DO YOU EXTEND THE INVITATION
Good morning, I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I have been blessed to have my son, his wife, and my three grand-babies from Tennessee in to visit with me. They will be staying for a few days, so I am sure my smiles will be extra big on the blog.
Today I want to talk about something I had on my mind. I don’t know how many of you have seen, or read, the Twilight series. This was books that were later made into movies, about the Cullen family. Believe it or not, this was a romance movie about vampires.
In the movie, and in others I have seen, a vampire cannot enter your dwelling unless you extend an invitation. I am not sure why I was thinking about this, or even why I started associating the devil with vampires, but I wondered if the devil worked in the same way. Can he only enter your dwelling if you extend the invitation?
After I said my prayers that night, I laid there and started talking to the devil. I told him he was not welcome in my home, and that he needed to vacate immediately. It was a little more detailed than that, but you get the idea. I went to sleep and had a dream that scared me. I dreamed that the devil and the Lord were in a battle with me in the middle. I was screaming and kicking at the devil to leave, and the Lord was trying to pull me to him. I am ever so thankful that even in my dream, the Lord won. But, when I woke up I was still a little shaken by the dream.
In Sunday school the teacher was talking about a frog that would grab the innocent fly and gobble him up. She said it reminded her of how the devil does, just waiting to gobble us up. I asked her about my theory, did she think that the devil has to be invited. After all, the devil tries to trick us into doing wrong, but he doesn’t grab an innocent person. In order for the devil to grab us, we have to willing give him an opening. Does your thoughts open the door? What about lying, even the little white lie, does that open the door? Profanity, vanity and pride, gluttony, jealously, and gossiping are just a few ways that the devil can open the door and enter your house. These are “normal” sins that almost everyone is guilty of committing, it does not have to be robbery, rape, or murder.
So, what are we to do? There is not one of you reading this (or writing this) who is not a sinner. There will not be anyone in my church today who is not a sinner. That is depressing, but that is the reality of situation. BUT, because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we have hope. We can ask for forgiveness, and the Lord will show mercy. If you repent to the Lord with an honest heart, He will not only forgive your sins, they will be erased. That is the truly amazing part!!! I have forgiven several people for grievances against me. I have even said prayers for those same people. BUT, I have a hard time erasing the memory of the grievance, or the pain that was caused by their actions. I am thankful the Lord shows us mercy and grace.
While the devil may not need an “invitation,” to tempt us into doing evil, we do not have to accept his “invitation” either. Tell him to leave, he is not welcome. Maybe, if we tell him long enough, he will move on to an easier target.
I hope you will share this post on Facebook or Twitter. I hope this reaches someone who maybe struggling, just like me. Have a blessed day with those you love.
Very thought-provoking post! It was a good reminder to be constantly aware of the little nooks and crannies that serve as a foothold for the Devil. It’s good to get “prayed-up” in the morning to keep the awareness all day long.
A very interesting post, thank you. My thought is no, we do not have to invite. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
But the verse that really gives me chills is Job 1:8 “And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Did you catch that? “Have you considered my servant Job.” Wow! God pointed Job out and Satan went after him. Job sent no invitation. But I certainly have no problem reminding Satan who he is and is not and who is victorious and who is not. In the mean time, put on your armor!
I was a part of a large megachurch. My husband and I attended a satellite of the church that ran about 500. It closed last October and we decided not go to back to the main campus but instead to find a church closer to our home. We quickly fell in love with one five minutes away but I wanted to rejoin the choir. When I did join our new church’s choir, I was surprised that I would wake up with our choir songs running through my mind. Seriously, my first thought was a song lyric. (Quickly followed by, “Oh, I have to go to work…!” Anyway, this was a strong reminder that when I justify watching a Rated R movie because I’m an adult and I won’t go murder someone or start using that awful language – it’s still in my subconscious. I’ve been a lot more of aware of what I’m watching and listening to in the last few months. Thanks for the thought-provoking blog entry.
So thankful that you share your beliefs and the word of our Lord and Savior. We should never be discouraged to share his greatness. Thank you for using your platform to share what the Lord lays upon your heart. ?
Thank you , Tania, just thank you for that post. I know the Lord is using you in this blog and may He bless you as you continue to allow Him to use you.
Well said.
excellent post. Makes you think about the things we do allow into our lives. The devil does have a way of worming his way into your life.
Hi Tania! I enjoyed your post today – then again, I always do. 🙂 Yes, we can open the door for the devil to enter our lives to tempt and torment us when we willfully go against God’s word and do the opposite of what God has told us to do. It’s part of the free will that God has given us. We can choose to obey or disobey God, even after we have accepted Christ as our Saviour. Adam and Eve had free will to choose their actions even though they could walk and talk with God face to face. Boy did they ever blow it!!! (I have a few choice words for Eve someday, but that’s another story altogether.) I think it is alright to still have hurt or angry emotions when recalling past hurts done to you by someone. I don’t think that has anything to do with not forgiving that person. The emotions we have come from our human souls, but our ability to forgive comes from our spirit when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. He is the One who helps us to forgive others just as Christ forgave us on the cross. After all, to not be able remember past wrongs (or rights, for that matter), and to not have any feelings associated with those past actions, we would have to have a good case of amnesia or be in a deep coma or something like that. The good news is that God is a God of justice and we know that He will make everything right in the end. Have a wonderful Sunday with your grandchildren from Tennessee!!!
I know it wasn’t an accident that I found your blog. God led me straight to it, because He knows just what I need. I look forward to your post each day.
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Great thought provoking post. I think you are so right in saying if we let all the little sins mentioned creep into our lives daily we can compound them until the devil is already in. Asking for forgiveness and trying to do better are what we as Christians strive for. I had a wise pastor tell me once that people that hurt you need to be forgiven for your own sake not theirs. She also said you don’t have to forget. But with TRUE forgiveness over time you do forget that wronged feeling. It is very hard. And as you said we are all sinners. My husband had a co worker who had a phrase for evil people ” God don’t like ugly”.
Thank you for sharing what was on your heart!
Thank you!
Well said!
Tania this is a great post! I know you are a very brave and caring person and I love you dearly! I am bad to tell my middle child(you know who) to tell those crazy people having a meeting in your mind THIS MEETING IS OVER GO AWAY.! Have a great Sunday!
This post truly got me to thinking. I, too, have someone who used to be in my life but after a terrible falling out, I have found it impossible to forgive him. Maybe with prayer, this can now be done. It was such a thought provoking analogy about comparing the devil to vampires. They both want to suck the life out of you. Let’s try and keep the door closed.
Truly spot on ! The devil is very skilled at deception . . . remember the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ . . . not all evil presents itself in ugly, angry, scary personas . . . be aware and be willing to say ‘get thee behind me, Satan’.
Tania, I love Your Post…..I also believe that the only way we are forgiven by Our sins is through the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST…..& Yes I believe we do lots of things that invite the devil, the enemy of our souls, into our lives……With that being said, God gives us the Fruit of the Spirit & Prayer which we can have as much as we want!! God knows we are made of dust & The Word says His Grace & Mercy will cover us……Now, we have responsibility in that area too……To Pray & Believe & Trust in God, that His Fruit, Mercy & Grace through Jesus Christ Blood will cover us….When we repent…GOD HEARS, HE LISTENS & HE MOVES…..It is our Job to try our very Best to Follow Him & His word in Obedience that HE THAT STARTED A GOOD WORK IN US WILL CONTINUE IT TO THE END…… GOD BLESS YOU REAL GOOD & YOUR FAMILY & ALL OF US THAT WE WILL STAY CLOSE IN REALTIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST & THAT THROUGH THIS OUR JOY OF OUR SALVATION WILL BE WIDESPREAD IN US & TO OTHERS……PRAISE & WORSHIP TO OUR GOD…HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY & ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THIS POST …….. IT IS MAKING ALL OF US THINK & MOVE!! GOD BLESS…DEB
Thank you for sharing your faith so openly. I know the devil is alive and well but I pray for help everyday not to let him win. So many times evil is right in front of us but we refuse to see. There are evil people we must all continue to pray for and not let ourselves be drawn in. The only one we answer to is God.
Love this post Tania! Just what I needed today!
Wonderful message for a Sunday. I totally agree – the devil is sneaky and invitations are often hidden in good intentions or subtle offerings. Only by listening to the Holy Spirit do I have a fighting chance to avoid them most days! One of my favorite scriptures memorized for moments of battle are ‘Let no weapon formed against me prosper.’ Don’t recall which Bible version I located this years ago but I’ve said it so many times it pops automatically from my mouth during a crisis, most often in the car when bad drivers are nearby!
Enjoy your time with the family!
Tania, what a beautiful and poignant blog today. You have surely pleased the Lord your words. May you and everyone reading this be blessed!
So on point. Thanks for sharing. Have a beautiful day!
Very well said and I like how you make us think.
Amen!!!! Beautifully written from your heart Tania. I had a preacher once that I dearly loved. He is still living and I haven’t seen him in years. He used to say “Tell the devil to go home….and you know where his home is”. I learned many scriptures from him and other sayings he used to say. I also had an aunt (now went home to her Savior) that used to pray the blood of Jesus over me all the time. She also taught me to keep my Armor of God on at all times. (Ephesians 6) Enjoy your family and the rest if the weekend. ~Lisa~
This was an amazing post, Tania. I am guilty of telling someone I forgive you. But I haven’t been able to let go of the pain of what was said and done to me. It eats at me everyday. Your thoughts are so well written. People will be asking you to write a devotional blog soon. ?
Amen! The
What a great blog! Keep up the good work.