On Guard!

NEVER let down your guard.

I wake up every weekday morning at 4:45 to go to the gym.  This past Monday, I woke up, did my morning routine, and walked out to my car to leave.  When I got in, the seat had been moved back and reclined, my glove box and center console were opened and all of my personal belongings were strewn around the interior of my car.  It was such an unsettling feeling.  After looking around to see if anything had been taken, or if any damage had been done, I moved the seat back the way I had it and went to start my car.  But when I tried to place the key in the ignition, it wouldn't go in!  I tried several times, getting more and more frustrated and upset.  Whoever had broken into my car had also tried to steal it, and had messed up my ignition in the process.  I was so upset and I felt so violated.  The would-be thief hadn't had to break any of my windows in order to get into my car, so I must have left one of the doors unlocked.  I had let down my guard, and let evil in.

The same thing happened to me in my spiritual journey.  Everything seemed to be going fine.  I had been getting so many opportunities to speak about my mission to groups at my church and more and more donations were coming in.  My goal to leave for Spain in July was coming to fruition.  But, in the process, I let my guard down.  Temptation from the devil became overwhelming.  Struggles that had seemed to leave my mind, suddenly became blinding and I felt like I couldn't say no.

Ephesians 6:10-17 says, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour 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 armour 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 round 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.

I have now taken action by arming myself with the FULL armour of God.  Believe me, temptation is still a struggle, but now I know that I cannot let down my guard for even a second.  The devil is always crouched and waiting....