So, if you read my previous post, you know that we have had a mouse (or mice) situation. I am happy to report that the pests have been terminated and we have no longer seen or heard any of their friends or family. Although it has been a few weeks, I am finally starting to get things back in order. It’s crazy how such a small creature could create such damage. Not to mention the mess it left behind. There was not one room or closet that they didn’t “explore”. And I have had the laundry to prove it.
The more I talked with other people about our situation, the more common it seemed to be. Many told us that it is something you get used to and just learn to live with. “It’s all apart of living in the country”, they said. My response: “no thanks”. Growing up in the city, we never had a mouse, that I know of, in the house. And for the past 6 years, we have lived, somewhat in the country, unharmed. And if you add me being a germaphobe to the list, you can see why this has had me in an uproar.
Last week, after being overwhelmed with the cleaning and all that still needed to be washed, I couldn’t help but think of the spiritual side. (I’m sure you all knew this was coming). I was in the kitchen working when I heard the Lord say this…..”Don’t ever get comfortable with the enemy in your house”. Now I know that some of you may be doubting me at this point, and that’s ok. But I trust what I heard and I know that God was using, yet again, an everyday situation to shift my focus on Him. I stopped and began to meditate on what He had said. And He was right. How many times have I allowed the devil to interrupt my life or my family? How often have I chose to live in a mess instead of dealing with the underlying issue? I can be so guilty of not properly protecting my heart and my thoughts; so that the smallest opening ushers him right on in. And just like with mice, the enemy can wiggle his way in where least expected. He can chew right through our weak spots and set up camp in the heart of our home.
The devil has been defeated but that doesn’t mean he has quite his day job. In fact, if you are reading this and you are a Christian, you have a target on your back. He knows where we struggle. He waits for the perfect opportunity to introduce and new problem or temptation. But (and it’s a BIG but), we have all authority to resist him and command him to leave. Not because of us, but because of who lives within us. I don’t know about you, but that excites me! We have the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead working on the inside of us. We don’t have to accept what the enemy is throwing our way. We don’t have to play dead in hopes he will leave. And maybe, the best strategy of all, we can stop him before he can get past the front door. The Word of God will always be our #1 defense against the devil. And if we properly arm ourselves every day, God will allow us to see what we are up against. And He will give us the strength to fight it.
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms”.
My prayer is this: God give me the eyes to see and the ears to hear. Help me to examine every part of my heart, so that nothing is hidden. Shine your light on every dark place, so that I can fully surrender to you. Let me not wait to seek you only in the storm, but let me know your voice even when it’s a whisper.
