October 11
Scripture focus: It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble." So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others? James 4:6-12, The Message
People visit me and once in awhile, they get all riled up and start yelling. I’ve heard a lot of stuff.
“There is no God! If there were, how could he let this happen?”
“I am not going to let him/her get away with this!”
“I am a good person. She/he is a big liar! If you only knew the whole truth, you’d see. I’m not as bad as she/he says! I was framed!”
People like to yell in self-defense. They yell in anger and frustration. They yell in sorrow and heartache.
People, in my experience, rarely yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper and that’s a problem. We could say it’s the first issue.
It’s football season, and I watched a team do a lot of celebrating in last night’s game. If the defensive tackled an opponent, they rose up from their victory and pounded their chests and strutted across the field. I asked my husband, “Isn’t tackling their job? These guys act like they discovered a cure for AIDS!” Ultimately, for all their chest thumping and strutting, these guys LOST the game. Spiritual renewal isn’t about banging on our chests and hollering like Tarzan. If one problem involves failing to yell a loud no at the devil, could it be that a second issue is our willingness to talk a big game about our spiritual life – without actually living it?
Spiritual renewal sneaks in on quiet feet.
Spiritual renewal is found in the quiet yes.
When people start yelling I always wonder what truth they’re trying to distract themselves (and others) from noticing.
As we learn how to say a quiet yes to God, he rushes in to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
Oh, how I pray we will learn how to yell at the Devil and say a quiet yes to God!
Recommended reading: Psalm 95 - 97
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