“and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:27 NIV
As a newly hatched ‘bird nerd’ (see Bird Nerd), I took advice from my sister-in-law concerning the type birdfeeder to buy. “Donna, get the kind where those pesky squirrels can’t eat all the food.”
We’d already been battling squirrels setting up house in our attic, so the last thing I wanted to do was feed the critters.
I watched my favorite shopping channel and ordered a birdfeeder guaranteed to be ‘squirrel-proof.’ When it arrived, I filled it with food, hung it in the tree by the deck, and watched for my first visitor. Within minutes, one had arrived. Can you guess what it was? Yep. A fat, furry squirrel.
He climbed onto the deck railing. There he sat with his fluffy tail twitching, ready to pounce, trying to determine if he could jump from rail to feeder. He decided he couldn’t reach it. He scampered off, and in a few seconds, I saw him working his way through the branches. Sure enough, he stretched out his body and made a swipe with his forepaw.
The top of the birdfeeder has a smooth, plastic dome over it. When the squirrel touched it, it swung back and forth. He saw he couldn’t get a foothold on the thing, and gave up. It worked!
In Bird Nerd, I likened the birdseed to blessings from God. When I saw the squirrel trying to steal food not meant for him, it reminded me of how the devil tries to steal our blessings. The apostle Peter compared the devil, not to a squirrel, but to a lion, ready to pounce. “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)
Satan not only wants to steal your blessings, he’s looking to devour your soul. But just like the dome over my feeder kept the thief at bay, God promises protection for His children. In II Thessalonians 3:3 Paul states, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
I’m sure the squirrel has been back. They don’t give up easily. And the devil is the same way. He will continue to attack. But God has promised us if we submit to Him, when we resist the devil, he will flee from us. (I Peter 5:8) Isn’t that a glorious promise?
Now if only I could figure out how to keep the squirrels out of my attic.
Prayer: Lord, You are so good to me. You not only provide for the salvation of my soul, but also protect and bless me in so many ways. I am grateful. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
11 comments:
Nice devotionals. Thanks.
I went out on my balcony and discovered a pile of squirrel "credentials" in the corner near where the brick recesses a bit for the door. Seems a black squirrel (I have chased an especially bold one off a few times) has taken the little brick-backed corner perch on the armrail as his little throne and left a pile of droppings.
I suppose if I were going to continue in your devotional vein, I could say, watch out that the enemy doesn't get a foothold in your life or he'll make a mess out of it.
Donna
I love your devotionals and wish I had the ability to apply bible verse to everyday events in my life. You do it very well. Please keep sharing with us.
Shari
Deb, very funny and pertinent application! Thanks for sharing that.
Shari, I pray the Lord continues to open my eyes to spiritual lessons in the mundane. Thanks!
Donna
Donna,
I read your inspirational article on "Bird Nerd." I love the way you take an everyday story and connect it to God.
There is a writer in the Catholic Spirit, our diocese newspaper, named Mary Morale. I'm enlightened by her inspirational articles and have written to her a few times to let her know. You write the way she does.
Thank you for sharing this side of you.
Marilyn
You took me right back to watching my mom and dad watch birds in our yard growing up. The squirrels always were stealing the bird seed!
Thank you for sharing your insights.
Hugs,
Becky
Thanks Donna, I enjoy your devotionals so much.
Patricia J. Weaver
Donna, this is Jackie... I just read your devotionals for the first time... I am very proud of you. Keep up the great work!!!!!
Tweet tweet tweet. Chirp chirp tweet.
(Thanks for the birdseed.)
Love,
A Peacock
Marilyn, Pat, Becky, and Jackie - Thanks for stopping by! And to the Peacock? You're welcome! *g*
Donna
Donna, I will join the come out of the closet and declare I am a "Bird Nerd" as well. In the busyness of raising kids here in the city, I don't get to enjoy them too much. When I visited Michigan recently, I got to enjoy a wide variety of brightly clothed birds. My favorite - the Chickadee.
Elizabeth
I'm really enjoying your devotionals, Donna. I especially related to the bird nerd one. I am also hooked to feeding the birds this summer. We moved our feeder from a flower garden area to the corner of our patio. So now I can stare at it from my seat at the kitchen table. I am amazed at the variety of birds (and squirrels and a little chipmunk) that frequent it. We have our feeder hung on a shepherds hook- away from trees, and ended up greasing the pole so the squirrels can't climb it. Seems to be working so far. Now they settle for what falls to the ground.
Karin
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