Don't Smoke A Cigar If You Are Sneaking 12/31/2023

 Good Morning, 

It is the last day of 2023 and I started this day with a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and prayer. It is time to write.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Romans 12:2 Don not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal  of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect. 

I will get to the point today quickly and it is pretty easy to make this one hit home for all of us. If you were to be sneaking up on someone you wouldn't want anything to announce your whereabouts or give you away as you tried to move in a stealthy manor. So to be smoking a big cigar would let someone know that they are being stalked. The smoke and odor from the cigar would eliminate any surprise and take away your advantage. 

Quite often, Satan moves to attack us and get us off of the right path in life. Everyone likes to give the nasty rat a lot of credit for being clever, sneaking up on us and laying down a surprise attack that causes mayhem.  This is quite contrary to the truth. Satan always comes at us smoking a big cigar! He gives his position away and we fall for it. But, we do not have to. 

Every situation is a situation that should be examined and prayed through. One sure way to expose Satan at work is to examine all choices and certain situations to see if they are Biblically sound. For instance calling in sick to work, when you just want a day off. When tested, and the result is that to obtain some time off, you told a lie to your employer, you fell for a simple trick.  Taking a tax deduction that you really didn't do, but can't be proven either way is also a lie. In addition to that, it is stealing. 

What you watch on television is usually announced with a rating prior to viewing, but one or two minutes into any show usually gives the content away and you now have a choice as to what you are going to do. Watch the mild porn and say it is only entertainment or switch to something else. Biblically we are not to pollute or hearts and minds. Whenever we have to compromise morality which always can be tested against Biblical standards, Satan gives his presence known and it is not a sneak attack. 

Satan will help you form excuses and justifications to not attend church. Not a sneak attack, but when we forsake to gather together and keep the Sabbath in the right perspective we fall for the attack and we should acknowledge that we fell to Satan's scheme but he gave it away like a nasty cigar odor. 

We are in a spiritual battle, every day. But our enemy is stupid and gives his position away, which makes us even more stupid when we fall for it.

Just some advice for 2024. Don't be stupid and naïve. 

Marty