Prancing around in a cute suit

It's not a new idea that the enemy doesn't present himself in his true form. It wouldn't be very hard to resist a the common illustration of a horned demon with red skin and obvious ill intent. The Bible says to resist the devil, which makes it clear that he reveals himself in cunning desirable ways. It also says resist him and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Unfortunately it is appealing to have our own desires met. When we are in the habit of seeking our own satisfaction the traps become much more alluring. But when we see his charm as as cheap as a grinning wall flower that wets two fingers to sleek down his eyes brows followed by an overly confident point accompanied by a wink, he loses all power when we laugh in his face and go about our fathers business.

When our desires line up with that of the Lord's he satisfies us. When we satisfy ourselves with temporary glorification we remain unfulfilled. The devil is as embarrassing as a damsel purposefully dropping her napkin and bashfully batting her eyelashes for implied assistance. Surely the shame of rejection will make her run away and reconsider her approach.

He is our adversary. He will continue to try daily to trick us, taking on different forms that speak to our innermost longing to be free of pain. See him for what he is, but more importantly seek God for who He is and who you are in Him. That is, complete, whole, lacking nothing, and, might I add. Adorable.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I've Found Jesus

Image
Reflection: I'm reconnecting with the early days of my faith by listening to Delirious? Cutting Edge. It's a huge record that has always sounded like what the music of heaven from the voices of men will sound like. And whenever I listen to that record I'm summoned back to my grandparents house, in my bedroom, also my mom's bedroom in her time, praising my ass off! All the feelings come back of that new sense of redemption and enormous love, when I was bursting at the seams for God. Now I am still bursting at the seams, but it's a little bit more due to middle agedness, and maybe less to do about the fire of God. But I pray that it is shifting.  I was curious about Delirious?'s front man, Martin Smith, because he had such an impact on me. I read an article and what I got from it was sort of what I got from reading the Lecrae book, I Am Restored: there are these two phases of a life. There's an early part that is more power than wisdom, and then a later part t
Read more

I Vow an Ego Crushing Vow

Image
Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself, it means thinking of yourself less - Ken Blanchard. Jess and I had a conversation last night about assumptions and expectations. I can't remember how the conversation began, but she concluded that we both drive each other crazy and I shared with her my frustration with her assuming that I am incompetent and other things I cannot remember. Alcohol. One thing that we agreed on is that the things that get in the way are tiny little things. They are inconsequential, forgettable. Ego! The ego is at work in us! I did a quick search "how to deal with ego in marriage" and the top hits were articles on how ego destroys marriage, how ego is coming from a place of deficit as an individual, a need to be right. I think that the "wanting to be right" part is more me, while Jess is more "give me what I want". The bottom line is that the central figure is me, myself, and I. Not a good basis for relationship.
Read more

"Follow Me" Crazy Horse Summons Jesus Christ

Listening to an audiobook by Joseph Marshall III, a Native American in story and upbringing. He tells stories of Crazy Horse and his relations that are reminiscent of Jesus. I'd like to share a few of those stories one being about a man who follows the path alone and finds a path of self-discovery found himself in the end but not the beginning. He, in his isolation, was observant about his surroundings; he became the best at knowing the land knowing the ways that you can find shelter. And peace. There came a time when the warriors were away and this man had to be relied on to get the women and the elders to shelter. from that time on he became known as the man who knows the land. There's another story written about Crazy Horse where a man came to him and said I want to join your people your community and Crazy Horse said to him kill your horse and this didn't make sense to the people that he lived with and the community because your horse is your livelihood. What Crazy Ho
Read more