Sept. 5, 2011
Ephesians 4:27-32
"nor give place to the devil"
This verse in Ephesians, clearly says to not give place to the devil. Most would skim over this, placing an imaginary check next to the verse. Don't let the devil dwell in you. Isn't it that simple? I don't worship the devil, or allow him to persuade you to do evil things. That you are conscious of. Now wait a minute, let's run through a common situation: You are inside on a beautiful summer day, working on your taxes: they're due tomorrow. You're a bit stressed because of your time crunch, and bitter from the fight you had with your spouse the night before. You hear neighborhood children outside screaming and laughing, soaking up the bright, warm sun. All of the sudden you hear a huge CRASH followed by some screams, and then silence. You run to the front room, to see your front window shattered, and laying in jigsaw pieces all over your living room floor. One's immediate reaction to this added stress, is anger. But allowing that anger to flourish and explode from your mouth would be allowing the devil to take residence in your mind, and do as he would please. This is not of God, but clearly of satan. These are small things that we don't often give the time of day to. Things that are of the devil, small situations, big reactions, someone hurt at the end. Allowing the sun to go down on your wrath from the night before doesn't help either. The devil has been stirring evil in your heart from before, so this incident was just piggy-backing on what contempt was there before. The devil works this way. He is quick to act, and quick to snowball his works until, subconsciously you are doing the very thing you didn't think was possible for you. Giving place to the devil. He works through your hot temper, your snappy attitude and selfish ambition, all things that have built from giving him snippets of your mind over the years; allowing him to reside.
I need to be slow to anger. I need to think, not with selfishness and pride, but handle situations with humility, asking the Lord "What Would Jesus Do". It's going to be hard to kick the old habits, but I desire to not allow the devil to take residency within my heart, and to renew in me a pure heart, solely for glorifying God.
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