The Holy Alarm

                    “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 

II Corinthians 11:14 (NIV)

   My daughter has different identifying rings on her cell phone for each family member who calls her. I found out recently, quite by accident, that she has an especially “unique” one for me.

    She had misplaced her phone, so she asked me to call her from mine. Imagine my surprise when I heard a male British voice call out repeatedly from her coat pocket: “Warning! Warning! It’s your mother calling!”

   We all had a good laugh over it, but a thought occurred to me: what if we had a warning like that in our lives, the minute Satan was getting ready to throw sin in front of us? “Warning! Warning! It’s the Evil Liar attacking!” That identifying ring would instantly let us know what was about to happen. But do we need a warning like that?

    We are told in II Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Wait a minute. Doesn’t I Peter 5:8 say something entirely different? It says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” So which is it? Well, both descriptions are correct.

    Satan is sneaky, and he does everything he can to keep us from knowing when he is going to attack – even to the point of disguising himself. He may try to sneak into your heart in the form of pride, or he may try to sway your decisions with the promise of money or power. He may roar into your life through drugs, or he may be the seemingly innocent voice who whispers of a more “fun” life outside your marriage.

   Since Satan’s assaults against us take so many different forms, do we need an identifying “ring” in our lives to warn us whenever he is attacking? The good news is that we have the Holy Spirit living in us and HE warns us every day through the Word when we are being attacked – subtly or not so subtly – by Satan. Nothing gets by the Spirit, but it is up to us to be in the Word and to be listening for His warnings to us.

   How can you recognize the warnings of the Spirit? By planting yourself in the Bible. By prayer every day, not just when problems hit. By asking the Spirit to speak to your heart and by listening for his encouragement. By seeking God’s will in everything you do. Satan cannot stay in the presence of God. So keep your heart open. Warning! Warning! It’s the Spirit calling!

    Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit you sent to live in me and warn me to be on guard when Satan is attacking. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like Satan blindsided you with sin?

• Did you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you? Why or why not?

Apply

• With every situation that comes into your life that you are unsure of, pray this immediately: “Is this from You, God?”

• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through Scripture for answers and write each one down in your journal. 

Power 

• II Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

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

• John 14:26 (NIV) “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

 

 

 

Don't Ignore the Warning!

 “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.”

I Corinthians 10:11 (NIV)

     “What in the world is going on?” I thought to myself the other day, as I watched arms waving and heard horns honking from car after car as drivers tried frantically to flag down a woman in a little red van getting ready to pull onto the interstate.

    A few seconds later, I spotted the reason: a Yeti coffee mug and a camera were hitching a ride on the van's roof. The woman behind the wheel kept driving, completely oblivious to the people trying to help the “hitchhikers” on her roof avoid a messy and disastrous end to their ride.

    She finally glanced at the drivers but ignored their frantic waving and gesturing and drove on. Somewhere down the highway, as she picked up speed, the coffee mug and camera would fly off the van roof and smash onto the highway. Had she simply stopped long enough to see why the drivers were gesturing toward the top of her van, she would have immediately realized that they were trying to warn her of a sure catastrophe.

    God’s word is full of warnings and caution signs designed to “flag us down” before we, like the van driver, realize too late the mistake we have made. So many times we face decisions in our lives and feel overwhelmed, vulnerable, and weak. Instead of going before the Lord and asking for Godly wisdom, we listen to the “wisdom” of the world, ignore true guidance, and make decisions based on what will make us feel good. And the result? Disaster.

    He also knows our enemy will always be on the attack, and we cannot let up for a single minute as we guard against him. We are told in I Peter 5:8 to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Now that is a warning we all need to heed!

    Just as an earthly father warns his children about dangers around them, how much more our Heavenly Father continually cautions us to keep our focus on Him as He points us in the right direction for our lives. And if we don’t heed His warnings? If we ignore all His attempts to get our attention? Then we will face the consequences of deciding to ignore His warnings and continue down the path we have chosen.

    I urge you today not to ignore the “waving arms” in your path. They may be in the form of counsel from a Godly Christian friend, a devotional you read one morning, or a verse in the Bible that speaks to your heart. No matter the form they may take, please recognize them as our Father’s longing to “flag us down” and direct our paths away from flying mugs and cameras. 

    Father, forgive me for ignoring you when you warn me to look to you for guidance in decisions I am making. Help me to seek your will in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Can you think of a time when you felt the Lord placing warning signs in your path, but you still went ahead with your plans?

• What were your reasons for ignoring those warning signs? What was the result?

Apply

• Ask a Godly prayer warrior who is continually in the Word to be an accountability partner with you and to pray with you as decisions require answers in your life.

• Keep a prayer journal of Scripture that encourages you to seek the Lord in all areas of your life before making important decisions.

Power

• I Corinthians 10:11 (NIV) “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.”

• I Corinthians 4:14 (NIV) “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.”

• Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ignoring the Joy of Anticipation

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

    After all these years, I still remember that joy of anticipation! Our town had a yearly event that every child looked forward to with an eagerness that could not be compared to anything else: the El Dorado Picnic. Every July, a carnival came to our town, and Main Street became a never-ending delight of a tilt-a-whirl and bumper cars, a huge Ferris wheel, and a merry-go-round. Oh, and the cotton candy and candied apples, and arcade!  

    We would meet our friends at the city park and then get in line for every ride the carnival had - over and over and over. The rides were expensive to us. A quarter a ride is a million dollars to a 10-year-old, and none of us were rich. 

    So we all did odd jobs and saved every penny we made for the rides, and we were beyond thrilled. There was a joy of anticipation at the reward for saving all our money: laughter and screams of delight as we and our friends spent hours together at the picnic. “I can’t wait for the picnic!” we would tell each other on the phone as we planned which ride we would line up for first.

    But with each payment for a job accomplished, our parents reminded us of an important fact. “The money you save is for the picnic. But if you decide to spend it on something else before the picnic is here, you will not be given more money to spend. It’s up to you. Make smart choices.”

    I thought I would have no problem. I knew my priorities, and I determined to stick to them. Until we went to town to shop. And I saw the little pink purse with the chain strap and pink feathers on the front. And I had my money - my picnic ride money - with me. I remember staring at the purse and struggling with my choice. Do I save my money for what is coming - the rides with friends - or do I spend it now because I really like that purse? 

    I knew I had made a mistake as I held the purse on my lap on the drive home. I had chosen something I thought would make me happy right now, and instead knew too late that I had given up my joy of anticipation for something that would all too soon break or go out of style and would never compare to the joy of being with my friends. 

   I understand that as humans, our perspective is narrow, and is like trying to see the entire moon by looking through a straw. But God’s perspective is never-ending! He sees the entire universe that He created! We have become so conditioned in this world to not wait but to expect whatever we want right now! Maybe it’s a bigger home that we know we cannot afford yet, or sex before marriage with someone we believe we love and might want to marry. The joy of anticipation has often been replaced by less than God’s best for us. 

    Just as our parents explained their reasoning for us saving our money, we also must remember that God’s intentions for our lives are good. When we trust Him, no matter what life brings, we can hold on to hopeful expectation because He wants the joy of anticipation to be ours! The beautiful part of God’s love for us is this: He forgives, He pulls us back to Him, and He encourages us to start over so we may all experience the joy of anticipation. 

    Father, so many times I haven’t waited for your best for me, but have chosen unwisely. Help me to focus on the joy of anticipation with each choice I make. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever gone ahead of God and chosen something over a future choice?

• How did you feel if you realized you should have chosen differently?

Apply

• Write down future goals that you would like to achieve or accomplish.

• Record possible outcomes of not waiting. Pray over each decision.

Power

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Psalm 27:14 (NIV) “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

• Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Quiet on the Set!

                                      “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . .”

Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

    I was watching a documentary on how movies are made, from beginning to end. But what was most interesting to me was what happened before the actual taping of each scene.

    Activity on the set was crazy! There were last-minute makeup and hair touchups as one person ran over to straighten a collar on an actor while the lighting was corrected, and props were moved to their correct position by two more workers. It reminded me of ants scurrying to find cover as rain began to pour on their home.

    Then, suddenly, four short words were spoken, and everything immediately changed: “Quiet on the set!” Instantly, there was complete silence. After several seconds, an assistant yelled “Action!” and everyone focused on one goal: to film the scene.

    It reminded me of how my life is - a lot of the time. There are Bible studies and speaking engagements and writing deadlines and retired teacher meetings and doctor appointments and meals to prepare and laundry to wash.

    There are groceries to buy and a lawn to be mowed, and oil to be changed in my car. There are walls to paint and kids to pick up from school and ball games and email, and Facebook. And on and on and on . . .

    None of those activities are bad but when I do not take the time to first simply stop and listen to the Lord – to be “Quiet on the set!” and acknowledge Him as the Creator of the Universe – then I completely miss what His “Action!” is for me for the day.

    My encouragement to you is this: before one activity is begun, before you make your to-do list with everything that has to be addressed, climb out of your bed and kneel down and simply say “Lord, here I am. . . still before you, acknowledging you as my God, my Father, my Daddy, my Creator. I am yours. My day is yours. Please direct my day to focus on you. I promise you that God will give you clear direction as you look to Him and become “quiet on the set.”

    Lord, each day is yours, from beginning to end. I am still before you now, asking that you direct my every thought and action this day and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do you ever have those days where your list of activities to get done gets longer instead of shorter, and you don’t seem to accomplish anything?

• Did you seek the stillness of the presence of the Lord before you addressed that list?

Apply

• Make your list of activities for the day, place it on your kitchen table, and place your Bible on top of it.

• Sit silently before the Lord for two minutes as you ask Him to direct those activities and your path for the day. Listen for His answers through His Word.

Power

• Psalm 37:7 (NIV) “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . .”

• Psalm 46:10 (NIV) “Be still and know that I am God.”

• Philippians 4:6 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

You Can Walk In A Basketball Game?

                               “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

I John 2:6 (NIV)

    As we walked into the gym, I whispered to my husband, “There’s Brian,” and pointed to the tall, dark-haired young man on the basketball court. “He is terrific,” I continued as we sat down to watch the game. “His Christian faith is very important to him, and he is such a great role model to talk to younger kids about making good choices. He lives what he believes, and everybody knows it.” My husband responded, “That’s a big responsibility for a boy in high school.”

     Not five seconds later, Brian and an opponent began jockeying for position during a play, but the intensity quickly escalated to bumping and shoving – hard – and then a whistle from the referee and a double foul call. My husband glanced at me with eyebrows raised, but before I could say one word, Brian reached over, patted his opponent on the rear, and said, “Sorry about that.”

     He could have huffed and puffed and stomped around, but he didn’t. He could have scowled at the referee as many ball players do when they don’t agree with a call. But to Brian, it was not a question of whether or not he had fouled; it was a matter of respecting the referee who made the call. Brian wanted to be a Christian example, no matter where he was or what he was doing.

     I cannot help but think of him when I read I John 2:6. Not only did Brian claim Jesus as his Lord, but he desired to walk with Him every day in every part of his life. Not just when he “walked” into church on Sunday or into the school on Tuesday or when he “walked” to Wednesday night youth group, but every single day and – yes – even during basketball games.

     I have always said that more than anything, I want Jesus in control of my life and for others to know Him because I am trying to live as He did. But in all honesty, I don’t always “walk the walk” everywhere I go. I’ve been to movies where I would be embarrassed if the Lord were sitting next to me. And I have had conversations that Jesus would not want to be a part of because they did not resemble the attitude Christians should have at all.

     If I am going to claim Him as my Lord, it has to be a full-time, 100% relationship. He has to be welcome everywhere I go, as I look to Him as my example. Period. I thank the Lord for Brian’s willingness to walk as Jesus did, no matter where he was. Even in a basketball game.

      Father, I long to walk as you did so that others see you through me. May you be a part of my life every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

. .R.A.P. it up . . . 

 Reflect

•  Do you have any places that you do not “take” Jesus with you during the day or week?

•  If so, why are you not including Him in every minute of your day?

 Apply

•  Journal your schedule for a week and see if there are times that you do not “walk as Jesus did.”

• Write the Power Scriptures on note cards, keep them with you, and pull them out wherever needed to remind you to follow the example of Jesus.  

 Power

•  I John 2:6 (NIV) “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

• I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

• Matthew 5:16 (NIV) “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”