Monday, February 23, 2009

The Devil's Schemes

Last year when I attended the She Speaks Writers Conference, Lysa TerKeurst said that when you are working for God, be ready to be attacked by the devil. If you are writing a marriage book, be ready for a rocky road in your marriage. If you are writing a parenting book, your little darling may turn into a little dickens. The devil will attack you to make you insecure and in hopes of not letting you complete your work for God.

Two weeks ago, on a Wednesday night I wrote my thankful Thursday post and said I'd been faithful in exercise & Bible reading. I even gave God the glory. The next morning, when my thankful Thursday posted, I missed my workout. I then literally lost my Bible. I couldn't find it. I got behind in my reading more than a few days. (yes, I have more than 1 Bible, but my reading guide was inside of my lost Bible).

I've since found my Bible and caught up again (and gotten behind again too...I'm currently 5 days behind in my reading, or 10 chapters of Leviticus no less!) I had to miss a 2nd day at the gym to go on the field trip to the Circus with my daughters.

I feel a desire to "beat myself up" over these failures. Yet, I know that is exactly what the devil wants. He wants me to just quit. He wants my attitude to say "I'm so far behind I'll never catch up!" and give up. But I won't quit, with God's help.

I reminded of the lyrics from "Might to Save.*" It says to God, "So take me as You find me, All my fears & failures, Fill my life again. I give my life to follow, Everything I believe in, Now I surrender (I surrender)."

I am weak, and I can be lazy. I don't like exercising, and the Old Testament is hard reading! Yet, there is power in God. I must be strong in His power. So today, I will fight the devil.

Ephesians 6:10,11 -- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

James 4:7 -- Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Chatty Kelly
*If you haven't heard this powerful song, here is a video:

27 comments:

Tammy said...

Boy, can I relate to this post!

Mary Moss said...

I absolutely love this song. The band at our contemporary worship service plays it often and sometimes it just goes on for several minutes because it's easy to get caught up in it.

Good for you for recognizing Satan's attempts to sidetrack you. Stay strong; trust in the Lord for He is Mighty To Save.

Patrice said...

That devil stays busy, he tries to stay camped at our home! Great way to rebuke him!!! Keep going even if you are behind!

Great song, one of my fav's!

Homesteader in Training said...

You are so right! I second that whole post! And I really like that song. It's one of my favs.
Blessings,
Kim

Melanie Dorsey said...

Kelly,
Remember when I posted my Ski Tips for Living? The very next day my husband had the skiing accident!

'Glad you found your Bible.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Dorothy Champagne said...

I remember Lysa mentioning that - and it is so true. We begin to feel that we are not qualified to do what God has called us to do. Yet we have to remember, it is not us doing it - it is God, we're just the medium He's using. Great post today, and an awesome reminder for me at this time!

Things Above said...

LOVED this message! And oh, I needed that lesson! Praise God for your openness and authenticity! Press on!

God's girl said...

I've heard the song, but watching the video made me love it more.

Keep on pressing on!

Mrs. Sidney said...

I just had this happen to me. I was meeting with a friend on Saturday morning and we were talking about marriage and I shared how grace has changed mine. That very night grace was gone and we were on the crazy cycle. Man, is the devil good.. thanks for sharing.

My ADHD Me said...

First of all, I want to say that I am going to go and get that CD you gave me a few years ago and put it in my CD player in my car. I can't even remember who it is singing on it, but this video reminded me how inspiring it is to listen to Christian music.

Now,
Thankful Monday for Kelly.

1.Be thankful you found your Bible.

2.Be thankful that even if you are behind, you did actually catch up, therefore, you read more of God's Word on some days than you might have otherwise.

3.Be thankful of the laughing and excitement you had at the circus.

4.Be thankful that you took the time to make a wonderful memory for your girls.

5.Be thankful that even though you may feel weak, God makes you strong.

6.Be thankful that you ministered to at LEAST one person today (me) and reminded me that Christian music can be fun and inspiring.

"Jesus Conquered the Grave", so that you will be able to conquer the devil....and you will!

Julie Gillies said...

Last year right before She Speaks I became very ill with pleurisy-a painful inflammation in the lining of the lungs. Guess what made it hurt the worst? Speaking! The enemy may be against us, but God is for us, and far greater. The enemy can sometimes sideline us, but he can never STOP us.

Oh, and Mighty to Save is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE songs. I listen to it on my ipod frequently.

Love and prayers, Kelly!

Sue J. said...

Aren't you glad that all things happen for His good will and purpose? Your sister put a lot of things into perspective and you have, again, drawn God's Word to appropriate conclusions.

Just make sure you fight by fleeing! He can just as easily cause you to rely on your own strength to fight the battle, and you don't want to go there....

Greg C said...

You are talking to me Kelly. I really needed this reminder myself. I know it is true but it was nice to see you write it. The more I try to strengthen my relationship with God, the more the devil trys to tear us apart. That's how I know I am doing well.

Mocha with Linda said...

Amen. I remember in junior high (it wasn't called middle school way back then!) thinking "what's the point of a quiet time? If I have one, the devil attacks me all day. If I don't, he leaves me alone." LOL

Keep on keeping on!!

The Patterson 5 said...

Keep on striving towards that goal God has placed for you! I know He's cheering you on as well!

B His Girl said...

Love the song and the lion is roaring over here too. B

God's girl said...

#6 on ADHD = me too:)

Joy in The Truth said...

CK: I love your always honest heart and posts. :)

OK, I want to encourage you in your daily reading, but I have to tell you....I am just finishing Leviticus in the Chrono NIV Bible and it was hard!!! "I am the Lord your God" kept popping out, which was my refreshment from all the rules and regulations. Numbers is coming next!

Hugs to you!
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow morning as I finish up Lev!

God's girl said...

Kelly, I was reading my Bible and have a verse for you and Miss "b".

Isaiah 31:4-5
This is what the Lord says to me:
"As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey- and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor- so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights. 5 Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it."

Edie said...

I wake up with that song in my head a lot. I was even humming it when I started to read your blog. :)

Loved the reminder. I'm continuously asking Him if I'm headed in the right direction. He faithfully continues to affirm it.

Shabby Olde Potting Shed said...

You GOT THAT RIGHT! ABSOLUTE TRUTHS here! I STAND and fight with ya sister!
AND... guess what? I just walked to my mailbox and guess what??????????
I FOUND THEE ABSOLUTE COOLEST COOLEST SURPRISE .... AND TO THINK*
you said you weren't a CRAFTER?????
HELLO???? OHMYGOSH! I'M stunned! OVERJOYED and jumpin up n down for JOY~! LOVE IT SO MUCH KELLY! If it's alright, I'd love to share it on my blog. If not, just let me know; that's okay too! But thankyou thankyouthankyou!!!!
smoochy holykisses,
I LOVE mighty to save..!!!
and HE IS!!!
Time to sign off so you can go read in Leviticus!
Thanks Kelly!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

The lyrics to this are so inspiring.

HisPrincess said...

Wow Kelly. I'm feeling under attack at the moment. I have just joined a leadership group in our church and I've been feeling really insecure about it. Like whether or not I will do it well, whether I deserve to be in a leadership role, whether it will have a negative impact on my family.

thanks for pointing out that the devil is indeed busy, and when he's this busy, he's scared!

Marla said...

I get side tracked from my daily Bible reading also. I feel so guilty when I miss a day, I am sure it isn't God making me feel guilty. I wish I could read early in the morining, but I already have to get up at 5:30am and get on the road by 7am. Sometimes at night I am to tired. But I usually do read at least one chapter most nights.

LisaShaw said...

Thank you for this TREMENDOUS encouragement! I just started to go LIVE with a pro-life Ministry and came down with a horrible flu which has now turned into pneumonia or bronchitis. I'll know for certain tomorrow with the xrays but the dr put me on more meds. Anyway, it was exactly two Thursday's ago when this started and it was the day before I was about to launch the website.

I have said that whenever you step up and step out for God even more the enemy will attack.

Greater the levels, great the devils.

Keep pressing in my sister in Christ and so will I, so will we all.

Bless you.

Kay Martin said...

Trip over to my blog and see I've featured your comments.

Warfare: you're right it's real and the more we are filled with Holy Spirit the more we get tried. In fact, I believe this so intensely I break out laughing when things like your Bible disappearance occur. I say aloud, "Oh, I didn't know God was working in me this profoundly. So, now I'm a taget. May God be glorified and I call on Him now to show me where my Bible is."

I take it and flip it that little ole me is messing with schemes of Hell. God is the power and I rely on Him. As long as I realize the priority is God and His Kingdom I can pray and rejoice no matter what.

Great content on this blog as I expect it to be from you.

Beverlydru said...

Joyce Meyer teaches "new Level, New Devil". Uggh. I'd rather be a lover than a fighter, but it doesn't seem we have a choice. Thank God He's equipped us with weapons for warfare. WE're all in this together. That's encouraging too. : )