Devotionals for the Heart: Be prepared to fight against our mortal enemy

Know Your Enemy: Be Prepared!
A devotional by Leslie Bake

“Be alert and of sober mind. 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 the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”—1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

I walk my year and half-year-old Cocker Spaniel weekly on a lovely, wooded path near my neighborhood. It’s almost always busy with plenty of other dog walkers, stray cats, deer and occasionally a vulture or two.

With repeated exposure, I’m hoping my young dog will grow accustomed to the stimulation and simmer down. He is always on the leash and he’s still learning. There have been moments when we encounter a German Shepherd, and the owner and the calmer canine graciously step aside as I gather my fussy 30 pounder in my arms and continue on the path. I keep my dog close, reprimand him, and yank him into submission when we pass the equally terrified cats staring us down. I do my best to keep my dog safe and train him.

That’s a lot like what God’s Word (The Holy Bible) does for me when I am navigating a world of frightening rulers, the authorities, the powers of darkness in this world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms. I’m still learning to stay focused on the Lord, and there are days when I’m still frightened. However, as long as I’m on my “leash”, I know God is leading and guiding me. Otherwise, I am all over the place, distracted, and fighting the wrong battles.

Yes, we are in a battle. Our enemy deceives, kills, lies, steals and destroys (John 10:10). He studies us to identify our weaknesses and prowls around like a roaring lion, patiently waiting for the perfect time to devour us. That’s not melodrama. That’s the Truth. See our anchor text above for proof. The entertainment industry is one of many ways in which Satan gains a foothold in our minds.

I remind you of this reality not to scare you, but to prepare you.

Satan (the devil, our enemy) works hard to keep families broken, marriages in ruin, all of us anxious and distracted from God. He wants us bickering, divided, and full of self-righteous pride. I recommend you read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and any book by Neil T. Anderson (especially The Bondage Breaker) if you remain skeptical about the reality of demons and how they work.

How do we overcome the enemy and his demons?

Jesus Christ did the first part with the crucifixion and resurrection (John 3:16-17), which crippled the fallen angel (Lucifer/Satan), but didn’t kill him. Why didn’t Jesus annihilate him? It was not the right time. We know this because in Luke 8:26-39, Jesus commanded a legion of demons out of a man, but the demons begged not be sent to the Abyss, which is referenced in Revelation. Jesus sends the demons into the pigs instead. The book of Revelation portrays the future victory Jesus has over Satan, his demons and all evil.

The good news is that Jesus has defeated Satan, so he remains under God’s authority with limited power. When Jesus returns, evil will be permanently annihilated. But until then, we believers are under God’s protection and must do our part. How can we do our part? Glad you asked! Read on…

We must saturate our minds with the truth of The Holy Bible, and at times, speak them out loud. I have found that speaking Scripture is helpful when I feel under attack from the enemy because I know the devil can’t read my mind but he can hear my spoken words. We must pray daily for protection. We must apply God’s Truth to our lives every day because the enemy watches us closely. The Bible says in James 4:7 (NIV), “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The Bible also says in Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) that we are to “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” When we continue reading this passage in the Bible found in Ephesians 6:14-18, we discover that we are called to, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Our offensive mode is knowing Scripture so well that we can fight the deceiver’s lies by proclaiming Truth. The sword of the spirit blocks those flaming arrows of accusations, lies and schemes. Our defensive mode is staying on our leash, close to Jesus and living righteously. These battle plan directions are clear, but not easy to follow. Righteous living is our best protection, but that’s hard work. Are you willing to live righteously? This means living obediently according to the teachings of God’s Word.

Satan is determined to destroy the church and the individuals within. One could argue that he already has. Wake up, Church! Spiritual warfare is mandatory as a collective body within the church and for individual believers in God. Our adversary aims his fiery arrows at those devoted to the Lord because they are sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with whomever and wherever they can.

This is not a game. There are no spectator seats. You must decide to either take up your cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26) or fall prey to Satan. Following Jesus is not a lukewarm decision. The choice is easy if you truly love the Lord and do the work of maintaining a relationship with Him.

Satan, the god of this world, delights in our complacency before the Lord, our half-hearted attempts at prayer and our refusal to repentant. Maybe you need to take the Bible seriously. Maybe you need to renew your commitment to the Lord. Maybe you need to confess sin. Remember: You cannot choose sin and then beg a Holy God for protection from the evil one. Only when we confess our sin, repent, experience forgiveness and submit to Him as our Lord and Savior are we covered.

Stay on the leash and close to God with righteous living. Stay near to the Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ, as stated in John 10:11-18) and keep your ears tuned for His voice. Don’t allow evil to frighten or distract you. Stay the course.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

We are so very grateful for your redemptive work at the cross and for your victory. Thank You for your loving protection under the shadow of your wings. Forgive us for not living righteously. Forgive our sins. Forgive us when we fail to remain alert to Satan’s cunning lies. You have given us all the tools we need for victory in this battle. Help us use them effectively.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “God So Loved” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Thank You Jesus for the Blood (Live)” by Charity Gayle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “I Will Wait for You” by Dr. Juanita Bynum. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Leslie Bake grew up Lutheran in Des Moines, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with an undergraduate degree in English, and with a new understanding of what a relationship with the Lord could look like. 

She spent a few years reporting and editing in small town journalism and then began pursuing a master’s degree at Iowa State University in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Then she got married and later went through a divorce, which deepened her relationship with God and transformed her life.

Leslie taught English as a second language for three years at Kansas State University, then returned to writing and earned a master’s degree in creative non-fiction in Pittsburgh. Her memoir will eventually be published. It details the process of how the Lord created beauty from the ashes of divorce.

Pittsburgh is also where she met and married her second husband. They are now the parents of two wonderful children—one in fifth grade and one in first grade.

Leslie and her husband make their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Leslie has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 11 years and actively growing her writing career alongside her two growing children.

She now maintains a monthly blog of her own and is working toward expanding her writing ministry on Substack. Her heart’s deepest desire is to help others connect with God through writing.

~*~
Connect with Leslie:
Substack: lesliebake.substack.com
E-mail address: Leslie.bake@yahoo.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God calls you to be strong in heavy warfare

Be Strong: Why the Warfare Has Been So Heavy
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

—Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

Early one Tuesday morning, the Lord woke me with a shout: “Be Strong!” I knew immediately what He meant and I knew it was not just for me.

I have been walking through a season of overwhelming challenges, the kind that leave you literally speechless. When I asked the Lord what was happening, He spoke clearly to me: The assignment of the enemy has been to silence your voice.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you, too, have found yourself muted by circumstances, overwhelmed by spiritual warfare, or quietly wondering why the attacks have been so relentless. The moment the Lord uttered those two words “Be Strong”, I was immediately anchored in Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) that says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Notice it does not say be strong in your own strength, your own resolve, or your own resilience. It says in the Lord, in the power of His might. That is where our strength lives. And the warfare we are experiencing is often the very sign that something significant is at stake.

Heavy Warfare Means You Have a Voice Worth Silencing

The enemy does not waste his resources on things that do not matter. If he has assigned a coordinated, relentless attack against your peace, your words, your confidence, or your ability to speak then it is because what flows from your mouth carries weight in God’s Kingdom.

Scripture confirms this in Isaiah 59:19b (KJV) saying, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

A flood is not a mild nuisance. A flood is an overwhelming force designed to submerge everything in its path. If you feel submerged, it is because the Spirit of the Lord is about to raise a standard and you are standing right in front of it.

Do not misread the intensity of the warfare. The enemy is not attacking you because you are weak. He is attacking you because of what God is about to release through you. Be strong!

Strength is Not the Absence of Struggle—It is the Decision to Stand

Being strong in the Lord does not mean you feel invincible. It does not mean the pressure is not real, or that grief is not heavy, or that the silence has not cost you something. It means that during all of it, you decide this: I will not lay down my assignment.

Ephesians 6:11-18 (NIV) describes the full armor of God. Let’s read it below: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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 the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Every single piece of that armor is meant to help you do one thing: stand. “Having done everything, stand” (Ephesians 6:13). God is not asking you to win the battle in your own strength. He is asking you to stand while He fights.

The wiles of the devil are strategies that are calculated, patient, and layered. What has felt like random hardship may be a carefully constructed attempt to wear you down until you sit down. This is the moment to put on every piece of God’s armor that He describes in Ephesians 6:11-18. Remember that our spiritual armor includes these elements: Truth around your waist. Righteousness on your chest. The gospel on your feet. Faith as your shield. Salvation covers your mind. The Word of God in your hand. And prayer that is unceasing covers it all.

You may be weary. Stand anyway. Be strong!

Your Silence Is Not Your Defeat

There are moments when God allows us to be brought low not to break us, but to strip away everything we have been leaning on outside of Him. The silence the enemy intended as a weapon, God is using as a wilderness. And wildernesses, in Scripture, always precedes a new dimension of power and purpose. Remember these Bible stories: Jesus Christ came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). John the Baptist emerged from the desert with a voice that shook a nation. The silence you have endured has been preparing something in you that could not have been formed any other way.

Listen to this clearly: The enemy's goal was for you to stay silent. God's plan is for you to come out of this season with a testimony so undeniable, so forged by fire, that it breaks chains in the lives of people who hear it. Your voice restored, refined, and rooted in what God has walked you through is what the enemy feared all along.

Do not let the devil and his evil forces win. Open your mouth. Praise before the breakthrough comes. Speak the Word over your life even when your voice trembles. The flood is meeting the standard. Be strong!

Let’s Pray:

Father God, I come before You in the name of Jesus. I thank You that You are not surprised by this season and that before I ever felt the weight of this warfare, You already had prepared a way through it. You woke me with Your word telling me to “Be Strong!” You have not left me to face this alone.

Lord, I confess that there have been moments when the pressure silenced me and when the enemy's flood felt higher than my faith. But Your Word declares that when the enemy comes in like a flood, You raise a standard. Today I stand on that promise. I receive that standard. I declare that what the enemy meant to silence; You are about to amplify for Your glory.

Strengthen me now not in my own might, but in the power of Your might. Let my mouth—the very thing the enemy came after—be opened wide and be filled with Your praise, Your Word, and Your testimony. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Trust in God” (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well)” by Tori Kelly. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Stand” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

~*~
Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

Devotionals for the Heart: Warfare

Seeing the Warfare
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever been to one of those 4D interactive theaters, the kind where instead of watching a screen and hearing the sound, you get those special glasses that transform the images into an illusion of three-dimensional solidity? Synchronized special effects also occur in the theater, like vibration, mist, wind, and more. It’s a multi-sensory cinematic experience.

But here’s the thing: When you take your special glasses off, the screen is blurry. You can’t see anything. You have a vague sense of what is on the screen, but it’s not clear.

Then, when you put the glasses back on, everything is right again.

This reminds me so much of the spiritual warfare going on all around us every single day, and how many of us can’t really see it—or don’t understand it’s there at all.

A few weeks ago on my blog, I shared about some of the troubles going on in my life lately: car issues, needing to replace our washing machine and refrigerator, a widening hole in my deck, six months spent living in our guest room because our pipes froze and flooded our bedroom, my daughter’s ongoing struggles with debilitating anxiety, and loved ones battling cancer including my nine-year-old niece, Kendall.

I could be tempted to think these are simply “tough times.” But my eyes are now trained to see it for what it is, and I absolutely know beyond the shadow of a doubt that much of this is spiritual warfare. It’s the evil one causing cracks in my life to get my focus off God and the work God intends for me. And because I know what’s going on, I also know how to counter it. I know to stay in prayer and God’s word constantly. I know to keep faith and hope, and I know that God will always triumph over evil.

With my eyes open, I can see so much.

I couldn’t always see this. I grew up in churches that didn’t talk about the enemy (the devil, the evil one) very often, let alone spiritual warfare. But as an adult, my faith has deepened. I have distinctly chosen to follow Jesus Christ, not just in my belief but in the way I live my life. I have committed every area in my life to him, and because of that, I do certain things that help me draw and remain close to him—prayer, worship, daily Bible reading, surrounding myself with other Christians, etc.

I am well aware that good and evil exist in the world, and that there is a vicious battle going on for this world. On one side is God and God’s heavenly armies, fighting to shine his light into the darkness. On the other is the enemy, the devil, using his demons and others to sow seeds of distraction and discord and evil.

Make no mistake: The devil is real. In 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV), we’re told, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

The Gospels tell us Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). Satan entered Judas Iscariot the night of the Last Supper (John 13:27), and Judas went and betrayed Jesus to those seeking to arrest and kill him.

In 1 John 5:19, we’re told “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

But we are not of the world. As the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:20-21, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

There is a mighty spiritual battle going on, all around us. Some of us cannot yet see it, but some of us can. And it is indeed real.

But there is hope. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Because God loves us who are his children—those of us who follow Christ and who believe and repent of their sins—he helps us fight the battle.

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us about one of those helpful tools: the armor of God, provided by the Lord to help protect us.

As the apostle Paul writes, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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 the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11-13).

This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet readied with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17).

God provides this armor of God for our protection. He loves us, and he knows how difficult this world can be.

Jesus talked about that in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The battle is real. We don’t need special 3D glasses to see it. As we grow in our spiritual journey with Jesus and draw closer to the Lord, these “special glasses” of faith gradually begin to replace our regular vision, and we start to see the daily battle clearly.

But take heart: God wins at the last. The One who created time knows how it all ends: with God in control. Some of the people on this earth who are not aware of the spiritual battle might find themselves becoming casualties of war, snapped up in their unsuspecting state by forces of evil who want to steer them away from the Lord.

Don’t be led astray.

In closing, remember this promise from God in James 4:8 (NIV): “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Let’s Pray: Lord, help us see the spiritual battles going on in our lives and use the tools You give us to counter them and draw a cloak of protection around us and our loved ones. Help us stay strong and keep our focus on You in the storms of life. In Jesus’ s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: "Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)" by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden.

 

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. 

Jessica has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: Allow God to guard and protect your mind

Your Mind Matters
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”—Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

I sat in my car feeling defeated.

Tears fell down my cheeks as the sound of my kids filled the car.

I questioned why God led me here. I felt overwhelmed and ill-equipped to handle the life I have.

Giving up in exhaustion seems inevitable as the demands of marriage, motherhood and other obligations tell me I am not enough. Pulling myself together, I trudge through my day as best I can. By dinner time I feel even more behind on everything. Somehow it feels like I have done nothing today when in reality I know that is not true.

In the end it feels abundantly clear, my best is not good enough. I become painfully aware of this as I try to decide what, if anything, I want to attempt to accomplish in the hour or so left in my day. Something in my brain keeps telling me to just give up. It all feels like a losing battle and what is the point of it all anyway. After all, what difference am I making?

In moments like this, darkness is drawing us in. Satan would love nothing more than to draw our thoughts away from God’s light. Our mind is such a critical component in our daily lives. It dictates our mood, our words and actions. The daily thoughts of our mind become the front lines of spiritual warfare as we walk out our faith. The people of Biblical times were no different. Paul describes the Gentiles as living “hopelessly confused” with their minds in darkness, closed off from God. (Ephesians 4:17-18). Lies are the devil’s specialty, convincing us that what we have learned about our God and His promises are not true. He loves to steal our peace and hope found in Jesus Christ. When we feel overwhelmed, lost, and afraid, Satan feels empowered to use that for his purposes. Those of us in Christ know that God has something better for us.

In Ephesians, Paul provides a description of what it looks like to live in response to our salvation. As we turn from sin and strive to be more like Christ, he gives us the way to avoid deception. Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT) says, “instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy”. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can transform our thoughts and keep them in line with what God has for us. Allowing God to transform our minds is an important part of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus even makes it clear in the book of Matthew that we should always “love the Lord” with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37).

Consistently spending time in God’s Word and in prayer can help you fight this battle.

Reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness allows you to see the devil’s lies for what they are and takes away his power to wield them against you. Practice taking back those moments for God’s glory by resting in God’s promises when you discern that Satan is at work.

Pause and pray for God to give you strength and reminders of the hope you have in Christ.

As we build a relationship with our heavenly Father we develop an ability to keep a Gospel truth perspective. Your mind will be “renewed as you learn to know your Creator” (Colossians 3:10). 

Pray for God’s wisdom and discernment to see when the father of lies is attacking. Then you can take back your thoughts for the glory of God.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift we have in Jesus Christ. We appreciate the hope and grace we receive through Him. Please give me the wisdom to see the moments where Satan is attacking my thoughts and trying to use them for his purposes. Give me the strength and hope to take back those moments for your glory. So that, in turn, my words and actions can reflect Your light into this dark and broken world. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Look What You’ve Done” by Tasha Layton. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children.

She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together.

As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life.

She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, praying they gain a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

~*~
Connect with Casey:
Website: https://www.caseywayne.org/
Blog: https://peaceoffaith.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseylwayne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peace.of.FaithCaseyWayne

Devotionals for the Heart: Sloths

Running with the Sloths
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” –Romans 12:10-12 (NIV)

Every few years a new animal shows up in popular culture and has its moment in the sun.

Have you noticed this? You’ll be walking through a store and for a time, pigs are everywhere—coffee mugs, bookmarks, inspirational prints. Then it cycles to koalas or giraffes or cows. I think llamas are a hit right now. And a few years ago you couldn’t turn a corner without seeing a sloth.

We have this universal love for furry creatures with big eyes, and sloths have the added charm of tree limb perches and super slow movements. They became the adorable poster child for procrastinators and couch potatoes everywhere.

But when we use the word “sloth” with its meaning of “disinclination to labor; spiritual apathy or inactivity” (Merriam-Webster) it gets a lot less funny. In classical Christian teaching, “sloth” is listed among the “seven deadly sins” (Proverbs 6:16-19) alongside greed, lust, gluttony, wrath, envy, and pride. I will admit that while I am guilty of each of things over the course of my life (and possibly just the course of today!) my pet sin—the one I come back to over and over and over again—is sloth. I easily become disengaged from God’s Kingdom work when it becomes hard or when I feel underappreciated or for any number of reasons. I am too often content in my spiritual laziness.

We all will probably have seasons where we will be radically on fire for Jesus Christ and feel consumed with the things of God. It might have been when we were first introduced to the amazing grace and salvation of Jesus or later on in our spiritual walk with God when we’ve had a particularly wonderful experience with Him at a retreat or conference, or maybe just a sweet time of prayer. But eventually, because we are creatures of this world, that fire and zeal can give way to a familiarity with the God’s Word (The Holy Bible) so when you read the Bible you aren’t stirred to action. Perhaps a season of hardship leaves you feeling farther from God than ever.

The worst part might come when you simply don’t care that you no longer care. The enemy would love for you to sit in that pit and stay there because you will no longer threaten him. Seriously, we can’t have that, can we?

Do not lose heart! If you are here, with me, fighting through a season of laziness and apathy, let’s band together and remember a few very important things:

We can do this (whatever God is asking us to do) but we can’t do it alone, so it’s a good thing that God’s Holy Spirit is within us. He gives us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Laziness is nowhere to be seen in that verse!

God longs to give us what we ask for in His name. He will give you a renewed love and fire to go and make disciples for Him if you simply ask Him!

We are in a spiritual war, whether we like it or not. Lazy soldiers don’t win battles. We need to be willing to stand up, defend ourselves and our fellow soldiers, and occasionally go on the offensive. That doesn’t sound slothful to me!

I’d like to leave you with this charge from Ephesians 5:14 (NASB):

For this reason, it says,

"Awake, sleeper,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you."

Let’s be awake today and get to work. There’s no time to lose.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, please give us all a rekindled love for You, Your Son, The Holy Spirit, and the world you have put us in. Help us show Your love and never be too lazy to go when and where You call us. Forgive us for all the times we waited, procrastinated, or ignored when You asked us to do something. We love You. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.  

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming. 

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

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Connect with Glynis:
Website: www.glynisbecker.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7