Girlfriends in God - Aug. 18, 2008

August 18, 2008
The Unsecured Window
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV).

Friend to Friend
As I put the finishing touches on my makeup one eerie September night, a mysterious tapping came from the bathroom window.  I turned off the overhead light to get a better view. When I did, I saw the outline of a man peering in at me through the second story window.

My heart pounded as my feet stood frozen into place.  Then, as if propelled forward by the invisible hand of God, my body ran down the stairs and burst out the front door.  I fled to a neighbor’s house and rushed into her kitchen.

“Sharon, what is wrong?” Mrs. Scarborough asked.

I stood, silenced by fear.
 
“Sharon, look at me,” Mrs. Scarborough said again.  “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a man in my window,” I finally managed.

Mrs. Scarborough called the police and within minutes, uniformed men were scouring the premises and looking for clues. After I calmed down, I realized the real danger. This part of our home was a later addition and the upstairs bathroom window was the only window in the entire house that did not have a lock.  I suspect the man knew.

The Bible tells us of another enemy that roams around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, and like the perpetrator, he is always looking for the unsecured window - the unlocked door – any area of our lives that we have left unprotected.  We must purpose to guard our hearts, for an unsecured window of the soul is an invitation for the enemy to creep in and wreak havoc on our lives. He wants to do more than look, and he’ll take advantage of any easy access he can find. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy.  So make sure you’re not leaving any area of your life vulnerable to attack.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, please show me any area of my life that I have left vulnerable for Satan to creep in.  Help me to guard my heart and secure every area of my life from his attack.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. 

Now It’s Your Turn
Can you think of any area of your life that is not secured - a door that is left open to temptation - a window cracked just enough so the devil can creep into your life?  

Think about what you look at or listen to.  Consider your relationships.

If you have teenagers, consider how they might answer those questions. Truthfully, securing areas of vulnerability is something we never outgrow.
 
More from the Girlfriends
Today’s devotion was taken from Sharon’s new devotional book, Extraordinary Moments with God.  Come with Sharon as she dusts for God’s fingerprints that change ordinary days into extraordinary moments.  As you explore this treasury of stories highlighting “God moments” in the lives of fellow travelers, you too will begin to sense His presence in extraordinary ways.