The Big Picture

The devil has a wicked and sly way of playing games. He uses trickery and deceitfulness, making us believe that when we're doing something wrong it's really right. When we're close to a major breakthrough, promotion, or hurdle in life he tells us we are so far away we might as well toss that vision and resort our own thoughts & plans rather than that of God's. That's precisely how so many dreams get shattered, marriages lose their strength, and we lose our focus. His plan uses doubt, discouragement, diversion, defeat, and delay. Oh the list goes on and on when describing his bag of tricks, but know confidently that he is well aware of what can set you back. He knows what your downfalls are and he knows where you're the weakest. The moment we lose sight of Christ and center ourselves around the things of this world that satan has to offer, he attacks ferociuosly. He's altogether a prowler. Yet he highly underestimates the breadth of God's mercy. Often times so do we though. But that's no green light to live a life entirely unpleasing to God just because you think you can get away with it. God is the only one who TRULY knows your heart and the sincerity within it. We will ALL have to stand in front of Him one day to for our actions. The terrific authors, John & Stasi Eldredge of the book "Captivating" quoted it like this: "Wounds don't just stop once we grow up. Some of the most crippling and destructive wounds we receive come much later in our lives. The wounds that we have received over our lifetimes have not come to us in a vacuum. There is, in fact, a theme to them, a pattern. The wounds you have received have come to you for a purpose from the one who knows all you are meant to be and fears you. "

It makes total sense when you begin to understand how far back Satan wants to hold you in life from God's unique promises to you. God gives us the freedom to make our own choices-everyone knows that, including Satan. He also knows how the story ends, so he will do what he can to keep us from carrying out God's plan for our lives. When we live for God and center ourselves in His will, it becomes your living testimony. That means others will see God glorified in your life. Satan doesn't want that, therefore he doesn't want you in God's will. God will fulfill HIS plan with or without us, so we can be confident in the proclaimed ending to this magnificent story. The NLT study bible makes several scriptural references about the devil that I will mention in short to give you an idea of his character: "occultists get their power from him; defeated by Jesus' death & resurrection; his goals contrasted with Jesus'; hoped to divert Jesus from him mission; misinterpreted scripture; rules the evil spiritual world; his work has become more intense; meets his doom in the lake of fire."  

Satan makes it very easy for us to lose sight of the big picture and focus on tunnel vision that doesn't do anything to remind us of eternity and this short little stint on earth called life. Keep your nose in The Word and stay prayed up so you always see the bigger picture.