Though not specifically called out as a piece of armor, prayer is essential to moving from self-sufficiency to dependence on the Holy Spirit. Everything else in this passage is equipped through the powerful resource of prayer.
After almost two weeks of reading about the armor of God, I bet many of us have pictured ourselves armored up. Maybe we’ve even mentally practiced “putting on” the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peaceful readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. It’s quite a sight, right? Here we are, armored up in metal and leather—like ancient warriors, swords in hand. Clearly, spiritual battle isn’t child’s play as we combat powers of darkness.
Paul’s words paint a striking picture and stir our imagination. In my mind, we stand firm, armor on, poised to fight. It’s go time! We strain to hear our marching orders.
“Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Really? Prayer and intercession? Suddenly I feel all dressed up with no place to go. We’re all geared up, and our first plan is to pray?
Yes, this is the battle plan: to begin by talking with the One who holds all hope for victory and to remember that God is the source of all spiritual power and direction. Prayer—our open channel for honest communication with God—is a mighty gift and a dependable drumbeat for life. Like the steady beat of a drumline that walks alongside soldiers heading into combat, prayer is the drumbeat in our battle against evil and brokenness. This steady cadence of prayer unifies us, sets our pace, and leads us onward.
I’m relieved that our marching orders begin with prayer and include a real talk with God every step of the way. I’m relieved because I’m afraid. Afraid to fight the darkness, afraid to trust God and His plans, afraid that I’ll fail to use my weapons well. It turns out my armored-up bravery is often flimsy bravado. I know what it means to falter in faith, in relationships, in work, and in convictions. If it’s up to me to remain steadfast in battle and secure the victory, all hope is lost.
Yet, thanks be to God, the drumbeat of prayer breaks through the noise of doubts and fears and steady us. “I call to God, and the LORD will save me. I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:16–17). We don’t fake it ‘til we make it, and we never march alone. The Lord hears; the Lord saves.
So we pray and march on—upheld by God’s truth, our faltering hearts covered by Christ, our doubting minds made sure of our salvation. We move forward in peace as we deflect doubt by faith and destroy lies by the Spirit’s power at work through the Word of God. Our armor is nothing less than a trinity of protection from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God’s Word is my command. Because that word is prayer, I am never alone…and the beat goes on.
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77 thoughts on "Pray at All Times"
Hallelujah! Lord he keeps me!
I was reading the most horrific news of two tribal women who were gang raped and paraded naked in NE India, offshoot of the ongoing communal violence there. The only answer is prayer. The words in Daniel 9: 17-19 reading spoke to me, and this my prayer for those affected in NE India — 17 Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of your servant. Make your face shine on your desolate sanctuary for the Lord’s sake. 18 Listen closely, my God, and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that bears your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for your own sake, do not delay,i because your city and your people bear your name.
I pray that you will lead me in the right direction. One of an abundance of love and success in the form of helping others. I pray that I will be abundantly rewarded with financial gains so that I may shower this love on others. I pray for guidance and growth. I pray that you help me to become the best version of myself. I pray that in my actions I am moving forward, not simply spinning my wheels.
Prayer breaks our doubts and fears to steady us.
The “flimsy bravado” is so true! Agree with Brittney (below). IF I have weapons and armor but of no use then… where’s the drumbeat? Where’s the heartbeat?
“Prayer is the drumbeat in our battle against evil and brokenness. This steady cadence of prayer unifies us, sets our pace, and leads us onward.”
I realized that it is when I surrender and call for help, that I am able to stand, take arms, and have strength to walk on.
I pray to live a life confident in the ways of Lord, like the apostles did after Christ’s resurrection and receiving the Holy Spirit. I’m reminded that I am not in control of the situation, but I am in control on how I respond. Which is by praising God! Taking the time to pray and speak to him, so that his Words run to me when I need them most. My God, My Father, I adore you and love you in every possible way. I pray you continue to provide the things that I need in this life that no one else on Earth can provide. I pray also for the souls that do not know yet the amazing grace your son has given us through his sacrifice and resurrection. May they listen to your voice and see your light in the darkness as a place of endless love and refuge from the cruelties of this world. I also pray for you to bless me with another child, if I may be so bold to ask with my trust unwavering and with my humble respect to pray for your will be done. I pray this all in the name of Jesus ❤️
❤️
I love knowing that even when I don’t have the words to pray, God knows my heart and my silent words.
This has been an amazing journey!
I saw kelli’s presentation! It was fascinating
Trying to wear the Armor of God without Prayer is like building a building without a foundation. Sure it will stand, but not strong or stable. Eventually it will fall.
Amen! What encouragement for battle! ❤️
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Traci- Wow! Thank you for sharing the devotional. I struggle so much with distraction and I have been falling for it because I am afraid. I leave my job in two weeks to fully start my business. I am terrified and instead of dealing with my fear alongside God, I try to distract myself from it- social media, tv, being my two methods of distraction. If I am not spending time with God, I am not addressing my fear.
Heidi- it has been so amazing seeing how prayer has changed so many things for your niece. Thank you for sharing her story/ your story with us. Prayer is truly our strongest weapon; it changes us, it changes everything!
Sarah D: Thank you for sharing the podcast! I love JP and listen to his other podcast Becoming Something. The one you shared on the armour of God was so good and timely for me.
Patty S- I loved this from the devotional today: I’m relieved that our marching orders begin with prayer and include a real talk with God every step of the way. I’m relieved because I’m afraid. Afraid to fight the darkness, afraid to trust God and His plans, afraid that I’ll fail to use my weapons well. It turns out my armored-up bravery is often flimsy bravado. I know what it means to falter in faith, in relationships, in work, and in convictions. If it’s up to me to remain steadfast in battle and secure the victory, all hope is lost.
Praying for the prayers listed here. So thankful for this community of praying women!
Lord Jesus, I pray for Cynthia + her husband as they give their daughter away today. Would you face shine upon them, would they shine so bright for you today that people will give their lives to Christ, to you, today even at the wedding. We proclaim it, prophecy it, declare and decree that salvation will take place today and you will get all of the glory! In Jesus name!
Amen ❤️
Sorry about posting three times before this comment. Problems with phone!
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. – Philippians 4:9
Love this verse! And also love the way the devotional where she wrote : Prayer — our open channel for honest communication with God—is a mighty gift and a dependable drumbeat for life!
Wish my prayer life was like that. It is at times when I am in fear for my daughters. At these times I know prayer has been answered bc my soul is seen and heard by the cries and tears (yes they are counted) and my words are heard. My life has been full of anxiety since 2010/2011 and there have been times where I have cried in honest communication with my Lord and Saviour. …in anger, in tears, in supplication for my daughters. Our life hasn’t been easy in my short lived marriage of 6 1/2 years. 4 court cases. And now the death of the one who has caused so much pain. Yes I have cried bc we have had some good times. Now I am at peace. I just hope and pray that my daughters will have peace too.
Sorry about posting three times before this comment. Problems with phone!
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. – Philippians 4:9
Love this verse! And also love the way the devotional where she wrote : Prayer — our open channel for honest communication with God—is a mighty gift and a dependable drumbeat for life!
Sorry about posting three times before this comment. Problems with phone!
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. – Philippians 4:9
Sorry about posting three times before this comment. Problems with oh.
Philippians overflows with joy and thanksgiving. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to thank them for a gift. He reported the joyful news that Epaphroditus, who had brought their gift to Paul, had recovered from his illness and was returning to Philippi. Paul said that he had learned the secret of being content in any situation, and he told them about his situation in prison. He expressed joy that more people were hearing about Christ even if some were proclaiming the gospel with bad motives. Wanting the Christians in Philippi to be unified, he challenged them to be servants just as Jesus was when he “emptied himself” and became a man rather than clinging to the rights of his divine nature (2:1-11). Paul wrote this letter while in prison.
Hey ladies!!
I wanted to share this beautiful piece of art my friend Kelli made and released today.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JVibGw8oq1w&feature=youtu.be
It’s called “Sunbeam/Ephesians 6:10” and it is inspired by Ephesians 6:10-17 — so timely that we are finishing this study and she released this today, without knowing this study was happening!
My friend is both a visual artist and musician so she combines both concepts to create this video. I wanted to share it with all of you in case you are interested in this sort of thing. Also, there’s more of a description in her caption, so definitely read that to understand it more!!!
This is fantastic. Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer, sometimes when prayer doesn’t come easy or I feel like they’re not worthy, I use praise music as my prayers. It lifts the spirit.
Natasha-I feel you and hear you… I’m praying for God to be at work in this situation.
I know that I need to get better at praying. For some reason prayer isn’t always easy for me. This devotional today is encouraging me to pray more, because the Lord knows I am prone to worry. The powerful antidote we have to worry is prayer.
Just WOW! Y’all. Thank you for all the uplifting & wise stories & comments today. I’m praying for all the requests put forward.
I have one of my own requests today please. I had my bi-annual blood test yesterday. The lab results are sent to me as well as to my doctors. They, I’m sure understand them, but all I see are the red exclamation points beside each test. I’ve stayed away from the doctors for 6 months because it was one thing after another & what was good for one problem caused issues with another. When the internists comment on the IBS was “deal with it” & shrugged it off I decided I’d had enough for awhile. My quality of life was just shot. I’ve been attempting to find what will work for ALL the issues (getting old is such fun…not!). My appointment with my gp is Tuesday. Please pray that we can find solutions, that I can get these 3 medical professionals to put their heads together for a cohesive solution. Thanks everyone. Hugs & love to all y’all.
Natasha-Praying for your husband that God will speak to him, woo him back and provide a strong Christian mentor to walk alongside him. I pray that God will guide you and give you peace to withstand the turmoil. Blessings on you, my fellow she.
@ Cynthia
Lifting you and your loved ones up to the Lord.
“Gods word is my command. Because that word is prayer I am never alone”. Prayer has uplifted my mind and heart above the earth and been a saving Grace I will lean on and be grateful for for the rest of my days
Thank you so much, Traci and Heidi for sharing. I really needed to hear those testimonies and thoughts today. And to all the other ladies as well. This is such a fantastic supportive community. Praying for all the prayer requests that have been shared. As prayers are answered, please share the victories here – I’ve been keeping a list and looking forward to celebrating the victories with all of you!
Make it a blessed day! I pray we have our armor on, mouths open in praise, heads bowed in prayer, and arms lifted to God in worship and thanksgiving. Thanks be to God!
Oh My Goodness @Rhonda J and @Traci, your post really spoke to me! I have been around here around here for a long time now and never seem to be able to articulate the words to post. However, this morning before my reading I was reflecting on how I felt the enemy was after me so HARD! I read and reflect here every day, yet I feel I fail miserably every single day! I am continually leaving the door cracked and am on the never ending cycle of sin, like I didn’t read anything here, which prompted the journaling this AM. The enemy is continually distracting me and I let HIM! I have the the armor, God’s word, power and strength. I have the tools, I just can’t seem to utilize them when I am in the battle. I wrote those words that I am constantly failing this morning before even opening the devotional. Grateful to hear I am not failing, I am growing! Thank you Rhonda, I truly needed to hear those words. I have prayed for my eyes to opened, to grow closer to God. Please pray for me that my armor be strengthen, and that I build a closer and stronger relationship with the Lord. Maybe asking for prayer is the first step! Thank to SRT and all who participate here. You are making a difference. HUGS!
Praying @Cynthia!
I am not alone, You are here with me, always! Thank You, Jesus!
Oh how I needed these readings today. The Enemy has been attacking my mind and body fiercely this week. Struggling to take care of my family while my body hurts and my mind is filled with negative thoughts. Thank you sisters who have prayed for me and my back. I’m slowly regaining function. I’m finding myself increasingly motivated to rely on God’s strength and not my own.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16
Like the steady beat of a drumline that walks
alongside soldiers heading into combat, prayer is
the drumbeat in our battle against evil and
brokenness. This steady cadence of prayer
unifies us, sets our pace, and leads us onward. I love this!!! Another amazing Bible study! I can now envision my full Armor of God!!
Like the steady beat of a drumline that walks
alongside soldiers heading into combat, prayer is
the drumbeat in our battle against evil and
brokenness. This steady cadence of prayer
unifies us, sets our pace, and leads us onward.
Thank you Patti, Rhonda and Traci for your messages this morning. For all in need of prayer for so many different reasons, you are lifted up. Have a wonderful weekend suited-up prayer warriors!
Patty Sauls comment that our marching orders begins with prayer reminded me that King Jehoshaphat’s response to imminent invasion, was prayer and worship. I was also struck by the following passage in Daniel. “O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.” – Daniel 9:17. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and effectively we are now that same sanctuary that Daniel prayed about. In times of fear and concern we should take comfort that we, in Christ Jesus, are now the sanctuary who bears the very name of the Lord and he will not leave his name unaided. This thought brings me comfort and confidence.
I pray He will expose any lies your husband is believing, and clean those with the appropriate Scripture. I ask Him to bring a godly man to him who can be a guide. I pray He will give you wisdom to know what to do/not do.
Ladies, I have asked for prayer for our daughter’s wedding tomorrow. Please pray for my husband and I to be the aroma and light of Christ to those around us. This is a difficult road to walk and I appreciate your covering us in prayer. Thank you in advance. ♥️
♥️ Some if my most valued and favorite verses used in todays reading. I ask that you add my younger brother to your prayers. He is a faithful and Godly man. He is being evaluated 5/10 for open heart surgery. Long family history of this. I am praying for a miracle that something other than “open heart” can be done. He is 62.
“and we never walk alone” – Praise the Lord! Thank you, PATTI SAULS, for this powerful finale to this study!!!
@Heidi Your words on prayer moved me today. Thank you for reminding us how important prayer is in fighting evil. I’m especially moved by your last comment. “When we choose not to pray, we choose not to fight. “.
Praying at all times in the Spirit (Eph 6:18a). I used to pray for the fruit and the flowers to come, but I’ve learned to pray more for the roots. The Holy Spirit is in the roots, nourishing and strengthening. So from there, and for there, is where I mostly pray. Strong roots will produce better fruit, so I leave the blooming to God while I stay low, working the ground. Rather than asking for healing, I pray for hearts to seek the Healer. Our bodies will end where healing cannot go, but the Healer, Jesus, guides us to eternity and gives us peace that lasts forever. Not my will but Yours, Lord. “He safely redeems life from the battle” (Psalm 55:16). Shine Your face upon the desolate Lord, may Your mercy fall upon our hearts (Daniel 9:17). My soul hallows your name in secret so my life will shout in testimony of Your power to redeem and bless with joy that overflows. My heart smiles through my eyes as I look upon the darkness, knowing there is hope for those who walk in the light. Jesus, may I be a lighthouse of prayer for those who need You to lead them into Your salvation. Help me intercede for needs both physical and spiritual. But mostly I pray for the spiritual filling of Your beautiful presence to be known. As You come, healing comes, joy comes, endurance comes, help comes, peace and contentment comes in all circumstances. You give as nothing else can, You fill us with love and mercy. An everlasting spring of life-water. Like the roots, the well is down deep, coming up from the hidden ground, bringing life to the surface and seen. Give us this day, from Your hand I receive, I repent and forgive, I follow Your lead, I trust You to deliver us from evil. You protect us by Your peace as a shield from anxiety and fear (Philippians 4:7). I rejoice in Your gentleness Lord, I rejoice in Your strength. To you Father I commit myself here as I wait for Your grace and mercy to fall like rain. You give water enough for the roots and the well to overflow. Maranatha.
Good Morning She’s!
What a good study! Thank you @Traci for such a powerful demonstration, and I hope the mouse fled! And @Heidi- thank you for sharing! I know how important intercession power is, but really I’ve never realized how specific prayer against the evil grabbing onto our loved ones could be so profound! I remember thinking how amazing that was when you said you drove an hour and a half to sit in the parking lot across from the rehab center ONLY to pray for your niece, knowing you wouldn’t even see her!! I thought wow, now that is admirable, I wouldn’t do THAT!!! Then drive home, and then you went and did it again! And then drove to get her to go to church with you and back from her new home! And then you shared the miraculous events taking place throughout! It was a great testimony you gave us in sharing! It gives me hope for my niece that is caught up on a bad road leading only to more destruction. And really for all our loved ones apart from God. But our merciful God wants these lost sheep. He is calling them back, and WE, his daughters, in His family, are told to pray without ceasing.
Some of us are still in bondage, in that perpetuable cycle of that same sin, and I know it can be daunting and draining. And you wonder why if you have received God, and love God and “trying” to do better, why is it happening??! My short answer (I believe..?) is that we don’t want to completely give up full control and the sneaky devil slithers in easily with the door partially cracked as Traci said. And we keep in that “same sin” cycle that is specific to us, the hold the Devil is fully aware of, that gives him the footing. I remember vividly pulling into a coffee shop and the song by Casting Crowns came on “Let My Lifesong Sing To You,” which was my favorite song, but I had just let the same sin cycle happen in my life, and I cried my eyes out knowing that my life-song was NOT in sync with God! That was over a decade ago, but a decade after I had been on my knees “reborn.”
I’m sharing because it was laid on my heart that someone might be feeling that same way today, asking…why they want this relationship with God, but feel they are still “failing.” You are not failing, God IS growing you, working in you, He is working in your failure to renew you. That is what sanctification means, to turn the ashes into beauty. Sometimes it does happen instantly to people but be assured many people fight against the devil and fail in the beginning, BUT God..
He IS there
He IS listening
He KNOWS your heart
HE will renew you.
Keep those weapons on you, the armor of God, and pray constantly letting the Holy Spirit work in you! That is where He does the work. Feel Him inside you to guide you and nudge you to be fully aware.
Oh my goodness that was so good.
I am asking prayer for my health situation. I’m in a constant battle with my own body at the moment and has really taken a toll on me. Pray that I lean on God in times of defeat and trust in His healing powers.
“Like the steady beat of a drumline that walks alongside soldiers heading into combat, prayer is the drumbeat in our battle against evil and brokenness. This steady cadence of prayer unifies us, sets our pace, and leads us onward.” I LOVE THIS!
Thank you Traci for your words of wisdom and Heidi, your directives on prayer stirred my heart! I am so taken with your niece’s journey and how God is working in her life. It gives me hope when I hear of real life stories that confirm the power of prayer. ❤️
Ladies, I need to ask for prayer. I have been in a spiritual battle with the enemy, and it’s exhausting. He is attacking my marriage and my husband’s faith. It’s heartbreaking to watch. I have been praying incessantly for God to be ever-present in our lives, to fill us with His peace and Holy Spirit. To change my husband’s heart because He’s the only one who can. To encounter him in a way that’s undeniably Him.
This study has been so helpful for me to feel more equipped, but I’m feeling really moved to ask others to pray alongside me, which is not an easy thing for me to do.
I am asking for you to pray for a situation. My grandson who is nine years old is very tiny. He is being bullied at school. We will be talking to the principal today. Please pray for all involved. For we are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Thank you so much.
Traci, thank you so much for sharing. Wow. Good stuff. Thank you all for your thoughts during this study. Blessings to you through the weekend.
This was a beautiful way to wrap up this study! I love this devotional today so much! Be blessed, everyone!
Prayer- our heavenly drum beat! I love that! And the beat goes on. Have a fabulous, faith filled Friday, Shes. ❤️
What a beautiful wrap-up to this impactful study! Thank you!
Amen!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!!
Wow Traci and Heidi! Thank you so much for sharing! These things will be on my mind today. The power of prayer is so great.
Amen! Love todays Devo!
Prayer really is such a powerful weapon we have. Thank you @Patti Sauls, @Traci Gendron, and @Heidi for all your wisdom and encouragement for us in this amazing community. I’m happy to be back in my routine as I read every single devo on time during this two-week study. So thankful for SRT and you all! May you all have a blessed weekend <3 I'm going to visit a friend in DC this weekend which I know will be so good for my heart.
Wow Traci, what a powerful story. We do need to be on guard for the small little cracks that allows the devil a foothold. Thank you for sharing!
When I started really investing and getting involved in my niece’s addiction situation, it was when I finally submitted to prayer – constant prayer/asking others to pray/etc – that the fight started turning. Then – it was when I started specifically praying what the Holy Spirit suddenly put on my heart, which was to pray against the evil forces in the realms we can’t see. I began praying, in addition to the placing of each piece of armor over my niece, for God to send His angels to fight for her in the spiritual realm and provide spiritual and mental protection where/when she needed. Y’all, when I started praying THOSE prayers??? That’s when SHE started changing. Her exact words “I don’t know what happened, aunt Heidi, it was like something in my head just CLICKED”. Then another day- “idk what it was aunt Heidi, I was just today suddenly overwhelmed with the something speaking in my heart that I had groups of ppl praying for me and that I was being protected and strengthened by it…” (and btw? She had no clue at the time y’all were in on anything-). My point is- prayer is the strongest weapon we have in our possession and the greatest thing about it is the HOLY SPIRIT will literally tell us what to pray. We aren’t left grasping for straws to guess. Almost every time I’ve gotten on my knees for my niece and I’ve asked God what to pray, He has lead my heart to pray against things that I didn’t even know were happening until later. That statement- Pray in the fight and watch it turn” ?? Is the truest thing.
I wanted to give a resource for anyone looking to advance their prayer lives- Jodie Berndt has written a series of books about praying the Scriptures over situations and people in your life. It’s the easiest read and it is filled with scriptures that are categorized situationally to be able to pray back to God over different situations and people. It is such an unbelievable resource, if you search her name on Amazon I’m sure you’d be encouraged by it!
When we choose not to pray, we choose not to fight. We literally just let the enemy have our ground. The power it holds is absolutely unreal.
That is so good
Amen
Thank you Traci!!! That is an amazing analogy!!!
I love the illustration of being all dressed for battle and then… stopping to pray. How that reminds me of the truth of how I can’t move forward on my own without the power of God. How my time spent connecting with Him and relying on Him is what makes my armor effective.
Good morning, ladies! Thank you Patti and Traci for these wonderful devotions. Such good analogies, they helped to convict my heart and gave me encouragement as I go upstairs to “suit up” for the day. I want to pray all day but honestly, I get so busy during my day I forget. Pray for me ladies, that my first reaction is to pray! Have a wonderful Friday!! ❤️
Oh Traci this is powerful! May I share your story with my church prayer team? You have my mind so full of thoughts. Thank you
Kristie Paradis, I’m so glad you loved the podcast too!! It was really helpful for me as well. The whole series they did on spiritual warfare was great!!
Up early today to go to my Friday morning small group before work. Happy Friday everyone! Its been a good week. Still feeling anxious at work, but my headspace I feel like has been a lot better. One day at a time. Thankful for this study! Praying I would pray at all times throughout my day.
Wow! Thank you, Tracy for sharing this. May God bless and protect you all today!
Prayer is where the battle takes place.
Traci, thank you and Amen
Amen, Traci
Prayer can help us feel connected to God, to know He is there.
We can talk to Him at any time, even through the times we feel doubt, and when our faith feels weaker or attacked by the enemy.
I read this today! A good little bit before we moved in, we saw a tiny little mouse in the attic. We never saw any signs of it anywhere else in the house. Even after we moved in, we looked for signs, but nothing.
A couple of weeks after we moved in we started smelling the weirdest, most off-putting smell and it was always near plumbing (bathroom, water heater, etc). We tried everything. Cleaned thoroughly, and flushed the lines thinking it might have been stagnant water because the water was on way before we moved in so we thought that could be it. Even thought it might be the treatment plant. To no avail…..
Yesterday morning I walked through the kitchen, right past the dishwasher barefoot. I was headed to the laundry room to start laundry and was DISTRACTED. Derek walked RIGHT BEHIND ME, following my steps. He saw faint movement and looked down. And there it was, the small rat snake. He picked it up and took it outside.
He came back in and said, “there was your smell”. Rat snakes put off an awful odor as part of a defense mechanism. He had been in our house for at least 2-3 weeks. Since he’s been out….no smell.
He came in looking for a mouse. That mouse was valuable to him. He wanted it and he came looking for it. (We now have poison out in case there is still a mouse here bc ewwww).
I asked Derek how he thought it got in. And his response got me thinking this morning. He said, “he could have slipped in when any of us left the door cracked just a bit”. As we were moving, or kids going in and out, maybe walking out to the grill. It was small and sneaky and very well could have slipped right past us and us not even know he got in.
So this morning the Holy Spirit said to me, “do you see what can happen when you’re distracted? How quickly the enemy can sneak in your door, and sliver right past you? If he thinks there is something valuable there, he is going to try to sneak in and take it”.
And that’s how it happens. We miss one church service that turns into 6 months, we have one drink that leads back into an old lifestyle, we send one text that leads to an affair, we tell one fib that turns into a trail of lies and deceit.
The signs were there. I smelled the smell. (anyone that knows me understands this). I knew there was an enemy in the camp. But I was too “busy” to continue to look. So I just cleaned around it to try to make it “better”.
If satan can’t have you, he’ll distract you. Once you are safe in the Father’s arms and your name is written down, he can’t have you, so he tries to distract you. He tries to interrupt your holy living, he tries to break up your family, he tries to corrupt your mind, and he tries to fill you full of bitterness and unforgiveness.
LISTEN TO ME: He tries to stop you from getting any other names in that book!!!!!!! He tries to stop you from witnessing. He tells you you can’t, he ruins your witness through lies.
Don’t leave the door cracked. Lock it down. Be on guard. Put that armor on first thing. Stay prayed up.
-Veronica Keith
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:19-20 NIV
Amen! Fantastic example and reminder for us. Thank you for sharing.