The snake slithered up to her and challenged her mindset. He fed her half-truths but worse, engaged her mind and held her captive beside him while he carefully crafted a concoction of confusion.
Did God really say?
Could He have meant…?
Is that really true?
While Eve saw a serpent seeding her second thoughts, our enemy is invisible.
Invisible but not invincible.
We often do not realize the pause is what captures us.
We hear something that is not quite accurate, but we want it to be. We want a taste of the forbidden fruit. Or a sneak peek. Just dip in our toe.
Our enemy knows us. Knows how to make sin appealing to us. He knows when we wish to be polite to the person at the table who wants to engage us in conversation.
Knows how we falter when we are tired. Or hungry. Or hurt.
The enemy knew Eve. He watched her. Maybe he knew she had a soft spot for talking things out. Maybe he watched her gaze linger on the forbidden fruit.
However he knew, we know what Scripture tells us about him.
He knows God is real, and knows he must take orders from God. (Job 1:12).
Our enemy watches us and he will wait for an opportune time. (Luke 4:13)
We do not need to fear our enemy because God has given us the ability to trample satan. (Luke 10:19).
While satan has some authority today, he will eventually be stripped of all authority and God will triumph over him. (Romans 16:20.)
We as believers possess the Holy Spirit. And He who is in us, is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4.
I wonder if like me, you might need some of those reminders from time to time?
I feel like I make a mistake and the enemy likes to serve up the memories to me on a silver platter with a booming voice that lives rent-free in my head.
And yet, that’s not how it has to be.
Ephesians 4:7 instructs us “do not give the devil a foothold.”
Choosing to pause and contemplate what was just said either by an audible voice or the voice in my mind can create fertile ground for confusion. In a garden of blessings, it can cause me to stumble into the one curse present.
I have learned in several decades of life that I need to be honest with myself. Am I too tired? It’s time to go to bed, not attempt to make any decisions. Have I missed a few days in Scripture? I might be running lower in the patience department than I initially notice.
But while I may not be aware, I can believe that the enemy of my soul is very cognizant of when I might be weak. And I can bet he’s coming for me.
Like Eve back in the garden, we may not realize that pausing to engage in a brief conversation can have dire consequences. We don’t know what we don’t know.
But God does.
Before engaging, we need to invite Him into the conversation. We need to check ourselves and trust where He is leading us.
Will you join me in prayer for just that?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I don’t know what I don’t know. Let me be honest. I need You to help guide my conversations. I need You to author my pauses. I need You to show me when to engage and when not to feel guilty walking away. Help me to stay in Your Word and recall it in my mind. Lead me and guide me, Father. Thank you, In Jesus’ name, amen.