What’s your favorite time of year? Summer’s my hands down favorite! Sunny, warm weather. Getting dressed quickly without worrying about a jacket or coat. More daylight hours to work. Less homeschooling. And the list goes on!
However, like everything else in this sin tainted world summer has its drawbacks…like increased insect activity!
Despite the fact that we have five children, my husband, Brent, and I manage to walk and talk on a regular basis. Last Thursday after he got home from work, Brent invited me on a walk that was much more adventurous than the ones we normally take. He invited me to take a walk off the beaten path to check out our teen son’s latest project. My first response was, “NO! I don’t want to go in the woods and get bit up by mosquitoes!!!” But after a long day with the children, I really looked forward to spending some time with Brent. I also didn’t want to miss the opportunity for some adult conversation. It didn’t take much convincing to get me to change my mind, and before long we were off into the woods!
Our son was happy to see us and excited tell us all about his project. I enjoyed listening to him and spending time with Brent. At the same time, I was feeling good because I didn’t feel any mosquitoes buzzing around and trying to bite me.
My good feelings didn’t last long. Shortly after I got in the house, intense itching caused me to realize I came in contact with an unseen enemy! I don’t know for sure, but I suspect I was dinner for lots of chiggers! In my experience irritation from most mosquito bites subsides in a couple of days. But it’s been 5 days, and I am still itching from the damage done by the unseen enemy.
Friends, the Bible warns us of an unseen enemy. John 10:10 tells us, “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” This same enemy is described in I Peter 5:8 as our adversary and as a roaring lion that walks about seeking to devour us.
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, , against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:10-12
Your spouse is not the enemy! The real enemy is Satan aka the devil. Satan is a thief, and he wants to steal peace and happiness from your home. He has targeted families from the very beginning of time and is still attacking families.
Because of Satan the histories of earth’s families have been filled with sadness, sickness, and sin. This is not God’s ideal for families. God has a better way for His children. He wants husbands, wives and children to be happy, healthy, and holy.
When the unseen enemy tries to come in like a flood and fills your mind with darkness, discouragement, and doubt, cry out to God to lift up a standard against him. “Build a wall of scripture around you…commit the Scriptures to memory, and then throw right back upon Satan when he comes in with his temptations, ‘It is written (fill in the blank with appropriate words from the Bible).’ This is the way that our Lord met the temptations of Satan and resisted them.”
5 Steps to Victorious Living:
- Recognize the unseen, real enemy.
- Raise your voice in prayer.
- Recite the Word of God.
- Receive God’s power to resist temptation.
- Rejoice in your victory!