Serpent's at my heel

The thing about a spiritual warfare is that it is always there – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, until we die and say our last words. It is unlike the battlefield we often see in the movies. We build tents for shelters. Then we arrange for a day to fight and we fight. Then we rest and wait for the next fight. There is a war zone defined clearly. But for this warfare, it is everywhere, in every part of our lives.

When things seem calm and you decide to give in a little to your willfulness, it leaves a handle for the enemy – our big ugly enemy. He watches us every minute of the day, watches out for that tiny handle, grabs hold of it and turns it bigger and then he strikes – TWIST! I cry out in pain. Before you know it, you are in a war, except that you won’t recognize it. He is subtle, so very subtle. Like a serpent at my heel, I feel his presence but he goes unnoticed. I let down my guard just a tiny bit. He attacks. I limp with a bitten heel.

I was wearing out, felt I was losing my grip. Then God sent His trusted warriors to my war site, replenishing my resources. And my Father won and I was released from the serpent’s grasp.

When I realized what had happened, I cried out loud. How did I become this stupid? Where was my self-proclaimed intelligence and discerning mind?

I picked up Mere Christianity again. Got to reread my war books. He won’t get me that easily again.