Mouse Trap…

There’s a mouse in the House… Mice usually aren’t welcome in the house, we set mouse traps and bait them to get them, some of us capture them and release them back into nature, others allow their cat to pounce on them but in this mouse in the house case we are not going easy, we are showing this mouse who’s boss.

I have finally broke, it took me awhile through this isolation thing, but the last few days have been a war zone of flaming arrows coming at me. Why? Because I let me guard down and not even a lot, I let it down a little bit – and that’s all it takes, and a mouse came in my house - give the enemy a tiny opening and he’s got his foot in the door, now I’m shoving and pushing trying to close the door again, and instead of jumping up onto the table or chair to get away from the mouse, I’m in the Word to exterminate the critter. The enemy knows where to push and how to push us down, sending a lie our way and waiting for us to take the bait and if we consider it, he runs all over us.

For me this time my guard was down just a little bit but the fighter in me noticed sooner than I usually do, so I began to counteract I began to straighten myself up. Here’s how it went down…

The last few days have been struggles for me because the last couple months have flipped over my time with my Heavenly Father and this kind of snuck up on me (for real). And now it’s all changing again. When I’m not spending the right amount of time in my day with the Lord, I am not filling up properly to handle things, even if it’s just day to day duties, I need time with God and usually when I spend time with the Lord He multiples my time and more importantly I’m filled up in the Lords way and not in my own strength.

The other thing that has been happening is that I am running on a short fuse (like really short) when I am running low and falling short, I am very hard on myself (I have talked about this before) especially when I make mistakes (this is where the enemy has a party, when we are not doing things quite right and we take it out on ourselves). Usually when this happens and I am downcast I look to God and He lifts me up to keep going and I either go sing to Seniors, visit a senior, or someone that I know is having a tough time, or even a coffee date with a sister in Christ. I have a hard time obeying this task God puts on my heart manly because I don’t want to dump all my problems upon someone else but honestly it helps me to leave all my baggage behind and be an encourager for someone else and it always blesses me too, without expecting to be uplifted I am afterwards.

Beautiful moments God gives to us even when we are not expecting them, they boost us up so we can remember even more of God’s love while we are sharing encouragement – loving on others, Gods love is more visible than ever.

In these times of adjusting to the changes not in our own scheduled plan, I realize all the opportunities that raised me up when I was in a sinking ship, I have to get a bucket and start bailing water out so I can sail my ship again. Never give up!

Trading fellowship, singing, or meeting with others to lift up in encouragement for diving deeper in with God. Remembering to not fall for the enemy’s sneaking around.

A few key notes:

1. God time should not come last it should always come first. (I suppose I need to get up with the birds with no hesitation.)

2. Nothing should take place of your God time. (I honestly can’t function properly without it).

3. Don’t feel guilty ever about spending time with the Lord. (I have been torn up, where do I go what do I do? I’m spreading myself thin, kids being home – should not take place of your God time).

2 Thessalonians 3:13 NIV. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

I am an absolute wreck when I don’t spend enough time with the Lord each and every day and all of us have to take initiative to keep it that way, I get all bend out of shape when my God time is lacking. I need to fill up with the good of God so the good of God will come out of me and be shared with others in a loving way, because when I am not filled up with the good of God the not so good comes out – especially when our schedules are adjusting, changed, flipped over or we are tired because our routine is off, never sacrifice time with God over anything, it is way too valuable.

Heavenly Father, I love You deeply and have missed time with You, please forgive me for not getting up with the birds and please forgive me for allowing the mouse in my house believing lies to put me down, for You Lord are the one who builds me up in all the right ways, I shall never lack or be smitten by a mouse. I thank You Lord for coming to my rescue allowing Holy Spirit to guide me back on the right path with Your strength, realizing early on that I was lacking time with You being in Your Holy presence of abundant love and greatness. O Please Lord equip me better in standing upon Your Holiness not sacrificing You for anything. Refresh me Lord with Your goodness and refill the empty places within me that I long for in You Lord, I love You, and miss You, help my tether be unbreakable with You. In Jesus name, protect our time Lord, Amen.

God’s blessing…

2 Thessalonians 2:13-16 NIV. 13 But we ought always to thank God and for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NIV. 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men., for not every one has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.