October 21, 2010
I recently had the priviledge to take a few days off and head for the hills of the great state of Tennessee. MY family and I were hoping to see major leaves changing, but we were a little early for that. We still had a nice time together. While we were there through a couple of different instances the enemy of our souls Satan, tried to rob us of the joy of justing getting a way and relaxing. As a matter of fact I had told my family we all need to agree with what the Bible says, “that no weapon formed against will prosper or succeed. (Isaiah 54:17) The enemy was just after our joy. This was actually my first time to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN area. I had been in other parts of that state and the Smokey Mountains, but for some reason never that specific area. Can I say it is breathtaking without the colors of the leaves changing. God knew what he was doing when he made the mountains.
During a couple of the days while there we thought we would hike up the mountains. We did hike them for a mile or two. At the base of one of the trails up the mountain there was specific instruction on what to do if you saw a bear. My kids FREAKED! The instruction were clear ; 1. Do NOT run the bear will chase you. 2. Throw objects such as rocks or big limbs at the bear. 3. Make a lot of noise and make yourself look bigger than you are. 4. Don’t stand in the middle between a cub and the Momma bear. We still hike up the mountain for a couple of miles anyway.
Sound familiar? Isn’t that just like Satan? Isn’t it just like him to make himself in your daily life larger than he really is? More powerful that he really is? He makes a lot of noise at us. He will go after you as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. ( 1 Peter 5:8). Satan can only take the power that you give him through your words, attitude, thoughts, & actions. I often joke that if a bear was chasing me all I have to do to get away and survive it to out run the slowest person in the group. But the truth is I would put my family and others before myself for their safety. That’s the way we need to live everyday as unto Christ. Romans 12 tells us how to be true salt & ligt in the world……treat your enemies better than yourself. That is genuine love. Genuine love is pure joy! Thanks for reading…..
