Have you ever noticed that when you are under a spiritual attack, it never seems to be in an area of "weakness"? You know the areas of your life that are a struggle and you are working on them, your guard is up. Then there are the areas that are pretty good, but you can usually see something coming and get prepared. Then there are the areas of life that you feel confident in - maybe this is just me, but I know there are areas of my life I feel like saying "alright God, no worries on this one, I got it!" Then, boom. Satan hits. It's a sneaky attack, maybe with a conversation or two. Maybe he gives you something you need in a way you shouldn't be getting it. Then, maybe a physical sickness or something to keep you away from where to need to be to get your faith and mind right. All of a sudden out of nowhere you find yourself slipping down a very slippery slope and teetering on the edge of falling off the cliff completely.
Here is where I am so thankful today: as I look back over this 4-5 day battle, I see how the small seeds of doubt and confusion all were planted - not only over prior days or weeks, but months. I see how Satan was able to create a little place in my heart for impurity. I also see God's hand at work. Every place I see Satan, I see Jesus. My decisions are always my choice, but I see the stronger Satan pulls, the stronger God fights for His daughter.
Imagine, while you are walking with Jesus, you want to sit down for a minute, tie your shoelace, something happens to draw your eyes off the path. Once your eyes are looking into the grass it becomes easier to be distracted by something shiny along the wayside. You hear, "be careful, come back to the path..." your response? "it's ok, don't worry! I got this!" As the you go farther off the path, the warnings continue "maybe that's not such a good idea, you might start to fall..." maybe you start to listen, but maybe not. Then, you feel yourself start slipping and suddenly Jesus is there "this is a bad idea, you're going to get hurt. Let's go." He follows you as you continue to slide. You are teetering on the edge and He's standing there next to you with his hand out "come on, let's go back."
I am so thankful to have a God who cares so much about me. I am so blessed to have a God who speaks to me through unlikely people and reminds me of who I am and who I am called to be. I am thankful for the boldness of friends who are willing to let Jesus use them to administer warnings, and to offer me a hand and walk with me back to the path.
There have been times in my life I have stood teetering on the edge and still looked Jesus in the face and arrogantly replied "I told you already, I got this" before falling or jumping on down in search of something that's never quite as shiny or exciting as I anticipated. I am thankful that those times are less and less as I walk and keep my eyes on Jesus and the beauty of the path that he has created for me. Sure, a piece of foil from someone's hot dog last week or a piece of glass from a broken beer bottle might look shiny or exciting, but how much more beautiful and real are the roses and bluebells God planted for me?
As you start your walk back on the path, there are no harsh words, no judgements or told-you-so's, then, you look up and see the most beautiful tree in bloom, "I'm so glad you're walking with me again," Jesus says with a smile "I've been wanting to show you this."
Here is where I am so thankful today: as I look back over this 4-5 day battle, I see how the small seeds of doubt and confusion all were planted - not only over prior days or weeks, but months. I see how Satan was able to create a little place in my heart for impurity. I also see God's hand at work. Every place I see Satan, I see Jesus. My decisions are always my choice, but I see the stronger Satan pulls, the stronger God fights for His daughter.
Imagine, while you are walking with Jesus, you want to sit down for a minute, tie your shoelace, something happens to draw your eyes off the path. Once your eyes are looking into the grass it becomes easier to be distracted by something shiny along the wayside. You hear, "be careful, come back to the path..." your response? "it's ok, don't worry! I got this!" As the you go farther off the path, the warnings continue "maybe that's not such a good idea, you might start to fall..." maybe you start to listen, but maybe not. Then, you feel yourself start slipping and suddenly Jesus is there "this is a bad idea, you're going to get hurt. Let's go." He follows you as you continue to slide. You are teetering on the edge and He's standing there next to you with his hand out "come on, let's go back."
I am so thankful to have a God who cares so much about me. I am so blessed to have a God who speaks to me through unlikely people and reminds me of who I am and who I am called to be. I am thankful for the boldness of friends who are willing to let Jesus use them to administer warnings, and to offer me a hand and walk with me back to the path.
There have been times in my life I have stood teetering on the edge and still looked Jesus in the face and arrogantly replied "I told you already, I got this" before falling or jumping on down in search of something that's never quite as shiny or exciting as I anticipated. I am thankful that those times are less and less as I walk and keep my eyes on Jesus and the beauty of the path that he has created for me. Sure, a piece of foil from someone's hot dog last week or a piece of glass from a broken beer bottle might look shiny or exciting, but how much more beautiful and real are the roses and bluebells God planted for me?
As you start your walk back on the path, there are no harsh words, no judgements or told-you-so's, then, you look up and see the most beautiful tree in bloom, "I'm so glad you're walking with me again," Jesus says with a smile "I've been wanting to show you this."
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