DON'T BE SURPRISED

DON’T BE SURPISED!

Have you ever been surprised? I love to surprise my kids by sneaking up on them when they least expect it and scare the living daylights out of them. I know that sounds mean, but it is so much fun. We often are surprised by great things such as an unexpected blessing or an unannounced visit by friends. These surprises bring joy and excitement. Then there are surprises that come and bring pain, such as the loss of job, a sudden loss of a family member, or even a temptation. Many times we get blindsided by something out of the blue when everything else in life seems to be on the up and up. Should we be surprised by this? Isn’t that what Satan wants to bring to our life?
In my personal life, when everything seems to be going well, Satan rears his head and puts a wrench in the situation. Why do I say that it is Satan that messes things up? Well, the temptations of Christ give us this example. Just before Christ was tempted, He had been baptized and then went on a forty day fast. Christ was on what we would call the “top of a spiritual mountain”. It was at this point that Satan saw his moment to pounce. Right now we are seeing some great things happen in the church, right now our worship ministry family is growing; right now we are seeing revival begin to start, so be on the lookout, and don’t be surprised when Satan appears and tries to mess up things. We have strength to get us through these times. Jesus confronted Satan head on with His word. When trials come our way we need to go back to the promises of God. Throughout scripture we are promised that the Lord will be with us even in the darkest times. Nothing, not even Satan, can pluck us out of the ever-powerful hand of God. “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations (2 Peter 2:9).”
One of my favorite promises that I claim often is found in Jeremiah 29:11.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
Plans to give you a hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come
and pray to me, And I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, declares the Lord.
Declaring the promises of God!
Aaron Hodges