By Rhonda Stinson
My Shiba Inu, Marley, escaped again. Rule #1: Never let a Shiba off leash. They’re escape artists and will dart if loose. There she stood, ready to cross our busy road. I was yelling every lure in the book. “Toy, treat, go for a walk, mommy’s home, bye-bye”. Nothing worked.
All of a sudden, she darted towards something in the yard. After about 15 seconds, she flung a mole into the air. She’s a terrific hunter and moles are an abundant supply in our yard. (She ended up with eleven last year.) Every time I tried to approach, she would carry her mole away from me.
I knew the only way to get her, was to get the mole. So, I waited patiently for the opportune time. I dashed for the dropped mole and swooped it up by its foot. Then I hustled to the house with Marley alongside.
My desire was to lure Marley away from the road away from death. Conversely, Satan desires to lure us into death. He uses temptations that are specific to each individual person. He knows your weaknesses even if you are unaware of them. He is a great observer! “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
When I was 15, I gained a considerable amount of weight. This only added to my already existing low self-esteem. It also hindered my ability to run sprints in track. I was devastated by the weight gain. I began dieting and exercising.
During this time, I met a woman to walk with at the park. It was a wonderful time of mental and physical therapy. The walks became routine. I don’t remember how long it took, but I eventually became addicted to exercise. Both the time and intensity of my exercise routine increased. I couldn’t function without it.
I would never have imagined that I could get addicted to exercise, but Satan knew. He knew my struggle with low self-esteem and he knew the precise time to begin tempting me with something I enjoyed. Marley enjoyed her mole and I enjoyed exercise.
Are you struggling with temptation? In Luke chapter 4, Jesus demonstrated how to overcome Satan’s temptations.
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me. It will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:1-13).
The Word of God is our only weapon of defense against Satan and it’s the only weapon we need! Now is the time to use your sword. Take action and “whack a mole”!
