AMEN! You are so right! We've sadly seen this with Christian leaders even in our own times, who after years of faithful ministry and leadership stumble and fall. Jeremiah, in chapter 17, reminds us in verse 9:
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the LORD search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Satan is finite, but he is an immortal creature, and has honed his traps and deceptions over millennia. Our flesh is always eager to consider Satan's lies, and the world amplifies them to the point of sensory overload. ONLY through daily prayer with our Lord and studying His Word, and regular fellowship with and accountability to other Christian men, can we "stay the course; win the race; earn the crown."
Thank you for this piece. Amazingly timely. I had just come off a week helping to lead an alumni retreat for The Wild Adventure men's retreat in Montana. First time to help teach and did four solo sessions on John Eldredge's "Get Your Life Back." Got home feeling like I had walked in the purpose God has for me. Well on July 4 I let me guard down and bam all the wheels fell off. Your piece hit it right on the head...the Enemy will wait like a hunter in a blind as long as it takes. Letting our guard down, feeling satisfied for a second, forgetting to stay safely in the shelter the Lord provides and the arrows start flying. Thanks for the amazing, truthful and vulnerable reminder.
You have hit the nail on the head with this one. My brother! Can't rest on our laurels...
AMEN! You are so right! We've sadly seen this with Christian leaders even in our own times, who after years of faithful ministry and leadership stumble and fall. Jeremiah, in chapter 17, reminds us in verse 9:
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the LORD search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Satan is finite, but he is an immortal creature, and has honed his traps and deceptions over millennia. Our flesh is always eager to consider Satan's lies, and the world amplifies them to the point of sensory overload. ONLY through daily prayer with our Lord and studying His Word, and regular fellowship with and accountability to other Christian men, can we "stay the course; win the race; earn the crown."
Thank you for this piece. Amazingly timely. I had just come off a week helping to lead an alumni retreat for The Wild Adventure men's retreat in Montana. First time to help teach and did four solo sessions on John Eldredge's "Get Your Life Back." Got home feeling like I had walked in the purpose God has for me. Well on July 4 I let me guard down and bam all the wheels fell off. Your piece hit it right on the head...the Enemy will wait like a hunter in a blind as long as it takes. Letting our guard down, feeling satisfied for a second, forgetting to stay safely in the shelter the Lord provides and the arrows start flying. Thanks for the amazing, truthful and vulnerable reminder.
Thank you Harp!
I have a saying that I’ve said many times after a mountain top experience “Pray and Fortify “ !
I love this. You are so right. Even when one is battling cancer as I, Satan will raise his ugly head.
What a sobering reminder-dare I say warning ‼️ Thanks for being a lighthouse!!!