Pastor's Blog

Devious Devices

1 Sam. 1:6 - And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret. (KJV)

Our adversary never rests in his effort uncover some area of vulnerability in our lives. Such was the case with Hannah. After discovering that childlessness was an issue of sensitivity to Hannah, her adversary pressed the verbal battle against her. No matter how fulfilling our lives may be otherwise, the adversary is skilled in attacking us around a solitary matter of personal disappointment. Regardless of any bounty that comes our way, he finds some means of diverting our attention away from sufficiency and toward insufficiency. He realizes that he can provoke us to unbelief if he can intimidate us into abandoning a faith position regarding the promise we hold dear. His intent toward us is in keeping with his role as an adversary of God’s people.

The adversary will not waste time trying to discredit the benefits that faith has brought your way. He is not foolish enough to argue against success. But he addresses those areas in which the reward of faith has not yet been fully realized. This brief glimpse into the life of one of the Bible’s most honorable mothers has brought me fresh insight into the schemes and ploys of the adversary of my soul. In these words I have gained insight into the enemy’s methods and the ultimate goal of his devious intentions. I learn that he seeks to undo my faith through provocation. In the moment of provocation I find that I am most vulnerable to accusing the Lord, especially in regard to some area of insufficiency in my life. It seems that when I compare myself to my counterpart in the world, they seem to abound in the area of my lack.

Thus, I play blindly into the hands of my adversary. For once the comparisons begin, the fretfulness cannot be far behind. As if there were not enough things to worry about, I find myself mindlessly adding another worry, another frustration, and another burden to my life’s load. Without exception, when I am provoked of the adversary, I fall victim to a spirit of murmuring against the Lord. Looking at life with tunnel vision and unable to see the judgment of God resting upon the unsaved, I am tempted to envy the unrighteous. When this happens, the adversary can kick back, light up, and relax. For he knows that soon murmuring will turn to unbelief as the spirit of fretfulness sets in.

Fretfulness and faithfulness are mutual adversaries. They refuse to keep company with each other. Thus when I sense the level of fretfulness rising within, I know that the enemy has succeeded in provoking me in some other area of my life. Having diagnosed my spiritual condition, I hasten to prayer. Like the response of a motorist who immediately stops the engine after having noticed low oil pressure, I lay aside those matters that seem important for the moment. I refuse to once again pick up the burdens of life until the adversary’s provocations are answered and the fretfulness of my spirit has been assuaged.