Not Immune

 

After all these years of knowing and walking with God, you’d think I’d be immune. Immune to moments of doubt. Immune to thoughts that slither their way into my mind and whisper it all seems too good to be true.

Slither is an apt word here, isn’t it? After all, the author of those kinds of doubting thoughts is the old serpent himself—our enemy Satan. He likes to cause God’s children to doubt. He’s been doing it from the beginning, ever since he ensnared Eve in the Garden of Eden. Remember how he said, “Did God really say . . .” (Genesis 3:1)

Essentially that’s what he says to me when he plants insidious seeds of doubt in my mind. Did God really say he knows every bird in the mountains, that not one sparrow falls to the earth apart from his will? How is that possible? Did he really say he’s numbered the hairs of your head? How can he know billions of people on earth that intimately? Is he really preparing a home for you in heaven? Doesn’t everything you believe seem a little too good to be true?* (see scripture references below)

In truth, when I look at everything from my own human understanding, these things are too good to be true. I can’t wrap my finite mind around the vastness and power of God. I’m sure this is one reason we’re told in Proverbs to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding (3:5). I don’t know about you, but I can get into trouble when I lean on my own understanding, limited as it is.

And so, as the Word exhorts me to do, I “live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) “I remember the wonders he has done” (Psalm 105:5a) and how he has shown himself real in my life. I trust that “All Scripture is Godbreathed”(2 Timothy 3:16), and then I put on the armor of God and “take [my] stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11b). I am not immune to the traps of the enemy so I must do battle.

Are there are other areas—traps other than doubt—where I’m still susceptible as well? Most definitely. I suppose as long as there is breath in this human body of mine, I will not be immune to falling into sin.

It helps to be on guard, though. It helps to know my weaknesses and to be ready for the unsuspecting darts of temptation the evil one lobs at me. I’ve also got to remember that he’s not above trying to trip me up in ways I’d never think I’d fall.

What about you? Are their areas of your life where you’re not immune? Are you on guard against the devil’s schemes?

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:12

*Psalm 50:11; Matthew 10:29-30; John 14:3

*What are some ways you guard yourself against the enemy?

*Flickr photo by frielp

Considering the Bait

An unexpected visitor came strolling by our garage a couple of weeks agoa turtle. He’s the first one who’s come calling at our house in a long time. And even though our kids are grown and gone now, he still caused quite a stir.

After Don spotted him, he called for me to come see who was traveling across our driveway and down our sidewalk to the back yard. When I saw that it was a turtle, I grabbed my camera and went out to see how close I could get before he retreated into the safety of his built-in house.

Of course, I pushed it too far, and he got shy. I had to back off and give him some time before he felt comfortable enough to poke his head out and survey his surroundings once again.

In the meantime, Don checked our strawberry patch that’s past season and found one lone strawberry to use as bait to entice our skittish visitor out into another photo op for me.

Before long—and after exercising extreme caution—Mr. Turtle’s head reappeared. He spotted the strawberry but didn’t move. Instead, he considered the bait for a few minutes and then for some unknown reason turned and went the other way.

Maybe he’s the one turtle in all the world who doesn’t care for strawberries or maybe he picked up a bad vibe and wanted to avoid the crazy lady with the camera. For whatever reason, he decided against taking the bait. He evidently wanted to get out while the gittin’ was good.

What about us? Has anyone been trying to get us to take some kind of bait? Trying to lure us with something that promises to be satisfying but turns into a trap?

Let’s follow Mr. Turtle’s example and not waste much time considering the bait. Let’s turn and go the other way. Let’s get out while the gittin’s good!

“So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:12

*What do you do to resist temptation?

A Twist in Motives: The Problem of Pride

It can come out of nowhere—or be so subtle I don’t even notice it at first. A twist in motives.

My heart and thoughts can be in the right place as I start an activity—writing, singing, serving in ministry, helping someone, or even in online interactions. And then bam—a desire to impress pops up. Pride has slipped in, unwanted yet there. Whether ever so slightly or a glaring example, my motives have taken a twist. I hate it when it happens.

I’m not alone, though. A twist in motives can sneak up on any of us at any time, especially when we’re doing something we can do rather well. It’s natural—and okay—to feel good about a job well done. The problem occurs when we start to puff up and get prideful, secretly wondering if we’ve impressed certain people. It’s crazy how we get prideful over the talents and abilities God alone has given us, isn’t it?

Thankfully, the Lord has made me acutely aware of my prideful tendencies. Most of the time I immediately recognize a prideful thought and can go to battle against Satan as he tries to snare me in his trap. I confess to the Lord my twist in motives and ask Him to help me want “to bless and not impress.” (That’s a phrase I keep handy at all times—a phrase I strive to live by.)

I don’t know if any of you have a similar struggle with pride trying to weasel its way into your heart, but I think the apostle Paul may have. Whether he battled pride or a different problem, he told the believers in Rome, “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” (Romans 7:21)

Let’s continually be on guard against the enemy’s attempts to get us to slip into pride, his plans to corrupt our initial desire to serve or bless. Let’s be on the lookout for a twist in motives.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 KJV

*I’m so thankful the Lord uses me in spite of my human weaknesses. Anyone else?

*Flickr photo by .Bala

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out the first week in May. Sign up is free and to the right!

An Opportune Time

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:13

Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Savior, was well-acquainted with temptation during His days here on earth. Scripture tells us that immediately after Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit sent Him into the desert where He was tempted by Satan for forty days (Mark 1:9-13).

The gospels of Matthew and Luke show how the devil tried different tactics to cause the perfect Son of God to stumble and sin, but the enemy had no success. Jesus stood strong, using the Word of God as a shield and weapon against the devil’s schemes.

Satan knew he lost the battle in the desert. As the verse in Luke (above) points out, he left Jesus—at least for the moment. He had plans, though. Plans to attack again at an opportune time. And he did.

One of those times happened just after Jesus told his disciples He would suffer and be killed and then rise again on the third day (Mark 8:31-33). When Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for speaking of such an unthinkable thing, Jesus recognized this as another temptation—another of the enemy’s attempts to cause Him to stumble.

Satan must have thought Jesus would be more vulnerable as the time drew nearer for Him to face death. Definitely, an opportune time to attack again. Combine that with the appeal of one of Jesus’ close friends, and he had the perfect opportunity indeed. But Jesus stood strong once again. “‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said.’” (Mark 8:33) He was ready to resist. Ready for Satan’s attacks during opportune moments.

Are we ready to resist when the enemy comes at us during times when we’re vulnerable or caught unaware? What do our opportune times look like?

Our opportune moments could come when we’re exhausted or sick or worried. They might happen when we experience either failure or success or when we’re on the cusp of a new venture or ministry (like Jesus’ temptation in the desert). We’re especially vulnerable when we’ve neglected time in the Word or in prayer—when we’ve allowed ourselves to grow distant from Jesus or have become complacent in our spiritual lives.

Let’s be alert to Satan’s tactics. He will wait for an opportune time, and then he’ll be there, ready to tempt us. Will we be ready to resist?

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

*What can you do to be ready for Satan’s attacks?

*Flickr photo by seyed mostafa zamani

New Year, New Tricks

You know the old saying about old dogs and new tricks, right? Well, the new year has found this old… fashioned gal :) needing to learn a new trick or two.

Not only did my husband get me a Kindle for Christmas, but we bought our first-ever brand new car over the holidays (photos below for your viewing pleasure :)). It was time for an update, and we decided to splurge on brand new in honor of our 35th wedding anniversary last month.

Getting new things is always fun, but in today’s world a new purchase many times means some sort of new technology to master as well. And for us old… fashioned folks :), that can mean quite the learning curve along with a measure of frustration. So even though I’m technologically challenged, I’m determined to do my best to learn the new tricks needed to stay at least half-way current with today’s world — and our recent purchases :)

I’ve already learned how to download books (the free ones!) to my Kindle and now I need to learn the ins and outs of navigating all its features so I can make the most of it. I’m also busy getting acquainted with our new car but still need to figure out how to input phone numbers for its hands-free Bluetooth technology. Oh my, Calgon, take me away! :)

Did any new gadgets come your way this Christmas that have you needing to learn some new tricks? Or do you have a goal this year of acquiring a new skill? If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or frustrated at the prospect of it all, remember to call on our Heavenly Father for help. Remember, He specializes in new things!

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

*Flickr photo above by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Creative Commons License; our photos below of our 2011 Nissan Altima.