(the neighbor's cat)
There
is a cat. She's a cat of our neighbor's, but she has decided that she
needs to be as annoying as possible to us and our cats. She's a sweet
petite thing I will admit, but she thinks that we're now part of her
family. I think she'd live with us if she could. How did she get this
way? Subtly, very subtly.
We
knew she was our neighbor's cat, so when she came in our yard the
other day, she was welcomed warmly. A mistake on our part, I will
admit. We enjoyed petting her, and watching her roam our yard. And
within a few short hours, we realized our mistake. She doesn't get
along with our cats for one thing, and when we tried to get her out
of our yard, she refused.
When
her owner came, he tried to take her home a couple different times,
yet she still returned. She sneaked herself into our yard and next
thing you know, she'd be laying in the middle of the garden, or
staring down one of our cats. Now trying to keep her out of the yard
is proving to be a difficult task. We like the sweet kitty, but she
needs to stay with her family. Today alone I've already had to shoo
her home a few different occasions.
Be
sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same
kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood
throughout the world. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
Sin
and temptations are the same way. They worm their way into our lives,
and when we realize what's happening, they can be a pain to remove
from our lives. Just like the cat, we need to be on guard for when
the temptation returns. It's not a sin per-say, but something in my
life that is like this is stubbornness. Oh, can I be stubborn!
Over
the past several months it's something I've truly noticed, and with
some prayer & work on God's part, I'm slowly trying to overcome
it. Let me say it is so easy to be stubborn. In fact it's painful
not to be stubborn. So then I have to make a choice, do I stay
stubborn or do I yield & submit? It's hard to decide sometimes,
but God's way is best.
Submit
to one another out of reverence for Christ. ~
Ephesians 6:21 (NIV)
If
you just leave the sin and temptations in your life, it's just like
letting that pesky cat roam into your yard and doing nothing to
remove it. But, if you pray, stand firm, and remove them, then bit by
bit, you can overcome them. Some of them will be pesky and continue
to test you. Stubbornness is still testing me, and quite possibly
always will. Three verses come to mind.
Therefore
let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common
to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond
your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it. ~
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV)
I
have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the
world. ~ John 16:33 (ESV)
For
everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is
the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4
(ESV)
So
today I challenge you to take some time to think, pray, and ask God
what in your life needs to be removed. What do you need to overcome?
It is a hard, yes. But! It is worth it!
