ON THE PORCH
SNEAK ATTACK
7:07 a.m.
Ordinary Wednesday morning
**The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10
I sat waiting…
expectantly, inside the house where he could not see me. Benny wasn’t traveling the path he used to, so I put my face against the window to find his position. This morning he mowed his usual track backwards. That’s okay. I had time to wait. I lifted the window and listened for the mower. I turned the faucet on, both hot and cold. I needed all the pressure I could get. I listened for a little bit longer. When the sound got louder, I pulled the trigger. I got him! SOOOO WORTH THE WAIT!
Because we hadn’t gotten much rain in almost a year, Benny hasn’t had to mow much. He could get away with weed eating around the kitchen window and call it good. We began watering, and the grass has finally decided to grow again.
Benny wanted to get out before it got hot and mow the grass. He dressed for work, got his superman hat on, and turned the volume on his earphones up. He was so preoccupied with what he was doing, he never thought about the kitchen window.
Our family has played this game since the kids were tiny. If a family member (or guest in our home) got near that north window and we knew their location ahead of time, we would try to squirt them with the kitchen hose. In fact, sometimes the kiddos would come stand under the kitchen window when they knew I was washing dishes, just be get wet. Because of this, the occupant passing that window kept an eye out for the squeak of window opening and an ear out for the water being turned on if they didn’t want to get sprayed.
Benny had his own thing going on this morning. It has been a long time since the grass has been thick enough to mow there, and he was so preoccupied with what he was doing, he never thought about driving into a trap. You’d better believe he watched that window for the rest of his rounds.
A lot of times, life does this to us, too. We discover an area in our lives that we are vulnerable to, so we tread carefully and keep our eyes and ears open to those things that might lay in wait to harm us. We keep our guard up. We avoid those susceptible places to make sure we don’t fall into their traps again. But after a while, we might feel like we’ve got a good handle on it, so we let our guard down. We get preoccupied with other things and aren’t quite as cautious anymore.
False guilt is something that sneaks up on me, and I fight it daily. Because guilt was used frequently and generously with me early on, it has become my default. Now that God has brought it to my attention, I can stand read His Words, spout scripture back and guard against it controlling me. When I do feel guilty, I can ask God if it is real and should be taken care of, or if it is false, a trap from the evil one. Sometimes I feel like I must chew on it awhile, though, before handing it over to the One who wants to take it from me and heal that area.
**Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Lions don’t walk up and introduce themselves to their intended prey. They crouch and wait until the poor animal doesn’t suspect a thing, then they attack and devour.
Make no mistake, satan still has our number and knows exactly what buttons to push to ensnare our hearts, thoughts, and actions. He also knows all the good hiding places. He sits and waits behind places we do not expect as he plans his sneak attack. The devil doesn’t want us observant and aware; he wants us asleep at the wheel, concerned with other things.
God wants us to keep our eyes and ears tuned into Him so that we see the ambushes satan and his minions set. Our families, our churches, and our communities are under attack, and we need to stay vigilant, so we are not deceived and ensnared. The best way to battle these attacks is the draw closer to God, so that we know what He says. Read the Word. Talk to seasoned Christians. Listen to the Holy Spirit speak. God doesn’t hide. He stands in the open ready to help.
LORD, it is so easy to get tangled up in satan’s lies. He knows what lever to pull, what words to whisper and what thoughts to plant to make us doubt. If he can’t make us bad, he’ll make us busy. LORD, remind each of us how important it is to stay in Your Word and know what You say, so that when we are ambushed and caught in the web of deceit, we have a way out and can combat it. You promise never to leave or forsake us. Help us stay alert so that we are not caught unaware. Thank you for Benny and his willingness to play my games. He is always such a good sport and laughed when the shock wore off and he realized what was happening. My actions were all in fun, but satan plays for keeps. Remind me of those places I need to completely avoid that have bound me before. Give me the strength to stand tall and stand guard. In Your Precious Name, Amen.
**The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Job 1:7
SAY I WON’T
**I intentionally did not capitalize satan’s name. I don’t think he deserves it.
ON THE PORCH 