there.
Spend time there today.
Spend time there everyday.
You don’t want holes in your armor or your
shield. You want both a healthy defense and
offense.
He will come after you, but
you CAN stand firm. If you take time to
build your defenses when that time comes, you will be glad you did! It will never be time wasted, and there will
never be anything else more important.
Father,
thank you for equipping us for every event you allow
into our lives.
Help us today to be good
soldiers,
building up our defense of faith and our offense of Your Holy Word.
Thank you for giving us the assurance that while
Satan may be victorious in some battles,
You have already won the war.
I pray in Jesus' precious name,
Amen
Overcomer, Mandisa
Interested in more stories of faith including a precious hummingbird I named Oscar?
