spiritual battle
Faith Lessons From a Furry Friend
By Julie Ferwerda
CBN.com –
“Eeek! Squeeeeeeeekkk! Hi-yah! Woo-eee-wah!!”
I rounded the corner of my house to see a furry little version of “Jackie Chan” trying to pull a karate move on my big ferocious black cat, Pepe. With his little hands up in the air karate chop style, and his legs slightly spread apart for balance, the bravest little mouse I’d ever seen was ready for action!
Every time Pepe reached out to grab his appetizing afternoon snack, the mouse squealed loud enough for the neighbors to hear, and lunged back in an offensive maneuver. I watched Pepe fling the biting, karate-chopping mouse off his paws several times, only to run after him again. For Pepe, this was a game. This was fun. Yes, Pepe would play…and wait (and drool), taking as long as needed to wear down his furry little victim. If he was patient, he would eventually get his meal…
But Pepe underestimated his victim. Little Jackie—fighting over life or death—never gave up. For about a half hour, he fought and struggled and protested. Initially, I wasn’t going to get involved, but in the end I just had to rescue my desperate friend with the beady little eyes. With heroic effort, I picked him up by the back of his furry little neck (normally, I don’t recommend this), and set him free out in our field—much to Pepe’s disappointment.
There’s another big black hungry cat lurking in your neighborhood this year, and guess who’s on his snack menu? As you begin this new year, remember that you have a ferocious, hungry, dark enemy who wants to devour you and your future. Getting you to compromise and to give up out of discouragement is a game to Satan—one that he will play very patiently. He won’t try to eat you up right away, but he will go in for the slow kill—telling you lies that will wear you down. He will try to get you to give in little by little to the things you said you wouldn’t do, while pulling you slowly away from the awesome plans that God has for your life.
Don’t be his play toy! I encourage you to fight like little Jackie Chan Mouse. Decide that Satan has underestimated you! Fight back as if your life depends on it—because it does. And just like that mouse, when you are trying to stand strong and resist Satan, all you have to do is ask God for help and these great big hands of mercy will come down to rescue you and set you free. Don’t give up, my friend. Get in your karate stance and fight back with God’s Word! Then watch your “big tough” enemy slink away with his tail between his legs, defeated and very disappointed.
Psalm 18:16-19 “[God] reached down from heaven and rescued me; He delivered me from my powerful enemy who was too strong for me. I was attacked at a moment when I was weakest, but the Lord upheld me. He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.”
Julie is the author of The Perfect Fit: Waiting for God’s
Best after Failed Relationships and has written articles
for other publications such as Marriage Partnership,
Brio & Beyond, HomeLife, Discipleship
Journal, and Revolve III Biblezine Project for teen
girls (Thomas Nelson, July 2006). To order the book or to find
out more go to: www.JulieFerwerda.com.
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