Bug Spray

     I wrote a devotional for Protestant Women of the Chapel group today.   I am blessed to be a part of the PWOC International Conference Prayer Team.  These are ladies that are spread out across the world praying for an incredible conference that will be held in the fall. The conference will host military spouses, retired spouses, and active duty women who attend PWOC around the world at all of the military posts. The Prayer Coordinator liked it so much she honored me by asking if she could send it out to the PWOC ladies here at Fort Knox.  (gulp...I might have to come face to face with some of my readers!)
So here it is:

     We are moving into "March Madness" in our home and I'm not talking basketball here!! I'm talking about my calendar and all of the events that have filled my days, long before I have even flipped to the new month!! I know we are all here! What keeps me focused in maddening times like this is staying focused and filling my days with praises to the Ancient of Days.  I'm quite sure He has had His fair share of "madness"!!  

(Think about what His calendar looked like on Day 6 of Creation - YIKES! The animals!!)

I also try to remember when I'm running from one girl"s swimming lesson to the other girl's band practice, that whatever I do, however I do it, I do it to the Glory of the One who made me!!  This really comes in handy when I'm making breakfast at 5:30am, or packing lunches, or doing laundry.  

I try to keep in mind that He loves me and that He has a specific purpose for me that only I can do!!

 (Which, apparently, in my household, is scrubbing toilets!!!)

 Now, I pray that the following analogy brings a smile to your face.  It may be a little bit under the category of "stretching it", but the topic is one that keeps coming up in my Bible Study.  I figure if there are 17 Ladies that are struggling with this type of thing in the middle of Kentucky, chances are, there are a lot of others who struggle around the globe.  

The enemy is not, can not, and will never be omnipresent.  

However, he has employed imps, minions, and demons to do his dirty work for him.  

We must never forget that our struggles are not of this world. (Eph. 6:12).  

Praise God that He is Omniscient, Omnipresent, All-Powerful, and Almighty!!   

Hope you don't mind a few insects...  

A common theme that keeps coming up in my heart and mind is what I tell my Bible Study Ladies are the "whispers" and "tickles" of the ear from the enemy.  You know the tickles of "you're not good enough", "you're a failure", "you're not worthy", "you're not lovable", "you're a terrible mom/sister/wife/friend/person."  

We all have these whispers and they come in many forms. They come at all times, 

like a gnat that buzzes in your ear.  

Swat it away, it comes right back.  

 I wonder how many of us need a good can of "RAID" to rid ourselves from the annoyances of those pesky imps of the enemy?  How many of us get tired of swatting and just become accustom to the buzz?  How many of us allow the gnats to nest in our ears, creating more and more of the pesky insects until we have become completely infested with the lies?  

 Do we not know that we have THE EXTERMINATOR?  

    Our God is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and All-Sufficient!! 

He can exterminate those gnats that are doing the enemy's work because 

He is LORD of ALL!!!  

We can call on Him and He will exterminate the gnats and rid you of that infestation, if you allow Him to do so.  We merely have to call on Him, humble ourselves and seek His face, and He will heal us. (2 Chron. 7:14)  

     I think many of our sisters today need to call The Exterminator.  Maybe some of us need to call on Him. We need to hand each other that can of "RAID"

 (or the Christian Brand of the famous aerosol spray - "PRAY" ) and say, 

"I know someone who loves you merely because you are you!  He made you and pronounced you "GOOD!" You are an original masterpiece.  (Eph 2:8-10)  Don't listen to the lies, whispers, and tickles of the enemy!  Quit swatting them away, only for them to return. Exterminate the enemy with God's love...

a love He has specifically and personally for you!!"  

     Is anyone else here? I'm sure there have been times that you found yourself in a swarm!!  And if we have a plague of gnats,...what about our other friends or sisters?  Are they swatting their ears?  Grab your cans, ladies!!  Let's spray and PRAY and call on the great Exterminator who destroys the lies and restores our hope.  

May we bring sweet melodies of praise to His ear because He has rid our ears from the buzz of the enemy.   

Quit swattin'!  Let us be armed with our can of "PRAY".  

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and PRAY and seek my face and turn form their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14  

 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork ~ His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

Ephesians 2:8-10 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 

~ Ephesians 6:12 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."  

Ephesians 6:18 

 May you all have a blessed week!!   

All is Grace and Blessings,
Stefi