Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1Peter 5:8 ESV
The enemy… he prowls… attacks in the most unexpected places…
Today… where I relax… having knots worked out… he worked his way in…
Old… painful… memories… came to mind one after another… in the wake of a weekend away…
Each intended to plant a root of bitterness… bring about subsequent trouble…
My spirit yelled… Stop…!
And I wondered why the attack… then I remembered it’s the eve of teaching sisters to give grace…
In the battle to not be sucked into the barrage of pain… wounds… hurts… ones I considered long put away… several thoughts came to mind… in my spiritual flailing…
First… my own sin… wrapped up in the history of the memories… I was just as blind as the offender… just as guilty… in setting myself up for pain…
Second… His promise… to work all things for good… even painful… heartbreaking… sorrow-full… events… all potentially turned into something good… by loving Him…
Third… I wonder… ask… Why are You allowing this…? Haven’t I forgiven…? Can’t it just stay where it is…?!
What I learn… in fighting off attack on my spirit… is a lesson in grace…
- Remember my own culpability… when it comes to sin… when the enemy wants to plant bitterness in a heart…
- Remember what God is capable of… always sovereign… always loving… in the life of every… one…
- Trust Him… let Him stir what needs to be stirred… when He’s ready to bring real healing… pulling off a desensitized scar… nestled quietly in a wounded heart… a place where the enemy can still dig in his claws… before you are aware…
The time and place to relax physically… turned into a fierce battle spiritually…
I left exhausted… in more ways than one… with this one prayer on my heart…
Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one.
(Matthew 6:13 NIV)
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