Tag: blind

Are You Caught?

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:25-26

Ever thought about the devil capturing people to do his bidding?

Happens. All the time.

Yikes. Is it you? Are you caught?

Are you caught justifying your decisions because you have very good reason to do so?

Are you caught thinking you are doing exactly what God wants you to do, yet you live from within your flesh not God?

2 Timothy mentions those that are caught don’t know they are enslaved.

They haven’t come to their senses. They are ignorant.

Not blameless. Just blind. Fully engaged in the devil’s plan, yet unaware they are ensnared.

Yikes. So not cool. Can this happen to Christians?

Sure. We are saved and forgiven, yet still possess free will. And we’re human, so there’s that.

Our flesh tends to rise up to serve ourselves way too often than we’d like to admit.

So it’s easy for Christians to become caught if we’re not on guard. If we’re not purposing to live for God alone.

Ask yourself one question: does God have full reign in my life?

When you hand God full reign, you surrender your very self to Him. Your today, your tomorrow, your bank account and relationships are all His as an example. You rely on God more than you rely on your own reasoning.

Ask God to help you come to your senses. Repent for living for yourself as we all do from time to time. And begin again today living for God and God alone.

And the next time you’re tempted to walk apart from God, think of the net the devil has cast for you. And run for your life back to God!

Photos by Andrés Canchón,  Raghavendra Saralaya, Krisztian Tabori, & Burkhard Kaufhold on Unsplash

Miserable by Choice

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

There once was a miserable lady, who lived in a cottage near the edge of the forest.

She lived by herself and had grown to an old age.

Her many belongings gave her comfort since her relationships were complicated.

Her loneliness was compounded by her attitude as she continued to blame everyone and everything for her misery.

Everyone except herself.

Looking back, she had lived a good life.

She was accomplished, pretty, and comfortable.

On the outside she was the picture of health.

But she was deathly afraid.

Afraid of what, you may ask?

Letting go. Forgiveness. Not being in control.

Surrendering and accepting life.

And change.

To protect herself, she lashed out and declared herself “Mrs. Always Right.”

Her loved ones and friends never spent much time with her, because her bitterness was easily spread.

Her cottage was nestled on the edge of the great forest.

It was so beautiful – once.

Her memory smiled as she recalled all the beautiful years spent in the forest.

Simply lovely.

But her frown would always return and stay firmly planted on her face when she recalled the devastating fire that had swept through her precious forest.

Everything had burned down.

All the trees, flowers, and life.

The forest was like that for years.

Too long, actually.

And when things look bad for years, it’s easy to forget the beauty.

One day, the forest began to regrow.

New life had sprung all over the place.

Months went by and suddenly the forest was beautiful again.

Stunning, actually.

Radiant.

But she could not see it.

When the lady looked at her beloved forest, all she could see was destruction.

She could not see all the beauty.

Her bitterness had changed her forever.

Her eyesight would not allow her to see the goodness.

She refused to acknowledge her new beautiful surroundings, choosing instead to remember the fire and how her forest once had been.

Are you blind, too? Miserable by choice?

Do you only see what once was, refusing to recognize God’s new blessings in your life?

Allow God to enter, letting His new blessings flood your heart with promise and thankfulness.

There is no need to be miserable by choice.

Choose instead to be thankful as God will never leave your side.

His new plans will be great. God says so.

Photos by Chastagner Thierry, Gustav Gullstrand,  kazuend, & Bruce Hong on Unsplash

Devil’s Schemes

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

News flash.

Devil doesn’t care about you if you’re lukewarm.

He doesn’t spend his time on you if you’re not walking with God.

He figures he has you.

Right where he wants you.

But if you have life that happens….

If you have big things occur, you must matter.

Pay attention, because the devil sure is.

He knows God has a special plan for your life.

Wants at all costs to stop it.

To make you feel like God doesn’t care when your family falls apart.

To feel like God has turned His back when things don’t go your way.

The devil’s goal is to get you to stop trusting God.

To stop trusting God has your best in mind.

That God still even cares about you.

Remember that.

He wants to keep you busy, unaware of the evil influencing your children.

He wants to keep you blind to the repairs needed in your marriage.

He wants to keep you apathetic to the holes in the relationships that matter.

He wants you to think there’s nothing you could do to help anything.

That God can’t or won’t help or maybe isn’t even there.

He wants to keep you absolutely pathetic.

Because then you’re weak.

Useless.

Lukewarm.

The next time you are tempted to sink back into old habits, remember that’s where the devil wants you.

Instead, tell him no way.

Don’t give him the pleasure.

Give the satisfaction instead to God, who has promised to never leave you.

Photos by Markus Winkler, Bermix Studio , and Ben White on Unsplash