While hiking and fishing in Alaska three years ago with my brother Bruce, the evidence that we were in bear country was everywhere. Signs of partially eaten fish, tracks in the dirt and claw marks on trees were pretty much anywhere you looked. Although I never actually saw a bear on the trip, I have no doubt one saw me through the thick Alaskan woods. One afternoon while walking back across an area we had just been, I looked down to see one of my old footprints I had just left, but this time it was mostly covered with a massive sized paw print from a bear. He was out there watching us somewhere. We couldn’t see him, but the evidence told us he was there and probably watching us. I remember chills running up the back of my spine as my brother and I picked up the pace. We moved pretty fast through those thick woods and made it back to the car fine, but I was certainly nervous about the whole experience.
- I saw glimpses of him yesterday when I was waiting in line at the bank and became impatient with the person in front of me.
- I was reminded just how close he was this past Sunday when I was looking over my sermon notes for that morning and he was planting thoughts in my head, “Look at all the sin in your life. You have no right to be a preacher and stand in front of all these people with this sermon. You’re guilty of everything you’re preaching about. Why are you even a minister!”
- He was there as I was flipping through channels last night, and he placed perfectly on one channel a beautiful woman with very little clothes on. Then he whispered, “No one’s in the room with you, stop and look, it won’t hurt a thing and no one will know.”
You know if you just pay attention to the evidence around you, you’ll see that he’s close by. He’s probably watching you right this very minute, looking for ways in which to make you stumble in your walk with Jesus. You must, watch for him (1 Peter 5:8), resist him (James 4:7) and trust in the Lord’s strength not your own (Proverbs 3:5). Don’t ignore the signs. Don’t under estimate his strength. Whatever you do, DON’T pretend he’s not there, that’s when he’s most dangerous. And the times when you see that he’s really close, it’s okay to pick up the pace and run out of whatever situation you’re in (Genesis 39:12).
Where have you seen him lately?
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 22 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
What a powerful post! He sometimes gets me as I walk by and see my Bible, and tells me don’t pick it up right now, you can do that later. And then proceeds to “busy” my day.
Thanks for the great reminder to always be aware!
Hiking in Alaska
Fishing for Sockeye
Going to Bristol
Skiing in Colorado…..
You really are a Bible Belt preacher…. Just Kidding!!!
Very good post – very scary too!
Kathy
Good post today, Trey. We really have to be on our guard, don’t we?
satan (I refuse to capitalize his name) was after me on the weekend with resentment in my heart toward some people who have only been good to me. I was tired and weary and was really having to fight how I felt in my heart.
No one else knew or would have been able to tell because I was very careful to guard against that, but I knew and was fighting it with all my might and God’s might because you see I recognized it and was praying without ceasing about it.
That helped tremendously, but I was having to stay very vigilant, as you say we should do, Trey.
Good post, friend. You stuck yourself out there with personal examples, so I decided to do likewise, hopefully to encourage someone else.
Cheers & Blessings to you all today!
Dee
of Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles
this is a very good post Trey,
and scary, thought i was reading the Oath again!
Trey,
Great post.
Trey, as always, great post! You have been blessed with the ability to teach. I am so glad you are using it, don’t let satan convince you otherwise.
As far as your question of where I have seen satan lately is concerned, I see him often whenever I begin to miss preaching and start wondering if it is ever possible, he is quick to point out my failures and tell me I am not worthy. IT is hard not to fall for him, especially when you know you have failed and fallen in the past.
Fortunately, Casting Crowns has a song to help pick me up — the voice of truth tells me a different story, as God is able to use my weakness for his glory!
Again, thanks for the lesson today.
Chris … Satan is good at making us doubt God’s forgiveness and grace. But don’t listen to him…
Wow, that was good!
satan hasn’t been watching me; he has been pounding me on the head with a sledge hammer. I haven’t even had the sense to duck, grab the sledge hammer and toss it away or realize it has been him.
Thanks,
Monalea
Dee O’Neil Andrews, I agree 100%…
satan (I refuse to capitalize his name)
Monalea
Amen! Satan hassles me all the time. He often tells me I am so weary that I should give in and stop fighting him. He is a deceitful and vile being.
Thanks Trey
Peace
Neva
Good reminder. Great analogy. I have to be very careful with television and internet. I keep my computer monitors so that anyone can always see what I’m seeing. I don’t surf much on the television and don’t really even watch it much, but w/ Victoria Secret commercials, I don’t even have to surf to find things where satan can take a hold of my thoughts.
Great post Trey. We do need to be on the lookout!
My friend Gina always says that when we go to heaven and see satan we are all going to be like, “that little thing caused all of that!”
I think a lot of people are still scared of him, and we need to remember who is in us (Jesus), and who has the authority (Jesus). Let’s fight back!
I have been blessed.
I dont know how others use the internet, but my spirit has been nourished by the internet, by these words from this site…
while the internet has increased the rate of immorality according to the world, it has worked for me positively, because here i find great teachers in my life.
God bless you so much.
every day, i will give a million prayers for this website.
Mwambu collins
"Cleave a piece of wood, I am there; lift up the stone and you will find me there."
~ Jesus ~