Last night I had a dream in which Jon and I bickered back and forth the whole time. There was yelling and, I think, cussing too. We were in a house that wasn’t ours with an ugly sofa and floor lamps that looked like they were from the ’80s. It was scary.
I woke up, feeling uneasy until I realized it was a dream, then thought it was strange because Jon and I are doing well right now. We always have more room to grow but lately I feel like we’re engaging with each other, hearing each other and acting more like a team instead of there being underlying tension and opposition.
It was a great reminder that Satan will do anything he can to oppose the good that’s going on in my life–even sneak into my dreams. His ability to influence me is lessened, though, when I recognize he’s up to something. He’s really castrated when I arm myself with Truth, instead of sink my teeth into the meal of lies he tries to serve me.
This morning, the anxiety I’d felt upon waking immediately disappeared when I remembered what was real. The lies were exposed.
True, our home does need more ambient lighting. But I have not allowed this need, coupled with a limited budget, to affect my good judgement. I’ll choose pleasant and tasteful lamps in due time.
Scripture also brings me back to reality when my heart has strayed and forgotten. John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” What does that mean? What does that look like in my life?
A little fill-in-the-blank can really give it legs: He comes to steal my peace, kill my joy and destroy my dreams. You could get even more specific, such as: the thief comes to steal my children’s hearts, kill my marriage, and destroy our unity.
After Satan’s exposed, we can further protect ourselves by replacing the lies that mock us with the truth that girds us. Verses like these are simple but powerful:
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 1 Timothy 1:7
For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Last night’s dream was a good reminder that I do, indeed, have an enemy. It’s easy to be lulled to sleep and forget.
But that's enough about me…what about you?
What's your fill in the blank? To kill my ______, to steal my ______ and destroy my ______.
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