Life's Lovely Lullaby

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

For some people life is extremely hard. Abuse at the hand of another, addiction, poor self-esteem, debilitating anxiety, poverty, injustice, constant physical pain and suffering seem to be a way of life for them from which there is no escape. Life is not lovely and they hear no music except for satanic death chants. Many of these people are even more desperate because they don’t know God, nor do they know how to find him. Others simply have lost their way and can’t find the gate back into the garden. Their life has left them bitter, depressed, and despairing.

But for some believers the garden that surrounds their life is so good and so beautiful that they have no need to go deeper into the garden of their heart to fellowship with Jesus. They especially don’t have time to go to the garden. But make no mistake; the garden of our heart is the exact place where every believer needs to be. It is in the garden of our heart where our spirit has opportunity to join in agreement with God’s spirit. Even if life is good, daily fellowship with Jesus can make it better.

For others they can hear nothing but the music of “Life’s Lovely Lullaby”. These people hear the call of eating, drinking, parties and fun. They know that the brass ring is out there if only they can grab on. They hunger and thirst for entertainment, education, prestige, power, and success. These people are being lulled to sleep by “Life’s Lovely Lullaby” of pleasure and what they believe to be security and knowledge, and the singer of this lullaby is none other than Satan. Some of these people even call themselves Christians, yet it is very clear that they love their sin more than they love God. The call to the garden of their heart has been ignored so long that they no longer hear the call to come into the garden. However, the garden gate to God's heart always remains open.

Others think they already have it all together and they hear a sweet melodic lullaby as they snuggle under the covers of wealth, power, and fame. In their garden is found sculptures of self, setting high on pedestals made by their own hands. They are towering so high above others that they can’t even see what real happiness looks like. They absolutely have no need of God and for sure they don’t have time to find him. The music of the beaches, resorts, stages, and decision rooms of the world are far more inviting than the garden.

If you are a believer, a few words of caution. You and I are not exempt from hearing the music of “Life’s Lovely Lullaby”. This lullaby is heard in our minds. The music starts softly in our emotions, the music rises from our greed, lusts, and selfishness, and crescendos at our point of discontentment with life and others. We think we deserve to listen to this selfish music so we turn up the volume. At first the song is sweet and alluring. Then Satan turns the music into a subtle, seductive, comforting lullaby that is hard to resist. We don’t look upward, we look inward and in a moment of weakness we are seduced into sweet sleep as we give in to sinful behavior in word, thought and deed.

I am becoming more and more aware that Satan is working hard on everyone. Satan wants to keep non-believers away from a close intimate relationship with God. Satan knows that unforvgiven sin separats a person from God and that it will lead to eternal damnation for that individual. On the other hand lukewarm individuals who want to keep one foot in the world and one foot in heaven, are also people of interest to Satan. He wants to distract these individuals all the more. Jesus said, “So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16 NIV Satan is delighted to distract people with the lure of the world so that they will remain lukewarm.

But it is in the active believer’s life that Satan seems to cause the most trouble. This is because we who love God are on the right path. Even though believers belong to God and Satan cannot snatch them away he knows that believers speak God’s truth and do his work. It is the believers who lead non-believers to Jesus Christ and influence lukewarm people to choose to end their indifference. Believers teach God’s Word and encourage God worship! So at best, Satan’s plan for believers is to distract and subtly attack their mind, and orchestrate temptation. Satan wants to cram our schedules so full of the “stuff of life” that we become stressed and weak. At that point Satan fills our minds with discontentment and fosters selfishness within our hearts, thus making believers preoccupied and ineffective for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Satan is more aware that the Last Days are upon us than we are. He knows his time is short so he is wild with energy. He is pulling out all the stops and roaring full speed ahead, looking for whomever he can devour! He is no respecter of persons. His goal is the destruction and damnation of humanity.

The Bible gives us a very clear picture of what godlessness in the Last Days will look like. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal; not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV

Jesus is coming again! Each day we live we are one day closer to that truth. If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit within you will equip you to know the mind of Christ, stand firm, and to resist temptation. “You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you (Jesus Christ) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan).” 1 John 4:4 NIV

No matter where you are in life, desperate for God, a non-believer, a believer, a lukewarm believer, the message is the same: hear “Life’s Lovely Lullaby” and resist the message of the lullaby. Sit up…stand up…run! Exchange “Life’s Lovely Lullaby” for God’s “Heavenly Song of the Redeemed”. Be alert, Satan knows his time is short! My friends, we must not be lulled to sleep! When non-believers stand before God they will be judged for refusing to accept Jesus Christ. When believers stand before God we will give an account of how well we lived this life. Did we leave a mark of influence for Jesus? Will we be remembered for our faith and our faithfulness? Will we hear Jesus say, “Well done”? Or will we come up short and suffer loss of our full reward because we were lukewarm and indifferent? Remember, this life counts!

Questions:

What is your spiritual status at this time?

Are you: - Desperate for God – A Non-believer – A Lukewarm Believer – A Believer who is walking in a loving relationship with God and seeking to know him more everyday?

Have you ever heard Satan’s lovely lullaby? What do the lyrics of that song say to you?

Are you currently listening to Life’s Lovely Lullaby?

If you are a believer, when did you last hear Satan’s lullaby? What did you do?

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is able to give you the power to resist sin’s lovely lullaby?Have you experienced singing the "Heavenly Song of the Redeemed"?

If you are not a believer and would you like to become a Christian, look to the right column of this blog and read the section: “How do I know if I am a Christian”

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I believe that you are coming again. I also believe that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I pray for those who are so lost they think they cannot find their way. Send your messenger to them. Please speak to their tortured minds and let them know there is always a way for everyone to find God. I especially pray for those who are lukewarm and living for the moment. I pray you will answer the prayers of their believing parents, grandparents, family members and friends who are crying out for you to draw them to yourself. I pray they would choose to repent and walk with you. Jesus, I pray for those who have no need of you. I pray you will create need in their life. In addition I pray for all believers to stay alert and learn to say no to Satan’s distractions. I pray that believers will spend time with you in your Word and in prayer so they will be equipped to stand against the schemes of Satan. Jesus, help us to always choose your song over the lure of the lullaby.

In your name I pray. Amen.

On the Way to the Coffee Pot

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,” I Peter 5: 8-9a NIV

As was my habit, I had gotten up early. The birds were just waking up and singing their song. I knew if I could just get my first cup of coffee then maybe I would also have a song to sing.

It was a short walk from my first floor bedroom, across our great room and into the kitchen. When I was half way to the coffee pot I burst into tears for no reason at all. I felt a huge sadness come over me. By the time I reached the coffee pot I was sobbing. I did not know why.

Another part of my early morning routine is to get my coffee and go onto the porch or into the great room and sit in my chair and have my “Quiet Time.” It is here in my chair that I can get lost in reading the Bible, journaling, praying, or working on a Bible study. It is always a very special time for me as I spend time with Jesus. When I do this it sets the tone for my day! Everything seems to run smoother and be less irritating. Missing my “Quiet Time” is a problem because when I do, before I know it, I’m totally stressed out or upset about something!

I do believe that on this particular morning I was attacked by Satan on my way to the coffee pot. The method to his madness was to get to my spirit before I could get to my chair. Satan knew that if I made it to the chair his chances for discouraging me were less. He wanted me to become so depressed and upset that I would never make it to my chair. He wanted me to totally miss my appointment with Jesus.

I believe that through the protection of the Holy Spirit I was able to quickly recognize exactly what was going down! I immediately said in a loud and clear voice, “Satan, get out of my way, I am on my way to my chair whether you like it or not. In the name of Jesus Christ be gone. Satan, you may not go with me to my chair. I have an appointment to meet Jesus and you are not going to stop me!” Satan left. I poured my coffee. I went to my chair. My time with Jesus was sweet.

I will admit to you that some days I do not make it to my “Quiet Time”. It is difficult to have private time when I am visiting away from home or when I have house guests. When I miss this time alone with God there is always a price to be paid. I have come to realize that if I miss a day or two – I know it. If I miss three or four days – my husband knows it. If I miss several days – the whole world knows it!

My “Quiet Time” is how I keep my focus on Jesus instead of my circumstances. It is where I can praise God and offer adoration and worship to the all knowing, all present, all powerful God. It is where I can enter into a personal relationship with the God of the universe. It is the place that I can express my gratitude for all my blessings. It is where I can ask for wisdom and guidance for my day. It is where I can surrender personal hurts and painful situations. It is where I can choose to set aside my negative attitudes and give God my raw emotions. It is the place where I can leave those I love in God’s care. It is where I can grasp onto trust and release my fear. It is where I can be honest. It is the place where I can sit at the feet of Jesus and receive spiritual insight. It is where I can seek forgiveness and healing for the sin in my life. It is where I can pray for others. It is where I can silently be still and wait for God to speak to me in his still small voice. It is where God restores my soul. It is the place I can receive comfort, peace and power from the Holy Spirit. It is indeed, the garden of my heart!

Questions:

Do you have a “Quiet Time?”

Does spending time alone with God make a difference in your day?

Do you struggle to make this happen?

Have you considered the possibility that maybe Satan is creating distractions to keep you from spending time alone with God each day?

What can you do about that?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I pray that I will never stop trying to make time for you. Lord, I know that you understand the times when I cannot be with you. I know that you will still go with me throughout that day but that I may become weak and easily distracted. My time with you that day will come from quick prayers and short worship. I thank you that when I do spend time with you I am never disappointed but instead I am strengthened and refreshed. Help me Lord to make time for you daily. When I do miss my time alone with you, please protect me from Satan’s lie that tells me that I blew it as usual! Help me to fight that lie by getting back on track sooner opposed to later. God, Help me to be alert and recognize the sly tactics that Satan uses to distract me and keep me from spending quiet time alone with you.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Satan Can Really Tell Some Big Ones!

“He [Satan] was a murderer from the beginning,

not holding to the truth,
for there is no truth in him.

When he lies,

he speaks his native language,
for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 8:44 NIV

First of all let me say that Satan is a very huge part of this real world! In fact God is allowing him to be the ruler of this world temporarily! “…now the prince of this world will be driven out.” John 12:31b In addition, Satan and his forces are out in full force throughout the heavenly realms.

Today it occurs to me that if I am going to counter Satan’s lies I must know what those lies are. I am the type of person that I want to know what something looks like in the real world. I need examples! As I sip my coffee and type this morning I am trying to identify some of the deceptive lies that Satan is deceiving the world with today. Maybe you have also heard them.

There is no God.

If one does not believe that God exists that person’s mind is closed. All I can do for that person is pray that God will reveal himself to that individual.

God is a loving God and will not punish sin and that good people go to heaven.

If one believes that God exists but that He is such a loving God that he would never punish sin, then that person may also feel that they do not need God.

There is no hell or that only really bad people go to hell.

If a person does not believe in hell then of course, that person doesn’t believe that he needs a plan of escape from hell.

The Bible is just another book or that the Bible is partially true.

If a person doesn’t believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word to humanity and that it is totally and completely true, then that person has disqualified God’s truth. When I hear someone say that they do not believe the Bible, I wonder if they have ever read the Bible. A person who has never read the Bible would hardly be qualified to make such a statement. I would suggest that if one does not believe the Bible then they should read it from cover to cover and make an extensive study before they make such a profound statement against the Bible!

There are many ways to God

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

On the slim to none chance that those who have the above mentioned beliefs are right, then as a believer I have nothing to loose. No God. No punishment. No Truth to learn. On the other hand, if those of us who believe in the living God are right, those who choose not to believe in God have everything to loose. They will never experience God’s forgiveness. They will never have a blessed personal relationship with God. They will miss out on God’s eternal rewards and fellowship with him. They will however, experience total separation from God and eternal punishment. So today I’m wondering why anyone would choose to take that chance.

Questions:

Do you believe any of Satan’s lies regarding God, life after death, the Bible, or alternate ways to get into heaven?

If so, how do you convince yourself that there is no risk in believing the lies?

If you are a believer are there any other lies that Satan is whispering to you?

Could he be saying that you’re not good enough for God to love? Could he be saying that God is angry with you because you never seem to get it right?

Have you “nailed” Satan for the liar he is?

Prayer:

Dear God,

I thank you that in your Word you have identified Satan as a liar so that I may not be deceived by him. God help me to be alert to his cunning, deceiving lies. When I am faced with a lie of Satan help me to cast Satan behind me by telling him, through the power of your son’s name, to “get lost – take a hike,” and then seek your Holy Spirit to be my strength and your Word to be my truth.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.