Have you ever noticed how
things can be going along really well and then the devil tries to invade your
space and sneak something in on you?
About a year
ago I was going into the Starbucks, regularly, to read the Bible and write. It
was fine until one day when I was there, I looked up and this creepy guy was
staring at me from outside. I tried to ignore him, but every time I looked up,
he was there with big googly eyes looking right at me! Yuk! I couldn’t
concentrate on what I was doing so I moved out of his line of vision. But then
he came inside and sat right in the big easy chair that focused right on me! I
couldn’t get a thing done and wasn’t smart enough to just turn my back on him
or get out of there. I lost that battle.
The next
several times when I went to study and write, similar things happened with
different people at different locations. Then I got wise to what the devil was
doing. He always goes too far and I catch him and nail him. The devil is never
on our side!
Those of us
who use Facebook, often put up pictures of our families, cute pictures of our
pets or interesting stories that we think our friends will appreciate. When our
friends look at the pictures or stories, they have the option to click the
“like” button under the story. It’s fun to get “likes” on what we post. Well,
the devil will never click the “like” button for us. He hates us and we are in a constant
war with him.
In the end we
win, but in each battle we need God’s wisdom of what to do. A person in the
military or any competitive sport knows that battles get fought and won by
different strategies. Winners are people who figure out the strategies that
work. Often, as in tennis, the competitors’ skills are equal, but the ultimate
winner is the one who endures mentally.
Our strategy
is the wisdom of God. He is a loving
Father who longs for us to cleave to Him and seek His guidance. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him” (James 1:5). So
the next time the devil tries to invade your space or you get attacked, don’t
let it go on for too long. Go to the Lord right away and find out His strategy
for the battle. “In all these things we
are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
Love, Carolyn
QUESTIONS AND EASY
CHALLENGES
1. Recall a situation
where everything was going great and something or someone broke and totally
disrupted your “happy place.” How did you respond? Did you ask Jesus what was
going on? What do you think you will do if a similar thing happens again?
2. What personal
strategies have you used against the invasion of devilish things into your
space?
3. Have you ever tried to
just ignore the devil? Or walk away? Did it work? Can you find a scripture to
back up your actions?
4. What does James 1 say
about the wisdom from God?
5. Even though the devil
doesn’t like us, what does God tell us in Romans 8:37?
