A Little Window
Enough is enough....I have had enough. I feel like I am on overload. Here it is.. another hurricane, catastrophic, devastating, the biggest storm Texas has seen in 100 years. These are the headlines. It is written about in the newspaper, reported on televisions news, discussed on talk radio, and blogged about in post after post. We can debate all we want about our level of concern, and when and how it turns to anxiety and fear. For you, your concern might stay within the boundaries of offering up prayers, and doing something for the needy...donations or opening your home. But for me and many of others anxiety seems to creep in through a very small window attempting to find the hallway to our souls. Be of no mistake, the name of that anxiety and fear is "Satan". "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8).
In this world we are faced with real and present world problems…9/11 tragedy, outbreaks of West Nile virus, Madrid and London bombings, kids disappearing and devastating storms. Real problems that we should stayed informed about. But there seems to be no getting away from the overload the media pushes on us unless we retreat to a cave (which seems to me like a viable choice right now). As Christians, we have a continual battle to fight because we have an adversary that is strolling the streets of our minds looking for any little window to squeeze through so that he can take possession of our souls. Unconsciously, we might leave open a window if we are not vigilant, if we let our guard down. Most of us know the scriptures of trusting in our God and his providence...."As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."(Joshua 1:5). But Satan is a fighter, crafty, sly and he enters that small window (our minds), then tries his best to close it behind him, attempting to shut us off from life...Christ! "But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3).
We need to fill our minds with the word of the Lord; he has instructed us to do that and that is the truth that we can stand on. But we also, as Christian brothers and sisters, need to slip into that open window of each others mind, to speak loudly of things that are encouraging, pleasant, that lift us up, that keep us striving for pure devotion to our God…"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." (Proverbs 16:24). ""By speech wisdom shall be known" (Ecclesiastes 4:24), "Is not a word better than a gift?" (Ecclesiastes 18:17), and "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech" (2 Corinthians 3:12).
As we enter this weekend and another horrific storm, possibly filled with tragedy, let us storm heavens with our prayers for people in need. But let us also be the breeze of sweet speech that blows through the window of each other's minds. Let's help one another, with our words, concentrate on the hope that is in Christ Jesus. Let us also give each other a gift, a gift of speech…uplifting, encouraging and sweet.
In this world we are faced with real and present world problems…9/11 tragedy, outbreaks of West Nile virus, Madrid and London bombings, kids disappearing and devastating storms. Real problems that we should stayed informed about. But there seems to be no getting away from the overload the media pushes on us unless we retreat to a cave (which seems to me like a viable choice right now). As Christians, we have a continual battle to fight because we have an adversary that is strolling the streets of our minds looking for any little window to squeeze through so that he can take possession of our souls. Unconsciously, we might leave open a window if we are not vigilant, if we let our guard down. Most of us know the scriptures of trusting in our God and his providence...."As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."(Joshua 1:5). But Satan is a fighter, crafty, sly and he enters that small window (our minds), then tries his best to close it behind him, attempting to shut us off from life...Christ! "But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3).
We need to fill our minds with the word of the Lord; he has instructed us to do that and that is the truth that we can stand on. But we also, as Christian brothers and sisters, need to slip into that open window of each others mind, to speak loudly of things that are encouraging, pleasant, that lift us up, that keep us striving for pure devotion to our God…"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." (Proverbs 16:24). ""By speech wisdom shall be known" (Ecclesiastes 4:24), "Is not a word better than a gift?" (Ecclesiastes 18:17), and "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech" (2 Corinthians 3:12).
As we enter this weekend and another horrific storm, possibly filled with tragedy, let us storm heavens with our prayers for people in need. But let us also be the breeze of sweet speech that blows through the window of each other's minds. Let's help one another, with our words, concentrate on the hope that is in Christ Jesus. Let us also give each other a gift, a gift of speech…uplifting, encouraging and sweet.
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