Old Encouragement

Recently I was cleaning out my email and I came across one titled "meant to encourage but I do go on".  I had sent it to my younger sister.  I don't know what was going on in her life at the time, but the contents make a good post for today ~


When Scott and I were house shopping, we encountered a vicious dog at one of the homes.  I had just taken in the back yard, and glanced up at the blue sky above us when he came trotting over to us - sights set on three year old Hannah while I held the toddler Micah.  I stopped in my tracks and fear gripped my heart. He growled while showing all his teeth in a mouth dripping with foam.
My heart raced - I knew if we ran he would run after us.  We turned and walked calmly back towards the car.  Scott had picked up Hannah, but the dog was not backing down.  All the while his menacing presence made me want to scream out in fear. When we started to put the kids in the car - it started to bark at us.  I wondered if a neighbor would hear the commotion and come to help. As the minutes dragged on, the dog didn't tire - and yet it never lunged at us either. Not once did that dog try to take a bite. Scott had already figured this out -  this barking maniac was menacing, but he didn't seem to put his money where his mouth was. :) Scott decided the only way to deal with him was lunge toward him and see if he would cower in fear.
He puffed himself up - put his arms out and growled back at the dog while taking a huge leap in his direction. This behavior was more than the panicked dog had planned for.  He recoiled, darted and ran away.  All that bravado without any of the bite.

We have an enemy. He seeks to divert us from the course set by God. "A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance."  Our enemy cannot destroy us, but he will work hard to distract us. It seems he most likes to startle us when we have just closed our eyes and turned our chins up to enjoy the "blue sky".  Without warning he jumps around the corner and terrifies us with his rabid barking. We stop in our tracks and fear grips us.  But this enemy is all bravado. No matter how good he is at barking, "he has already been rendered impotent. One full-on victorious leap by the people of God will send him running."

I am studying about the devils attempts to distract us this week and much of my language today comes out of what God is doing in my heart tonight.  Just never let him allow you to think for a moment that God is not faithfully executing His perfect plan.

Thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him Who loved us.

Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved [sister], be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

YOU are a victorious overcomer, completely capable by God's Spirit to stand against the attacks of the enemy.  Trust the Lord!!  He will deliver you from this already beaten foe!!

If ever I was waxing eloquent, it was that day!! Oh my!! But isn't it true -  Put on the armor of God that you may be able to stand, (and somewhere, it continues) having done all to stand.