Defend your home
The girls and I were watching Home Alone the other day. It’s a little early (I know), but we just love that movie! I can always count on getting those belly laughs out of our girls; it’s the best!!! While watching the movie, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) said something that really made me ponder. See, he was preparing for the two criminals that would try to enter his home and harm him, and he said, This is my house. I have to defend it. When Kevin said that, I immediately thought of my house and all the things that correlated with it such as: my faith, my body, my spirit, my prayer life, my children, my marriage, etc. I had to ask myself if I was diligently and watchfully doing my part in making sure that all of these things were robber proof, because I know that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). We have to understand and know that we, and anything to do with us, are the enemy’s target. This is unavoidable truth, but we can be victorious. We need to think of ways to stay in the offensive mode, and not just the defensive mode when the enemy attacks.
I thought to myself, I may have the praying down, but what other things could I be doing to prevent and protect my family from being harmed by Satan? Luke 12:39 says And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. I didn’t want to let the enemy or any of his minions into my home, I didn’t want to give Satan a foothold (Ephesians 4:27) or have my home be broken through. Kevin’s statement made me assess all of these things, and reminded me of the enemy’s scheming ways. Let’s look at another piece of scripture that will help us. Matthew 7:24-27 says,
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
This verse gives us specific ways of keeping our house sturdy, strong, and secure. Are we listening to God’s Word? Are we putting it into practice? Are we doing what God asks and commands? I admit that I am not perfect and often mess up, but I don’t want my slip ups to be an open door or invitation for additional problems in my life. We must be watchful, and be obedient to God’s Word. If not, we unintentionally invite our natural enemy to bring chaos and wreak havoc in our lives and relationships. So I encourage you (as I did) to take an evaluation of your life. Assess what you shouldn’t be doing and what you should be doing. Once you have done this, do what you need to do, and stop doing what you don’t need to be doing, to get things back in their rightful order. Some suggestions are praying, repenting, forgiving, mending relationships, confession, or even things like going back to church, checking into rehab, meeting a counselor, working on your marriage, or reaching out to a Godly friend(s). Ask God to speak to you on what He wants you to do. After you have done what you can, rely on God do the rest.
Let us Pray.
Our merciful God, God of Grace,
Today we come to you in gratitude. Thank you for speaking to our hearts, and helping us on this journey with you. We know that as natural enemies of Satan, he looks for any way he can to hurt us and make us miserable, but Lord, you are our Helper. Speak to us and show us what we need to do to guard and defend our homes, in whatever context that word may mean. Let us rise up and be the prayer and spiritual warriors we need to be. Show us the importance of defending our homes/families/relationships. Thank you for this message and for wanting us to be alert, informed, and knowledgeable of the enemy’s schemes so that we can be victorious. Meet the needs of the readers Lord, whatever they may be. Bring restoration, life, joy, health, and love back into their lives. Thank you for everything Lord, we give you praise, and exalt you! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
