We have baptized many new believers over several different Sundays in recent weeks. It has been amazing to see God work, lives forever changed, and parents engaged in disciplining their children. We have so much to be thankful for as God is faithful to redeem people and change lives, as only He can do.
In the midst of that celebration, I must make a very personal confession. The Enemy loves to play to my insecurities and doubt. Numerous times in recent weeks I have doubted my effectiveness as a pastor. Perhaps it is due to comparison or criticism, but the Devil wins when he feeds our insecurities and causes us to inadequately celebrate God’s work.
In those moments God is patient to remind me to breathe and reflect just on the previous Sunday or take a brief assessment over the past month or two to remember that He is at work and using our church to advance the Kingdom. I’m then able to cast off the insecurity and get back to work.
Why do I share this? You are likely not a pastor and not experiencing this exact thought. However, you are human and are prayerfully a child of God. If so, you likely experience this same pattern of thought. We are often guilty of wallowing in our own self-pity or insecurity to the point that we are crippled and paralyzed. The Enemy loves to isolate us, even in our own thoughts. The Enemy is so effective to cause us to forget what God has done and to replace the truth with a lie. Can you relate?
It may not make us feel any better at the moment, but there is strength in numbers. As we reflect on the frequent complaints of the Israelites, they often experienced short-term memory loss. God would deliver them from Egypt and they quickly complain. God would provide water and they quickly complain. God would provide manna, and they would be unsatisfied. This pattern plays out in our minds each day too.
We struggle with contentment. We always expect to about. We think we should be excused from any pressure or stress. When things don’t go our way we panic, gossip, complain, and even bring others down with us. We must recognize this pattern and avoid the pitfalls, but how?
In our sermon this past week we investigated Exodus 16:1-3 and highlighted a few actions steps which include:
- Remember His deeds by writing them down and journaling.
- Reject lies from the Enemy when we know he works to deceive.
- Resist the temptation to engage in gossip and isolate our input influences.
- Raise the flag of redemption as we carry hope to the world.
- Recognize the mercy and patience of God.
Feel free to listen to the sermon in our archives to unpack what each of those may involve. For now, the point is that we live with a sense of self-awareness of the Enemy’s tactics and are faithful to remember the provision, faithfulness, and mercy of God.
In His love, He gives and is patient. In His faithfulness, He provides all our needs according to His limitless capacity. In His grace He redeems. In His power, He has already defeated the Enemy. So the next time the Devil tries to distract you, pause and notice what God is doing in the moment to teach you and reflect on how He has proven Himself over and over in the past. Keep looking up and keep moving forward!