Daily Temptations 

   “Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5: 8) 

   The father of lies is among us.  He waits for us, seeking to draw us away from our faith.  His ways are devious, sly, and effective.

   One of my favorite books is “The Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis.  If you’ve not read it, I strongly recommend it.  Screwtape is a senior demon, a master at using small, everyday occurrences to draw people into sin.  His nephew, Wormwood, is in the world striving to claim souls for Satan.

   When Wormwood’s subject joins a church, Screwtape advises that this can be a good thing.  He can be made to judge others in the church on the way they dress, or sing; even the way they look.  There are even some who are obviously hypocrites.  The fervor of new faith is dulled by a judgmental attitude, an attitude that will undermine and destroy his faith.

   Every day we face little things that can undermine our faith.  We, like Wormwood’s subject, judge others when we shouldn’t.  We get upset when something doesn’t go exactly as we want.  Jealousy keeps us from loving those who may be more successful.  Prejudice keeps us from accepting others who may not look, talk, or act like us.

   If Satan can slip even a toe into the door of our soul with small, inconsequential matters, he will soon come roaring in to lead us further and further astray.  Though we are weak, with God’s help we can reject the evil Satan wishes.  But we must make the effort and seek His strength.

   Someone once wrote a book called “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s all Small Stuff.”  I’m sure Satan is a great fan.  If he can convince us that the small stuff doesn’t matter, it becomes much easier to lead us on to the big stuff. 

We are bombarded daily.

Satan tempts us always.

Give us the strength to refuse him.

The strength to stay on Your path. 

Amen