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Current Weekly Devotional
Devotional for March 1-7, 2010 By Minister Mamie L. Pack
No more armadillos
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5: 8-9 NIV
Early this week while driving along, I happen to catch a glimpse of some sort of animal walking along the sidewalk. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was, but then much to my amazement, it was an armadillo. Outside of the zoo, I have never seen an armadillo in person. I was quite excited about my recent sight and even more surprised that it was walking about during the daytime. Actually, I think I was more surprised to see it given where we live.
Armadillos are interesting little creatures with their hard shells, strong claws, and a keen sense of smell. Although they are small animals, they can do quite a bit of damage. These animals are known to use their small claws and legs to dig burrows under all sorts of environments that are dark and preferably next to water. Given the influx of building, many armadillos have resorted to burrowing under sheds, homes, porches, businesses, even driveways. In an effort to find a place to live and to get to food to thrive, armadillos will enter foundation openings or create a space in order to have some place to live. Since these animals are poor climbers, it is quite common for them to fall inside of the borrow under a home, business, etc. causing them to become trapped which eventually leads to their death. This then results in a foul smell that permeates throughout the structure. When a home or business becomes infested with an armadillo, the appreciation value of the home decreases by 5 sometimes 10 %. This does not include the fact that armadillos carry the bacteria that can cause leprosy and salmonella, or contribute to a person or animal contracting rabies or tapeworms.
Unfortunately, we can have armadillos in our lives. We can minimize the impact of relationships that have begun to create a toxic build up in our walk with Christ by being distracters simply hiding those familiar spirits that have caused us to sin in the past. Our armadillos can be pride in which we find ourselves constantly focused on what “I do” and “If it were not for me”. The armadillos in our lives may even be the condition of our hearts in which we have allowed bitterness to creep into our foundation creating a separation between Christ and ourselves. The armadillos in our lives are simply those areas that seek to separate us from our relationship with Christ.
When we do not go to Christ or are obedient to His Word, we allow sin to come into the foundation of our relationship. If we do repent, then those areas only become worsen and lead to other sort of problems. For bitterness will lead to anger and in some cases lead to hatred. Just like the armadillo not only creates problems but can inflect others, we are able to inflect others with our nasty attitudes, sinful mannerisms, and coldness of heart. It is up to us to decide to allow Christ to be our pest control and purge us of those areas that only will lead to more destruction.
Prayer Heavenly Father, who is the source of all that I am, I am thankful to be able to call upon your name. Lord, I pray that you may reveal to me those areas in my life that separate me from you. Show me the relationships, the choice, the areas that lie within me that are distracters. I pray for wisdom to know when to move, who to allow in my live, and what decisions you would have me to make. Forgive me Lord for those things that I have done as a result of sin. I pray that you may continue to renew my mind and keep my feet on the path that you have set for me. Lord I pray that I may not be judgmental or condescending toward others, but instead help me to be patient and show compassion. I love you Lord, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Suggested Weekly Reading Monday 1 Peter 5: 8-9 Tuesday Ephesians 6: 11-14 Wednesday Romans 6: 12-23 Thursday Ephesians 4: 26-27 Friday James 4: 7 Saturday Proverbs 2: 27 Sunday 1 John 1: 7-10
Application Allow God to remove the armadillos in your life.
About the author: As a wife, mother, educator, daughter, friend, I, Minister Mamie L. Pack, seek to be an accessible tool to the Lord. It is my desire to use my gifting of writing to reach the lost, encourage the believer, and teach the people through the Word of Jesus Christ. Click here for other writings available at the author's blog www.LifeINowLive.blogspot.com
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