By: Gina Caswell Kelly
I am fighting an ongoing battle at my house. A battle against gophers. They are determined to take over my yard. During the spring and summer months, when I am outside more, I battle them ferociously! I stomp on the mounds they make. (a Game Warden told me that frustrates them. It does not.) I have put human hair around their mounds. (I was told that the smell of humans is offensive to them. It is not.) I have poisoned them. (I was told that the poison gas pellets down in their den will run them right out of Dodge City. It does not.) I battle them in the Spring and Summer relentlessly. But, when the cooler weather comes and I am not out in the yard as much, I kind of forget about them.
I went outside today and noticed several fresh mounds all over the yard. Front and back! When I let up on trying to stop them, they welcomed all their friends and family over. They now think it is their yard, and not mine.
As I was staring out my kitchen window at about five fresh new mounds, it occurred to me that this is how sin gains a position in our lives. As long as we stay alert and ready to fight, it is hard for sin to get a good hold. But, the minute we let our guard down, the devil sneaks in with an attack. He is very good at that. He pays really close attention to where our mind is and where our weaknesses lie.
When we stay close to God, by talking to Him and listening to Him regularly, it is hard for the devil to make any headway. When we read God’s Word each day, that is like a sword against the devil. When we gather regularly with God’s people at His house, that is like bullets in our guns to fight against the devil and his ploys. It is so important to stay on our guard and stay armed for battle. As relentless as my gophers are, the devil is twice that relentless. He does not desire good for any of us. He wants the worst and will do all he can to get us in his clutches.
But, as the Bible says, “ For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” This is in Hebrews. What Paul is speaking of is that having that strong relationship with God and knowing what His Word says is like a sword in our hands against the devil and all his tricky ways.
Lead your family to stay close to God in this world that is ever-changing and seems to be heading the wrong direction at every turn. Arm yourself and arm your children against the devil. He is real and he wants your family!
Stay in close contact with the Father and stay in His Word. It will make a difference.
