Protecting What's Important

It seemed he was taunting me. Every time I looked out the window, the stealthy squirrel was making his way off the deck, clutching a round prize in his paws. I didn't see him snap the tomatoes off the vines - I merely witnessed the aftereffects.   Although, once, he did stop on the stairs, grace me with his best profile and promptly take a bite of the stolen fruit.

Within two days, the squirrels had stripped my four plants of their ripening tomatoes. I was dumbfounded and at a loss as to how to prevent their aggravating thievery. Guns, traps, and cages came to mind - but there were no longer any tomatoes to protect.

Satan's tricks can be just as subtle as those of the bushy-tailed squirrels. As I read and listen to God's Word:

*a seed of truth takes root

*the Holy Spirit provides favorable conditions for the seed to sprout

*the sprout begins to grow

The enemy isn't pleased. Distractions come with the ability to stunt the growth that's taking place. Jesus warns us of the enemy's plan, "The sower soweth the word...And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful," (Mark 4:14,18-19; KJV).

If I don't heed Jesus' counsel, my life can become as empty as my tomato plants - with no evidence that I'm a child of the King. So how do I protect the seeds of truth God has planted in my heart?

*submit myself to the Lord

*resist Satan's distractions

*confess my sin

*draw near to God

The apostle James, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, put it this way, "Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded," (James 4:7-8).

Remember my tomato plants? My husband ended up moving them onto our front porch - where they get plenty of sunlight and the squirrels can't reach them. And I can say with a smile, more tomatoes are starting to grow.

Do you feel you've been distracted by the tricks of the enemy? What step will you take today to protect the precious seeds of biblical truth in your life?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the warning given in Your Word about the tricks of the enemy. Help me to submit to Your will, resist the devil, confess my sin, and draw near to You. I desire to produce 'fruit' in my life that will bring You honor and glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

*I'm hosting over at Living by Grace today. Come join in the discussion!

Does Anger Control You?

Anger. My dictionary defines it as, "a feeling of extreme displeasure, hostility, indignation, or exasperation toward someone or something," (The American Heritage Dictionary, 1982). I have to admit, I've experienced this emotion on many occasions. From the careless driver who cuts me off in traffic, to the willful disobedience of a child, anger has a way of coming to the surface and demanding action. How do I deal with it?

I'm a tea drinker. There's just something about the aroma and light flavor of a cup of tea that makes me smile. I've also learned a thing or two from the many teabags I've used over the years. As soon as I pour hot water over the teabag, the water is infused with the color of the contents of the bag. It happens in the space of a few seconds - what's on the inside of the teabag, comes out. In the case of tea, that's a good thing. Where anger is concerned, a different story.

Cain and Abel were the first brothers in history. Growing up, I'm sure they had their fair share of squabbles. But one day, Cain gave into his anger, with disastrous results. When the young men offered their sacrifices to the Lord, Abel's sacrifice was accepted, but Cain's was rejected. Cain was mad. In fact, he was furious.

God gave Cain the opportunity to bring a different offering. Instead of offering the right kind of sacrifice, Cain allowed a seed of anger to germinate in his heart, toward his brother. Before long, the 'seed' had grown into a tree. Cain acted on his anger, "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him," (Genesis 4:8; KJV).

If I'm not careful, I find myself allowing anger to take control, just like Cain. I say things that are unkind, and do things that I later regret. But the choice is mine. Having accepted Christ as my Savior, I have a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). And the power of the Holy Spirit enables me to choose to respond to life's irritations with love, patience, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Today I have the opportunity to yield to the Lord and allow Him to guide my actions when I experience anger. His Word reminds me that anger is just an emotion - it's what I do with it that's important, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath,"(Ephesians 4:26).

Remember my cup of tea? What's on the inside WILL eventually come out. That's why it's so important to meditate on the right things, "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things," (Philippians 4:8). My prayer is that, when irritations come, my response will be to overflow with the good things of the Spirit!

Do you allow anger to control you? What step will you take today to have a godly response next time you're faced with anger?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating us with emotions. Forgive me when I react to anger with harmful words and actions. Help me to yield to the Holy Spirit and meditate on the right things, in order to respond in the right way when things upset me. In Jesus' name, Amen.






*I'm hosting over at Living by Grace today. Come join in the discussion!

Holes

Little whirlpools form above the holes. It's easy to see where the water is seeping through the ground. Something has to be done to plug the openings so the water level of the pond can rise. The pond was designed as a place for the water to collect before spilling over a waterfall and into the creek. It was never meant to collect and stagnate. The holes have created a problem. The water has found an alternate path to follow, and is no longer flowing as it should.

Clay to the rescue. My husband, Steve, has spent countless hours digging clay out of the hillside, and transporting it by the bucketful to patch the holes. Beginning on the left side of the pond, and gradually working his way to the right, every visible opening has been filled with the pasty substance. Ever so slowly the level of the pond is beginning to rise. Once all the holes have been located and filled, the water will flow out of the pond as it was meant to.

My life as a believer often imitates my pond. Strange statement, but true. The Holy Spirit dwells in me as the 'living water' that's meant to point others to Christ and draw them to Him. This 'water' is alive and active. Jesus offered this description, "...the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life," (John 4:14b; KJV).

As long as I follow the Lord, and remain submitted to Him, the supply is bountiful and overflowing. He provides the power I need to complete each task, resist temptation, love others, persevere. And the list goes on. When I begin leaning on my own understanding, the 'holes' begin forming and I get into trouble.

In my own strength and wisdom, I forget to tap into God's power supply, and find myself looking elsewhere. I become consumed with the cares and insecurities around me, and my focus becomes self-serving. I stagnate and no longer fulfill the purpose God has for me.

I can't use clay to fill the 'holes' that have drained me, but applying the truth of God's Word provides the strongest 'patch' available. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing," (John 15:4-5).

As A.J. Russell put it so beautifully, "For straying, My children, there is no cure except to keep so close to Me that nothing, no interest, no temptation, no other - can come between us," (God Calling, p. 168). To stay close to the Savior, the 'holes' need to be identified and patched. I need to submit my will to the Lord. And I need to stay focused on Him. Then that well of water within me will be able to spring up as it was meant to - bringing honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are there 'holes' that need to be patched in your life? What will you do today to restore the well of water within you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me the need to patch the 'holes' in my life. Help me to stay so close to You that nothing comes between us. Allow me to be that well of water that springs up and points others to a wonderful Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.