A friend and I were talking the other night. And as we shared our current struggles and places of frustration, it hit me. We’re most vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks in our greatest desires.
Think about it. The things we desire most — a prodigal to come home, a healthy (trim, stretch-mark-free) body, someone to love and understand us — are the very places that can become our most devastating downfall. And I think it has something to do with the emotion attached to our desires.
We feel desire. The more we want something, the more we feel about that something.
But feelings aren’t always reliable. Feelings aren’t meant to lead us. They’re a gauge — a response to life. We have our happiest feelings when our desires are met. And we have our most depressing feelings when our desires lay on the ground as a crumbled mess.
When the enemy attacks us in our desires, and our feelings can spiral out-of-control, it’s then that we can act impulsively, irrationally, and destructively, leaving a wake of regret. I hate it when that happens.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
It isn’t rocket science. But thinking of the relationship between desire and vulnerability reminds me to stay on guard, especially in the places of my greatest desire. I want an arsenal of truths filling my mind. Because the enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And I don’t want to be his Monday meal.
Fill me, Lord…
What are your greatest desires?
How have you experienced this relationship between desire and vulnerability?
After asking a few of you personally, I’ve decided to stop adding weekly verses to the Sermon on the Mount memorizing challenge. Most (ok…all) of us are “behind” and adding verses seems to be adding stress. And that’s not the point of the challenge.
So, from now until the new year I won’t add any new weekly verses. I pray that this is a time of renewal and encouragement for those of us who committed to the journey. And I pray that God presses His words deep on our souls.
So true. Of course the enemy would go for the place of passion for us.
thanks friend.
Of course he would. Love to you, friend.
Yes – Glad to see this today. God confirming thoughts I starting thinking last night. Yesterday, I was feeling low, feeling hit in the area that I am most passionate about and asking God, “What in the world is up with me?” I resigned myself to pray more earnestly about the issue, because I was feeling like I was starting to stumble. And with a stumble can be confusion, and then lack of hope and a big downward spiral. He just seemed to whisper to me that I have to trust His unseen work. And I became aware of the enemy wanting to take me out in the places where I am weak and where I am passionate. Thank you!
I love it when He does that — speaking to the deep places of our soul like only a Father could do. I trust He will continue to lead you, Jamie.
This was very timely… I know it seems kind of silly but I have been wanting a golden retriever for quite a while. We have a black lab but that’s my husband’s dog. Just this morning there was one on Craigslist that looked perfect and was free. But – is this the right dog and the right time to get another dog?
I believe God used your blog to show me to take a step back and not jump into something, acting impusively because my emotions are involved.
Thanks.