The Sneak

Some enemies come as calamities through the front door, loud and clamorous, clearly seeking to kill, steal and destroy our lives.

Others take a gentler, more subtle approach. They crawl in the back window. They come in a harmless form, even offering to help in the kitchen.

You know, we go through life experiences and make choices on how to handle and adapt to them .. It’s a natural defense mechanism. However, if we are not conscious or intentional about our futures, and seeking out what God wants to do, we can begin to expect past negative experiences to play out once again in the future.

The adaptations may seem like a blessing. They slip under our “search and destroy” radar. But as time goes on, they subtly shape our reality and alter the course of our lives. Sneaky bastards.

They have the same outcome. Simply put, one seeks to shake and scare and send us running, whilst the other seeks us as an ally to the same end.

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I’m not talking about people. I’m talking about Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

I’m talking about the little self-defeating thoughts that come at us, sometimes loudly, causing a raucous, and sometimes quietly, slowly gaining our acceptance. Don’t believe a lie because it’s what is fed to you, don’t believe a lie because it’s what you see or hear, but rather, seek the knowledge of who God is and who He sees you to be.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 states, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

The Message version puts it like this, “The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.” (v. 3-6)

Let’s seek out who God is, and what He has to say about us! He did create us, after all .. If I care to understand something, I consult the manual, I ask questions, I seek truth.

I’m not out to destroy my enemies, “per se” .. I’m out to make sure I’m on the same side as God is! The end is the same .. but the focus gets the job done with way more benefits and lasting results.

love you! Be blessed!

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