Well, as some of you might have noticed, I haven't been posting on here twice weekly like I had originally committed, let alone daily posts. As I was sitting quietly this morning, the things that have been happening in my life played themselves out in my brain. Some of you already know these things, but I'm on my third antibiotic for a sinus/bronchial infection that just will not go away, the electrical outlets in our kitchen were malfunctioning which caused us to have no telephone for two days, work became more demanding, and this was on top of the already business going on in our lives. Some of you might be thinking - okay, so what??? So she has an infection, and her kitchen outlets weren't working, work is always demanding, and doesn't she have a cellphone? What's the big deal???
You're so very right - what's the big deal?? But some of you who experience things such as losing keys (and you know who you are, ahem!), being late for work or a meeting, sitting in traffic when you're already late for an appointment allow the little things to ruin part or even your entire day. And to be truthful, most times it IS the little things that infiltrate our lives and steal our joy.
When I was in my 20s, I had bought a new brand new, shiny, red Acura Integra. I had allowed my sister to drive my brand new, shiny, red car while I was in a class at Pitt. When class was over, I came out of the building, saw where Cheri had parked, and started walking toward the car. Immediately, she popped out of the driver's seat, and very quickly came around to the passenger side of the car. Visibly upset, she blurted out, "Alesia, I'm so sorry, I wrecked your car!!!" and she began to choke up. I looked at the front of the car, it was fine, the sides seemed okay, it was the back bumper that had been smashed in - she didn't see a 3-foot pole behind the car when she was backing up and hit it. Believe it or not, I didn't freak out. I looked at the damage, which really wasn't much, looked at Cheri and told her it was okay. It wasn't a big deal. We got in the car and went on with our lives.
Okay, now before you start thinking that I'm a saint for not really getting mad, I need to admit something to you. I've always been "pretty" okay (not perfectly okay understand because I'm human) with the big stuff. It's the little stuff that will drive me over the edge. Jack, my husband, can attest to this and so can my close friends. He lost his job a week before our wedding. Sure, I was concerned but I knew he would find another one and he eventually did, but don't let me come home from being out for the afternoon to find the kitchen filled with dishes that weren't there when I left - you'll definitely see steam coming from my ears.
We all know who Satan is, right? John 10:10 describes Satan as the one who "comes to steal, kill and destroy." There is such a thing as spiritual warfare - it's real and it's powerful. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour." Now I'm not saying that every little thing that happens in our day is caused by the devil. Oftentimes our flesh and our free gets us into sinful situations, but when one circumstance after another after another postpones what God's will is for our lives, let me tell you, it's probably the devil's warfare. He does not want us to do what God's will is for our lives. Ever since I started this blog, something seems to get in my way of writing it.
The good news is the same verse, Ephesians 6:12, goes on to say that Jesus "came to give us life and have it to the full" which is awesome news!! We don't have to be victims of Satan's power. So how do we battle the warfare? By doing what 1 Peter 5:8 above tells us - "be sober, be vigilant." By keeping on and pressing through with continuing to read our Bibles - ooooh, the devil hates when we do that - by learning verses that we can recite when warfare enters our lives. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." There are many good Bible studies on spiritual warfare, my personal favorite is Kay Arthurs, Lord, Is it Warfare? Teach Me to Stand. I had attended this study many years ago and really opened my eyes. It might be worth pulling it out and perhaps starting a study. If any of you who live close by would have any interest in this, give me a holler by posting here on this blog or emailing me at matoteks@comcast.net.
Let me close by saying this - no matter what the devil or life's circumstances throws our way, everything we need for the battle is in the Bible - let's read our Bibles so we know how to stand - isn't that wonderful news?
My prayer for us today: "Lord, you are so good and we thank you for all of the blessings you have given us. We know we can't stand alone in this world. We need you and we desperately need your word, Lord. Make us thirsty for your Word so that we may put on your armor and be ready for any battle." Amen and Amen!!!
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