Nancy Hughes: Preparing for the second attack

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8 (NIV)


The volleyball game was intense, with every spike, every serve extremely important. This match would determine which team would play for the championship. 

Players yelled “mine” or “I’ve got it” or “help” on both sides of the net. Teamwork had to be 100% or failure would be certain. No one – not one team member – could be a “weak link” and watch the volleys instead of playing the game.

Each coach watched the opposing team to see if one of the players was not totally focused on the game. If they saw it, they were quick to have their players hit the ball directly at the one who wasn’t paying attention and catch them off guard.

My granddaughter was involved in such a game. She and her teammates had won the first game of the match but the second game – the deciding game – was even harder than the first. Each girl repeatedly dug out balls that were almost hitting the ground and returned them across to the other team as hard as they could, hoping they would not be returned but ready to attack again if they were.

Ella and her team were able to pull out the win and the match but after the victory she went to her grandpa with a big question on her mind. 

“Papa,” she asked, “why was it so much harder to win the second game than the first one? We knew we could beat them because we already had. But the second win was so much harder.”

“You made them even hungrier for the second game, Ella, because you beat them the first time,” he answered. “They had nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing even harder. So you can’t play with the same intensity the second game like you did the first. You have to step it up and play with even MORE intensity the second time. Because your opponent will, too.”

I couldn’t help but apply that same logic and wisdom to my life. 

For example, I remember a specific time when I was tempted to gossip but instead replaced negative comments with positive. And yet within hours of praising the Lord for that victory, I was confronted with gossip about me that was both untrue and extremely hurtful. I felt blindsided and confused and responded with angry words and accusations instead of calm and reason.

What had just happened? I had won the first game of the match. I had turned from doing something that God hates – gossip – and instead tried to be a positive Christian influence. And with that win, I had let down my guard. I had forgotten to be ready for the second game and the intensity of the opposing team: Satan.

We can never forget that Satan doesn’t give up when we have a victory in the name of Jesus. He simply takes a step back and waits for us to be complacent. Then he regroups and attacks again with even more intensity and hate than he did the first time.

We aren’t in a volleyball game in order to win and receive a medal as the goal. We are in a war with Satan and the goal is to share Jesus so we can all spend eternity with Him. Never be surprised by a second, more intense attack. Be ready to bring on the intensity of the Creator of the Universe for the win, game and match.

Father, please help me to never give up in our fight to share Jesus with the world. Give me strength and courage to fight with more intensity every single day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

· Have you ever experienced victory in a spiritual area of your life, only to be attacked again even harder in that same area? Were you prepared for the second attack?

Apply

· Write the Power Scriptures on note cards. Place them around your home, where you work and in your car.

· Do not be surprised when you are attacked even more strongly than before by Satan. Study the Power Scriptures and be prepared to stand firm.

Power

· Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV) “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
· I Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
· II Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

               

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)