Thursday, January 13, 2011 - Until It Happens To You

    Every time I mention the delightful news that in May our daughter and son-in-law will have our first grandchild, Adalyn Faith (Addy Akin), people who have grandchildren shake their heads grinning and say things like "There's nothing like it," and "You just wait: you just thought you loved your kids." I find this hard to believe because I've always been in love with my kids and can't imagine a deeper or richer love than what we share. However, this is one time I won't mind being proved wrong as I become another gloating, photo-toting grandparent who tells the unconverted, "You just wait."

My baby girl and me on the night she told us she would have a baby girl.

    Experienced and loving people have told us things throughout our lives we've found hard to believe because it hasn't yet happened to us. They've warned us away from certain paths, yet we don't always accept our own susceptibility to the same failures and disappointments they've known or seen in others. Through the ages Satan has perfected this basic pride trap and keeps it oiled and loaded with the same bait he used with Eve: "That won't happen to you! God's just holding out on you." We're confident we can handle "a little sin" or that we can camp out next to sin without losing our spiritual footing. This ultimate conceit leads to a judgmental heart toward people scarred by pride's trap and also bolsters false assumptions that we're smarter, stronger or more spiritual than other believers. People can warn us day-in and day-out but if we fail to see ourselves for who we are - weak-willed and in constant need of God's guidance for the next step, our pride leads us closer and closer to the edge of a quicksand we don't understand until it happens to us. 
     Lord, help us listen to You and pay attention to the danger signs You leave on our paths. We don't want to learn the hard way that we're as easily trapped as anyone else. Open our eyes to accept our weakness and dependence on You. Keep pride from pouncing on us and dragging us down. Help us embrace You and our need for You as we rejoice in this day You've made for us to walk more closely with You. Make life unbearable whenever we take the first step away from You in our hearts or minds. Help us believe Your Word so we can identify and disengage Satan's traps.
In the Name of Jesus who faced and crushed Satan's traps with Your Word alone!

"When He was alone, 

the Twelve and the others around Him asked Him about the parables.

 He told them . . . " 

Mark 4:10 -11a

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,

 that You should follow in His steps." 

1 Peter 2:21

"This is the day the LORD has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

Psalm 118:24

Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest and Jesus Calling