This morning as I was making my way out the door, arms full; in pursuit of my vehicle to load up and get started on my day. I was going over the activities of said day and was deep in thought about some things that had been happening recently. Things that came as a surprise and not really in a good way. Things that I had pondered all night in prayer and supplication before God. Things that I was disappointed in and had hoped for a better outcome. Things that did not set well on this girl’s heart.

As I made my way to said car, feeling weighed down by the heaviness of the things in question; I stepped off of our concrete pad and onto the grass ( since I was the last home I was forced to park off the side of the driveway that butted onto the lawn). Just as I took the next step I noticed two things at once, there was a heavy dew on the grass and a not so delicate gift from our neighborhood dogs on my lawn. My right foot paused mid air and I shifted my purchases in my arms so as not to pitch head first into the side of my vehicle. My foot carried forward farther so as to avoid the “gift” and keep moving to get in the car. I unloaded my purchases into the seat beside me and took a second to catch my breath from the near foot on odorous gift collision.

I realized that had I not been paying attention I would have completely stepped on the pile of wonderous doo and then I would have had to either scrape off the offending mess and hope for the best or go back inside and wash the offense off thereby making me late to the start of my day. I realized too this was like the tactics of the enemy. Subversive, but hiding in plain sight ready to create a stink so bad it halts your plans and derails your intention. Not that satan is a doggie poo pile on the grass (mmm then again maybe he is) but that he will use anything to get us riled up and back into old fleshly habits and patterns, especially when we are distracted and not on top of our full armor game.

In life when our circumstances don’t line up with expectations or decisions of others leave one feeling defeated that is when satan uses those “hiding in plain sight tactics” to further his cause and create such a stir in our heart, we reel with uncertainty in our spirit. That is why we must always be on guard against the schemes of the wicked one. We will have trouble, people will let us down, things won’t always turn out like we would like – but when that happens our first action should not be to panic or allow it to move us into such a deep pit of despair we can’t see our way out. If our eyes and hearts are focused on God and his promises we won’t step full on the subversive dog piles the enemy loves to hide for us in plain sight, instead we will be aware of the enemies tactics and we will adjust our stride and load to accommodate the defensive move necessary to avoid a foot on odorous assault. Then the circumstances of life will be nothing more than irritating distractions at best but will not keep us from moving forward nor will it halt our plans or derail intentions.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20

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