Monday is our day off because my dear pastor-husband finds it the best day to relax. He also finds it the best day to have work done on the house. So for the past three Monday’s our alarm company has been working on our alarm system. Not the most relaxing way to spend a day off! So Mondays have been a little noisy lately as the workers periodically test the alarm…and this morning as I was sitting on the deck with our little dog Rudy, he was so scared that he nervously ran with his tail between his legs to huddle beneath my feet for protection. When I got up to do something, our trembling little dog followed my every move and stayed right by my side.

Enemy alarms go off in our minds all the time…temptations abound. A co-worker comes to you with defaming information about someone you struggle with as well. Suddenly, even though you vowed to stop gossiping, you are tempted to air your own grievances, but hopefully an alarm goes off. Your spouse isn’t treating you the way you want, and at the same time one of your neighbors helps you with your groceries, giving you that much needed attention… alarm time! And what about jealousy… Your best friend gets the car you’ve always dreamed of having, and all of a sudden you wonder why you are friends with her anyway. Alarm!! Or how about this one… You’re on your own for lunch and you think, ‘I can go off my diet and no one will ever know’ as if the proof is not in the pudding, or should I say the pounds! And I won’t even touch on our battles with worry, fear, frustration, struggles with addiction, anger, bitterness and resentment!

Spiritual warfare comes in all shapes and sizes. The enemy knows exactly how to get you where it will hurt the most, and often at our weakest point! I Peter 5:8 tells us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (NIV) The warning is clear! Our enemy, the devil doesn’t wear a cute little red suit…actually, he’s not the least bit cute, and if he is any color it is extremely dark and putrid. His goal is to destroy you and me and render us useless for the cause of Christ.

But don’t be alarmed!

Thank God for His amazing Grace! James 4 says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (NKJV) When our alarm goes off we need to run with our tail between our legs too. We need to take steps away from alarming temptations and toward our Lord. I see three steps in these verses…

First, humbly submit to God. Flee from the temptation and to run Him – as a scared dog runs to his owner – and huddle in the Lord’s everlasting arms of protection. Simply say as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” Lay down your temptations, your wants, your desires, your sins and humbly submit to God’s will and plan. Recite David’s words from Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.” (KJV) Our faithful God will meet you there!

Second, resist the devil. When the alarm goes off, fight back!!! Using Jesus’ example when He was tempted, say, “Get thee behind me Satan” Remember, greater is HE that is in you than he that is this world! Hurl that truth at him by the authority and Name of Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior and through the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells you! And he will flee, not by your power or might, but by the Lord’s!

Then, draw near to God. Even if you’re still alarmingly struggling and trembling, look to Jesus, fix your eyes on Him. Get into His Word, spend time reading, praying His Word and promises back to Him, and praising Him for the victory – yes, in advance! Listen to podcasts or sermons on line, Christian music or audio books. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of your Lord Jesus Christ who promised to never leave you or forsake you.

So there you have it… A few little tips from Rudy’s alarming experience! There is so much to be said about spiritual warfare but, for today, I will leave it at that. By the way, the workers are gone and Rudy is lying peacefully at my feet, and I’m just a fallible human owner. I think I’m going to go lay at my Owner’s feet for a while too! HE NEVER FAILS!