The Arsonist


  

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands,you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded."
                               - James 4:7-8

California is burning again.   When we went there last year, my husband and I were shocked at the devastation we saw in the fires' aftermath.  Nothing left. Nothing.  Lives forever changed by the impact of a long drought followed by a devastating spark.  That's all it takes - a spark- when the drought is long and hard.  After months without significant water, the vegetation dies, dries up, and sits as tinder waiting to fuel the next big fire.

To be honest, that has been an analogy of my life the past few months.  I could offer any number of excuses...about illness,events, and attitudes that contributed to my spiritual drought.  Many of those I might offer could be REALLY GOOD excuses (if there is such a thing).   Who wouldn't crumble spiritually under those circumstances.....I mean really, come on!

The problem is, just like the drought in California, a spiritual drought sets us up for  combustion from one small spark. In our modern, busy society we sometimes forget about the perpetual fire starter......the one who is always on guard to throw in that match.  Scripture warns us of this when we read:

"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

He is always looking to see if we are creating a spiritual drought in our lives.  A few days of missed Bible study...prayer life on hold.....failure to meet with other Christians....resentment.....depression....jealousy.... and on and on.  He's watching as all of these develop...taking the 'green' out of our lives... drying everything out.... gradually killing the plants in our spiritual gardens.  He watches, and when the time is right, a little flip[ of the burning match wipes us out.

Luckily in the midst of my self-inflicted pity party, a friend had my back.  She recommended a book, "Defeating the Enemy" by Phil Hopper.  I'm currently reading it for the second time.  I might even read it a third.... I'm a slow learner.  I'm being reminded (I knew all this, but had allowed myself to forget: about the victory I already have.  I DON'T have to give myself over to depression, anxiety, worry, whatever.  I already have the victory through the One who won the battle for me.



But, like any relationship, when I close  the door and don't acknowledge or communicate with Him, Jesus, the perfect gentleman, steps back and patiently waits for my brain to re-engage. While that is happening, the attack from "the other side" begins.  Never fails.  It will ALWAYS happen this way.
Sometimes during the  course  of my pity parties I begin to believe that I am the ONLY Christian who ever experiences this . But I know that's not true.  We all do this, experiencing times when we can't maintain our spiritual balance.  We know, intellectually, who the one is that moved in the relationship....but sometimes it is so hard to take that first step back.  Like the prodigal, we sometimes have to get to that 'tinder' stage before we start back to allowing Jesus to rain His love on us again.

I'm heading back.....praying for rain.  I'll get there, because He who promised is faithful.






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