The Tricky Lie from the Enemy from The Burning Bush Series
“Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.” Psalms 90:14 CSB
Hey friend,
I’m so glad you are here. We have been discussing what it looks like and means to have an ignited walk with God over the last few weeks and wow – God has been faithful to show us some important truths. If you missed the main story, you can find it here.
Just to recap – we have discussed how God wants us to be available as well as to be available with the correct heart posture. We also discussed how details and blueprints are not included. God wants us to step out in obedience and faith when He asks us to do something and not to rely on our own understanding.
So, let’s dig into the next lesson with a question. How can a good and even a great environment still be bad and deceiving? I honestly didn’t think it could until God pointed it out through the fire.
Lesson #4
Environment is key and means everything – We can be deceived into thinking that we are already in the right environment because we attend church and are active in church activities. Friend, this was another lesson God taught me from the fire. The bushes that were located to the right of the flame weren’t even on fire even though they were close to the flame. The branch stems on the outer edges of the fire were only warm even though they were close to the hot coals. They were near the environment but not ignited. That day, God pointed out another tricky lie from the enemy. See, the enemy wants us to think that just attending church on Sundays, reading devotions here and there, and possibly throwing in some Christian music is enough to sustain us in this walk of life but that is only half of the story. Without the proper environment on a daily basis, we might start out ignited but will end up in a parched, empty, defeated heap with our flame out, feeling guilty for falling short of the mark and wondering what went wrong.
Adam and Eve were in a perfect environment in the garden of Eden. God had provided them with everything, and Satan still came and deceived them by twisting the truth. The enemy is still whispering lies and is still performing the same tricky schemes to either turn people away from God or weaken God’s people so that they won’t be effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Church is very important, and we need it. However, it should never take the place of our daily, intimate time with our Savior. We need that intimate time to grow closer to Him and to grow up in our faith.
So, how do we develop the proper environment on a daily basis? We do it by being intentional. Our key verse gives us some insight – “Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.” Seriously – who wants a dose of satisfaction, joy, and gladness? I certainly do!! We begin by cultivating an environment with Jesus into our daily rhythms. Jesus totally and completely satisfies us when we choose to spend time with Him. Friend, it is a choice that no one can make but us. I can guarantee that if we don’t press pause on our crazy life to spend time with God then we won’t walk ignited or be as effective for the Gospel. How can I guarantee that?
I can guarantee it because it has been part of my story for way too long. I was the girl that relied more on church sustaining me than God sustaining me through an intimate time spent with Him.
Friend, I bought the lies from the enemy, and I became so parched and so empty. I don’t want to return to the land of parched and empty ever again. I don’t want that for you and neither does our amazing and holy Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for rescuing me from the lies of the enemy. Thank you for showing me that you are the only one that can sustain me. Forgive me for buying into to Satan’s lies. His mission is to devour, kill, and destroy but you bring life – sustaining life to all who call on you. Thank you for being so loving and so good. Help me to develop rhythms in my life so that I can become closer to you as each day passes. I love you Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”
Psalm 90:12 CSB
“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 CSB
Reflection:
What lies have you bought from the enemy that God might be revealing to you?
What is one thing that you can do today to be intentional about spending time with Jesus?