April 23, 2008
The
daily mail and email always has an element of surprise. Will there be an
unexpected note from a friend or acquaintance, a ministry newsletter telling me
the latest from some group I’m involved with? What will the latest devotionals
reveal or confirm?
Sometimes
in the mail there are just bills, but even those can be reason for thanks
because they mean I have a roof over my head, heat for my house, water to wash
with and electricity to see at night.
Often
the box is filled with junk mail. There is a new sale at the furniture store
that has ads and sales 365 days a year. The list goes on. You may be our lucky
winner! You are pre-selected to; I really love being pre-selected, especially
when it’s addressed to occupant [said with a slight tone of sarcasm]; that
type goes straight to the trash.
The
junk mail is lurking there amidst the things I look forward to, trying to
distract me. It’s not just in the email, mailbox; the radio and TV airwaves
are full of distractions.
I’ll
be watching a program on television and a blatantly sexual commercial will come
on, trying to fill my mind with junk and my heart with lust for their particular
product.
Driving
down the road, in the midst of a beautiful piece of scenery a bill board will
appear advertising a casino, the size of this week’s lottery or the latest in
designer booze.
Businesses
need to advertise, it is a fact of life, but there is no doubt that their
advertising can distract us and rob us of joy.
In
the same way, Satan will work hard to fill our mind with "junk mail"
thoughts. He started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and continues with
you and I today.
You’re
no good and never will be.
God
won’t forgive you again; you’ve been to Him to many times already.
You
can’t expect God to use you; you’re not good enough.
You
don’t really believe the Bible do you?
Just
one time won’t hurt; who is going to know anyway?
With
the constant bombarding from the enemy, it can sometimes be difficult to believe
that we have been made new or to focus on our walk with Jesus.
No
matter how hard Satan tries to fill your mind with junk mail, don’t buy into
it. Like the reselected pieces addressed to occupant, send his mail straight to
the trash.
No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I
am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39 NIV
Ignore
the junk mail because you belong to God. Don’t get distracted and filled with
garbage just because it’s sent your way.
Until
next time, may you grow in your understanding of how much Father loves you and
be strengthened against the junk Satan continually throws and sends out.
God
bless.
Darrel
Mason