Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16
This world can be a dark and twisted place and the rules of the world seem to change like the wind, and sometimes we feel like a leaf count in it. No control over what is happening around us or to us and sometimes we never know where we are going to land. This is the way it feels, and this is exactly the way Satan wants you to feel. Our emotions can be dangerous to us if we allow them. Satan is here in this world and he is waiting for us to be in an emotional state that clouds our minds and judgment. This is not a good place for us to be and we have to be receptive of it because if we do not we will step out of God’s path and his protection. We will find ourselves on a very familiar path one we have walked down too many times in our past, walking in a place we were before we were born again. This is not a path God wants us on and he will do all he can to keep us off of it and Satan will do everything he can to put us back on it.
When we look at Jesus on the cross we have to understand one thing…that is the wrath of God. What was done to him was meant for us, the wrath of God was satisfied on that day because of that sacrifice. So if Jesus stands in victory where do we stand? What we need to ask ourselves is why when we feel caught in the wind why do we not take our stand with him? Why do we all of the sudden feel defeated, deprived, and neglected? Why do we do this? Have we not read the Bible enough to know that we are not those things? When something is thrown in our path why do we revert back to our old ways? I have learned that when we do God will make sure that there are quite a few things thrown in our Christian walk. Not to be mean or abandon his children. It is so we can learn because we are learning and changing every day it is a growing process. If you have kids you know exactly what I am talking about. How many times does it take before it sinks in with your children? Warning, after warning, but usually it is when they touch the fire and know it is hot before they learn right? The same with us after we are born again. God is our Father and we are his children and we have to understand that he is preparing us for an eternal home. Just as we are preparing our children for this world where Satan is just waiting for us.
What should be the strongest time in our lives is when we are on top of the world with no problems. This is not how it works in this world, oh no…our strongest moments are when we are in tragedies, fear, and problems that we have no idea how it could have happened to us. These are powerful moments and it is the ones God uses and it is not for our benefit it is for his. How? This is when God does a reality check for us, this is when we realize that we might be a simple leaf flying in the wind but what makes us different is we are children of the most high God and he is in control and we have to show the world that. It may not feel like it but do not let the emotions guide you, let Jesus. When it feels like we are not getting anywhere and we feel like we are about to head down a path we do not belong all we have to do is close our eyes and recite these words “Christ stands in victory and so do I”.
God wants the world to look at us and see exactly that. He is showing the world what the faith of a child of God can do. And when Satan is on our back heels just know we are not walking alone. Jesus is right beside us, guiding us, helping us, to stay on the God’s path. And when the wind kicks up and you start feeling yourself in a whirlwind and you feel like you are about to lose control take the reality check that God is trying to show you. We are not in control, always remember that it is God who is in control of that wind, but I am just a simple, fragile leaf Shannon! Really? David was just a boy facing a giant too think about that one for a moment! My son in every prayer states to God, “the Devil may be the ruler of this world but God you are the maker” So what is this 12 year old child stating? Even though Satan may think he is in control of this world he forgets who made it. Just like we may be a simple leaf blowing in the wind, know who made the wind and who can change the direction at any given time. Faith, have faith and you will land firmly with your feet on the ground.
Today look in the mirror and think about what you see and then ask yourself when others look at you what do they see? A leaf caught in the wind with no control, or a child of God enjoying the ride!
Amen.
© Shannon Wendler October 24, 2010