A couple of nights ago, I called my older boys and offered them this caution:
“Be on guard, sons. Apparently our family is now Satan’s new, favorite chew-toy.”
The next morning, my mother called with a similar warning:
“Elaine, I’ve been standing here in front of the mirror, curling my hair and thinking about all that’s been going on in our family over the past couple of weeks. We’re fighting something we cannot see, a battle of spiritual proportion.”
It seems as if my family is standing up against a formidable foe in this season, feeling the constraints of our faith in overload. Accordingly, I go to God’s Word this morning and allow it to speak truth to my soul. In thinking about Christ’s struggle against the enemy, I am strengthened in my own efforts at resistance.
“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” –Luke 4:15
Two things strike me about this verse:
- An opportune time known as desert testing.
- An opportune time yet to come.
There’s a plurality to the devil’s scheming. Funny how often we’re surprised by this reality. It’s not as if one opportune time is more difficult than the other. Opportune times are straining times, all of them stretching the comfortable boundaries of faith and requiring a step beyond what feels reasonable. I don’t imagine many of us go looking for opportune times (especially ones involving a forty day fast in the desert or a gut-wrenching surrender to nails and a hammer); instead, they seem to find us, pulling us in without notice. Almost accidentally.
Almost.
Opportune times. The Greek word kairos, meaning “season, opportune time. It is not merely as a succession of moments, which is “chronos,” but a period of opportunity (though not necessity). It is a critical or decisive point in time; a moment of great importance and significance; a point when something is ready or favorable, a propitious moment.” (NIV Key Word Study Bible, 1635-1636).
Read that again slowly and consider Christ’s conflict; consider your own. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Opportune times are not accidental occasions. Instead, they are orchestrated, carefully selected, and purposely planned. Whether schemed by the devil for our destruction or willingly allowed by God for our perfection, opportune times are those hinge moments in our life’s history that swing faith in one of two directions: a right one or a wrong one. Really, there’s no middle ground in opportune seasons. Either we live them right—live them forward and in faith—or we live the lesser road. A road of regression, wrongful conclusions, and regrettable distrust.
I don’t want to live on the side of distrust. I want to live rightly on the side of faith, fully believing that no weapon forged against me will prevail. That, in fact, victory is my heritage as a servant of the Lord (see Isaiah 45:17). Accordingly, I must pick up the sword of the Spirit and strap on my spiritual armor, because the opportunistic arrows of the enemy will not be quenched by feeble, weak-minded, and weak-willed faith. No, to stop his forward progression, I must stand in the strength of who I am in Jesus Christ.
I am God’s child. I am his chosen bride. I am the apple of his eye.
So are you.
Be on guard, friends. If you’re not in the middle of an opportune season right now, I imagine one is waiting for you down the road. Don’t fear its advent; rather, recognize it as it arrives and for what it has the potential to be—a hinge moment in your faith’s history that will strengthen your understanding of God and will catapult your witness forward for the exponential increase of the kingdom.
Satan may have come to me and my family in what he thought to be his opportune time. However, he seems to have momentarily ignored that my times (opportune and otherwise) are in God’s hands. They all belong to him, and his purposes for my life override any schemes to the contrary. God holds the chain to the short leash attached around Satan’s roaming, and today my Father has willingly and forcefully yanked it a few times so that the devil remembers who’s in charge.
I am grateful for God’s strength in this season and for your prayers that have, undoubtedly, tightened the noose around the devil’s neck. What privilege there is in standing alongside you, my mighty warrior friends! As always . . .Peace for the journey,
Elaine,
Thank you for these words. You explain everything so I have no trouble understanding. I think Satan tried for those opportune moments in my husband’s and my lives these past few years. He pulled out all the stoppers and yes, there were many times, I questioned God and my faith took a dive here and there. But I can say today, Satan has not won. I put my trust in God and he saw us through. Still is. Each day when I wake up. Blessings to you!
Friend, I know you’ve walked through this to the other side! We shouldn’t underestimate the enemy’s schemes. Sometimes, however, I think we underestimate God’s. The enemy is out to steal, kill, and destroy. On the contrast, God is for life, our eternal life. He’s for us. Always. Sometimes it’s hard to remember this in the middle of the night. Love you dearly.
How is it, that every time I drop by, your words grab me and might I say, shake God sense into me! These few words “Opportune times are not accidental occasions” and what came after it put me back on the ‘faith path!’
~Tammy
The notes from the NT Lexical aids slayed me on this one, Tammy. Seems to me there are certain times in my life when I am most vulnerable to an attack, even though I think I’m good to go. Thanks for being here.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this… God holds the chain to the short leash attached around Satan’s roaming, and today my Father has willingly and forcefully yanked it a few times so that the devil remembers who’s in charge.
I am putting that on my wall sister! I just love it! Sending you and yours my thoughts and prayers during, what appears as, a very difficult time.
Let’s yank his chain some more by spreading the word!
What a blessing you are! Your transparency & wisdom (and insights) make for an amazing testimony.
You and your sister’s prayers have made all the difference. Of this I am certain! Please tell her for me.
This very day, God has yanked satan’s chains in our household too. We have just finished thanking him for some specific and perfectly timed answers, answers we have been seeking. I loved this blog Elaine and you are in my prayers. To step out on those feet of faith and wave God’s flag in satan’s face seems so daring at times, and yet, that’s where we seem to be and I’m going to keep waving it!! 🙂 The promises behind that flag make me strong… you too! 🙂
So glad for the victories we have through prayer, Sonja. Celebrating God’s answers in your life!
Elaine, your faith bubbles up, spills over, and encourages us all! Bill and I are joining our faith with yours and Billy’s during your family’s current season of opportunity…y’all have certainly been there for us during our many seasons! God, yanking satan’s chain…I like that visual!
It’s quite a graphic one in my mind as well – it helps to think on it! Take that, devil!!!
Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world, right, Elaine? Continue to stand firm in that mighty armor of God, my friend!
Sometimes I get so buried in the details, Cheryl, I forget this important truth. Intuitively I know it; when I slow down and take time to think upon it, my heart is settled in God’s presence.
I’m in the middle of a two-week teaching entitled “Armed and Anchored”. It is a powerful message regarding the enemies tactics combating God’s truths. It is heightening my awareness of the war of the worlds that is battling in the unseen. Yes, the enemy waits for an opportune time…and we must stay in God’s Word, and on our knees so as not to give him a favourable moment for attack.
One thing I’m trying to remember is that when I pray, I pray not just for victory, but FROM a place of victory…the battle has already been won and I’m more than conqueror. It is imperative to “take up” the whole armour of God daily, without it I stand exposed and vulnerable.
As we bowed our heads for Family Worship after dinner tonight, Gord’s first request was for you and Billy and all your family. May the prayers of others move God’s heart so that Satan’s “opportune time” becomes God’s opportunity. If you are Satan’s “chew toy”, may the taste of Christ all over your life have him spitting you out quickly so that the wounds don’t go too deep and healing and full restoration will occur.
Love you my precious friend. Standing with you in this battle.
Hugs and prayers,
Joy
We’re walking this road together, Joy. I’m so grateful for the prayers of the saints and for friendships forged in the fire. You’re a fountain of strength for all who know you.
Amen sweet sis, really appreciate this. I love you.
Specific prayers for your continuing strength last night, Denise. May God show you just how beautiful you are!
My immediate thought was of Jesus telling Peter that he would deny his Lord, but that Christ would pray for him. He then charged Peter that when it was all over, Peter should ‘strengthen his brothers’. Peter went on to become a powerhouse in New Testament church. Christ is interceding for you before the Father and I know that when it is all over (and even in the midst of it) you will strengthen your brothers and sisters. My prayers are with you.
I never want to forget these opportune times. Ultimately and certainly, faith prevails and God moves me forward through to victory. Oh that I may be quick to my knees and to my remembrance when opportune times arrive on the scene of my life. Thank you for lending your strength, sister.
Elaine, I am in the midst of a crossroads almost more difficult than waiting for my biopsy to learn I had cancer. Just as five years ago, something is being removed from my soul for biopsy and I am in the “waiting period.” I keep going back and forth, am I making the right choice?
opportune seasons. . . “Either we live them right—live them forward and in faith—or we live the lesser road. A road of regression, wrongful conclusions, and regrettable distrust.” This season could be snatched by the devil with devastating results for my husband and I. I am praying for God’s army of angels to encamp around me and I must dress with the armor of the Spirit to wage war against the principalities of darkness! As Joshua 1 says, “Be strong and courageous.”
” . . a hinge moment in your faith’s history that will strengthen your understanding of God and will catapult your witness forward for the exponential increase of the kingdom.” May it be so!
Very timely! Cyndi
http://advocateofhope.wordpress.com
Praying for the decision in front of you, Cyndi, knowing that our Father holds strength enough, wisdom enough, grace enough, and love enough to carry you through to the other side. Be in touch with me privately as you would like.
And,this is why I love you. After being punched square in the nose by the enemy’s sneaky left hook, you get back up and show us no matter what…you are the daughter of a King. Sweet friend, whether you feel victorious or not, do you realize how you bring glory to our King? Encouraging the saints. It’s what you do.
And, this is why I love you. xo
(BTW – I Tweeted, FB’d, and PINNED this piece. Praying many read your words today.)
And this is why I love you – a constant stream of encouragement to my soul and to others.
Amen what Joanne said! For us in Him, I am so glad that even when it looks like Satan is winning, he is ultimately the defeated enemy. He may waylay us longer by our unbelief, but we always have the victory in Jesus! Relentless love hung on to me during a long ugly season and thankfully taught me some valuable lessons. I love this encouragement Elaine, and glad you are STANDING on the word of His promise. God bless you!
Relentless love . . . I’m still learning this one, Kathy. For whatever reason(s), I struggle with the perfect love of God that never lets me go. I continue to pray for God to help me accept this unconditional love and walk in the freedom of his grace.
wifeforthejourney:
What a blessing to read the other comments and words of encouragement. You have a pretty amazing collection of readers, friends and prayer-partners represented here and it is good to know that we are loved and supported by the Body of Christ. Even as we consider the seeming pile up of current trials, you have no idea how your sense of humor has lifted my spirits over the last week. Who else comes up with “Satan’s-Chew-Toy?” You make me laugh; I mean if I ever had the guts to get a tatoo, that would be it!
Love to you and to the Body of Christ at large!
~ Billy
“God holds the chain to the short leash attached around Satan’s roaming, and today my Father has willingly and forcefully yanked it a few times so that the devil remembers who’s in charge.”
I liked this! I’m going to remember that visual. That puts it into perspective for me. We must remember who’s in charge. We are His chosen bride. He has an entire army whose job is to protect His own from satan’s ambush…count on it!
Prayer warriors indeed! They form a shield to stop the flaming arrows that satan assigns… It is called the shield of FAITH. And in those times when our own arms get tired of holding up the shield… God sends His army to strengthen and uphold us. It is in these times…as you have so beautifully described in that word picture…that He jerks the chain…and reminds satan who’s really ‘in charge’.
We are never alone…
may the God of peace reign in your hearts and home
through this next leg of the journey.
prayerfully
patrina ><
Hey Sweet Elaine! I stop by from time to time and read your beautiful words, but this message made me stop to write you a note. You are such a blessing to me and to others–even when you have to talk about Satan’s Chew Toy. We need to know what warfare is and Who is in charge ultimately. I hate these seasons at times, but we always come out stronger if we let God’s victory in the battle mark us.
Much love to you!
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca (a.k.a. tiggerdaisy)
p.s. Found any good new Amish fiction that I need to check into buying?
LOL, Rebecca. I’m a bit out of Amish fiction now. Good to see you here again.