Posts
Excerpt from Duma Key by Stephen King:
How to Draw a Picture (Part 2)
Remember that the truth is in the details. No matter how you see the world or what style it imposes on your work as an artist, the truth is in the details. Of course, the devil's in there, too - everyone says so - but maybe truth and the devil are words for the same thing. It could be, you know.
In the larger scheme - the big picture - Jesus is the truth. He is the Truth, the Light and the Way. No one comes to the Father except through Him. He is the God of all things. He created the universe and He created the smallest grain of sand on the most remote island in the South Pacific. He is not encumbered by what encumbers us: time, worry, doubt, pride, sin.
The more we allow God into our lives, the lighter our burdens become. But that doesn't stop us from choosing to carry them ourselves. We fight God. We push Him away. "I've got this God. I'm good."
When this attitude begins to slowly seep into the details of our lives, the devil prepares to set up long term residence. He loves being in the details. Once he's got his foot in the door, it's difficult to uninvite him. He is patient, especially when we are not.
When our prayers seem to hit the ceiling and fall back into our laps, the devil waits for us to invite him in by way of doubting God's providence.
But here's the thing - he has already been defeated. The only way he can get a foothold is if we give him an opportunity to do so.
To the Pharisees Jesus said:
"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
(John 8:42-47)
Do not believe the father of lies. Remember to whom you belong. You are a child of God.
12 comments:
Katdish,
That was very good.
Larry E.
Funny, as in strange not ha ha, how hard it is to let go of a heavy burden we don't want anyway, isn't it?
Thanks for this, Kathy. I've been reading in the first chapters of John and I feel like it's just not been easy to apply it personally. No one wants to see themselves in the Pharisees!
But this was a powerful sentence:
"When our prayers seem to hit the ceiling and fall back into our laps, the devil waits for us to invite him in by way of doubting God's providence."
"The more we allow God into our lives, the lighter our burdens become." Why do I always need to remind myself of this? It's like "Oh yeah, THAT'S where I've been screwing up." Sometimes when things go well, we think we just don't need Him so much any more. Wrongo-a-go-go. Hate it when that devil sneaks in to tell me that.
Me likey.
God's time isn't necessarily our time and we are impatient by nature with anything uncomfortable.
Amen - letting go is SO hard, but so beneficial. Giving it ALL to him (or trying, anyway!).
Thanks... always need that reminder that I'm not in control....
I like that- we call it the devil because we don't want to face the truth. It's scary how self-sufficient and completely like the pharisees we can become. Like you said (and scriptures say), all it takes is a foothold. The devil gets his foot in the door and its a bad deal.
Very nice- thanks.
You're right, of course. Don't give him a foothold. But once he gets it, or even while he's still looking for it, we have to keep on keep resisting him.
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
That was just what I needed to hear today.
Shhh, don't tell anyone katdish can write
This is SO good, katdish. We try to hang onto the things that really matter in life as tightly as we can, when those are the very things we should let go to entrust to God.
You've given me a lot to think about tonight.
Wow.
Post a Comment