A Rat's Nest

“And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence cometh thou? And Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down.” (Job 2:2)

Walking into the kitchen, I saw our dog intrigued by a corner of the room. Because the door stays slightly open for the dog’s benefit, I thought a bird had drifted in, which has happened before. But as I approached Scout, a mouse scurried away. It slipped in unaware by me, but our watchful dog saw.

Our enemy patrols the earth back and forth, looking and listening. Unlike God: all-powerful, everywhere at the same time, and knows everything, Satan has limitations; he is powerful, but no comparison to God’s power; he can be in only one place at a time and has limited knowledge. He and his minions watch for your weaknesses and reactions to unfavorable circumstances and use that information against you. If he sees you standing firmly, trusting God, he may attack you full force like he did Job or tempt you to question God’s care or His Word. Other times, he slips into your life like that little mouse unnoticed. He is subtle, but when you are God’s child, the Holy Spirit in you warns you every time if you’re attentive. God’s Word will alert you of intrusions, but you must read, receive, and act on its message—the same is true if He sends messengers your way. Once the intruder is exposed, act swiftly, relying on your heavenly Father’s presence, wisdom, and strength to thwart the enemy’s destructive intentions.

Mice left to run free will take up residence in an unprotected space, multiply, and cause grief. Likewise, the devil takes advantage of unguarded hearts, and what better time than during this busy time of year. Lies and deception are his specialties, luring and distracting the unsuspecting targets. Though not all-powerful like Almighty God, he is still a forceful enemy. Avoid a rat’s nest of havoc; stay alert to the devil’s tactics (1 Peter 5:8–9) and enjoy celebrating the birth of the world's Savior.