There is so much going on in the world around us that it is easy for us to become distracted from keeping our focus on Christ and spiritual things. And our vision slips away from us when we turn to glance at the things of the world.
If you have ever read the first of C. S. Lewis SCREWTAPE LETTERS, you will recall that it pictures an atheist man sitting in a library. He had never thought of God until now. Somehow, as he sat there reading and contemplating and reflecting, his thoughts begin to bend toward God. Satan who writes this little letter senses the warning lights flashing. After all, he has kept the man an atheist for 22 years already and he is not about to let him go now. How should he intervene? How should he derail the man's dangerous thoughts?
After careful consideration, Satan decides to distract the man from his thoughts. He whispers to him, "aren't you hungry? Don't you think you could sort it all out better after lunch? Satan encourages the man to go out into the street and look for a restaurant. Out in the street are many sounds that distract the man and the sense of God's presence is gone. The vision loses its power and the man muddles on in his atheistic mire.
The truth of this little story comes home to us, doesn't it? Every man has his weak points in the fortress of his nature and character and no man is more susceptible to the tricks of Satan than when he is at his weakest point. Scripture advises us; "Let him who thinks he stands beware, lest he fall." Satan knows our weakness infinitely better than we do. And it is through our weaknesses that he makes his assaults.
The Evil One distracts us from the path of righteousness; the narrow road leading to eternal life with our Father. It is fatal distractions. We get distracted by the lights and glimmer and attractions. We get twisted by the tedium and the day-to-day demands. We lose sight of the vision of Christ in our lives and risk losing our very souls which of course, is Satan's greatest desire.
But James tells us to "resist the devil and he will flee." Paul said, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's scheme." Any place in our nature that is unguarded is a feasting ground for Satan and all who has turned their focus from Christ is unsafe.
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.
You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.
Blessings to all!
ohare limo service Grand Rapids .."Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More
The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More
Jesus said, "No one can see the Kingdom of Heaven... Read More
'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom... Read More
Who Are you?Have you ever asked yourself the question 'Who... Read More
"They're crazy!" That's what they're saying about us. The majority... Read More
How many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More
As a Psychiatrist I spent most of my life training... Read More
You can think of your Animal Totems as imaginary guides... Read More
I love rivers. I have for many years lived away... Read More
Most forms of psychotherapy I know either tries to help... Read More
How a Divine "Dream", gave me a Spiritual Principle for... Read More
The "Left Behind" series is inspiring, in that it makes... Read More
In earlier articles entitled "We Are Not Our Personalities", "Eliminating... Read More
There are moments in the believer's life when the Spirit... Read More
Actually, loving does not take any great effort on our... Read More
The Bible tells us that we must be led by... Read More
Most of us think of what a wonderful world this... Read More
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on... Read More
In Feng Shui, water symbolizes wealth. The word "fish" in... Read More
"There must be a higher love/Without it life is wasted... Read More
The still place is the beginning. Settle in there, ask... Read More
What really binds us to any negative emotional state in... Read More
I said something last week I haven't said in years.... Read More
On reading Susan Cato's Time Magazine Canada piece titled, "In... Read More
executive chauffeured services Barrington Hills ..The junk I'm talking about is the stuff that we... Read More
Healing is a special gift that any human being can... Read More
One of the most touching stories in New Testament scripture... Read More
The Apocalypse, or unveilling, is the name given to the... Read More
Since the beginning of time mankind has pondered, who God... Read More
Everything in the entire universe, big and small, visible and... Read More
In the movie "Forest Gump" we see Forest succeed in... Read More
The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of... Read More
One of the saddest times in any child's life is... Read More
There is an prayer process in every religion and everyone... Read More
Imagine the Bible is a sharp and deadly double-edged sword,... Read More
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught... Read More
Oxford dictionary defines PRAYER as "a request for help or... Read More
A new chapter in my life begins today, the anniversary... Read More
Prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United... Read More
In his book, Stress Without Distress, Dr. Selye suggests that... Read More
The second verse of Amy Grant's song, "Angels Watching Over... Read More
Before we tread into the domain of Past Life... we... Read More
While study and pursuit of the Kundalini is considered part... Read More
"You have not handed me over to the enemy but... Read More
One night, whilst watching TV, I understood a very useful... Read More
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Of course we may never know the real... Read More
Every soul that is currently experiencing life on any level... Read More
Everyday I am challenged to find the good in things:... Read More
If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More
Spirituality |