FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT

Yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting in on my husband's Sunday school class, where he was teaching the twelve- and thirteen-year-olds about being in the world but not of the world. He brought up a really vivid analogy of how Satan works against individuals:

A fisherman knows that he can have much more success if he uses the right bait for the right fish. Also, he has learned that he is more likely to catch a fish in the dark than when the sun is shining brightly.

The parallel he drew was that Satan knows us individually and knows to use the right bait. For example, he knows that he might not have much success in trying to tempt me to view pornography or commit a sexual sin, but he does know that I have a weakness with food, as well as with my self-confidence and body image. So these are the areas he really hones in on, knowing that if he is successful, he can eventually conquer me entirely.

He also knows that during times of darkness or confusion, he will be more likely to "catch" me. When I turn, even briefly, from the light of the gospel, that is when he will move in quickly. Just like the fish in the early morning hours, swimming in darkness can prove to be spiritually fatal.

So, what can we do to avoid the craftiness of Satan? How do we survive the darkness that will inevitably surround us at certain points in our lives' journeys? The answer is found in 1 John 5:5, 7:

" This is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. . . "

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

In other words, we must remain close to the Savior constantly to protect ourselves from the hooks and snares of Satan. We must not be deceived by the baits he uses. We must walk beside the Lord in all that we do. We must humbly ask God to "teach us to walk in the light of His love. . . " I testify that as we consciously choose to invite the light of the Savior into our lives, we will protect ourselves from the craftiness of Satan, and be able to discern the baits and lies which he employs to bring us to eternal destruction.