Next opportunity

Sometimes when we get in a stressful spiritual situation and the tension then relaxes, we have a sense of relief. We may even say to ourselves, “I am glad that is finished. I am so thankful the Holy Spirit helped me be brave." This is a welcome relief, but sometimes this may be a calm before another challenge. If we think it was an attack by Satan, we need to be on our guard and continually ask the Holy Spirit for help as we move along our unique individual spiritual journey. Luke reveals his cunning and relentless nature, because Satan will wait for the next moment of weakness from exhaustion or stress to attack again. These are the times we should remember this is exactly what Jesus faced after His temptation, “And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.” - Luke 4:13 (ESV). This might be a bit unsettling, but we really are in a full-scale war with anti-Christian forces. The deceiver will choose the most opportune time and perhaps other methods for the next attack. Jesus and his disciples overcame encounters with all sorts of demons. However, for Jesus, the leader, the deceiver chose the people who were supposed to be the ones leading people toward God. Instead of welcoming God’s direction, they used one of His disciples to help remove God in flesh. But, in spite of all Satan’s schemes, Jesus was raised from the tomb and lives within each of His followers via the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jude realized this and wrote, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” – Jude 20-21 (ESV). While he can't extract Christians without their consent, his tactics change with the culture and the individual; he continues his ferocious assaults, pulling and pushing us in efforts of distraction. We should remember that the same Holy Spirit who helped Jesus, resides within us, waiting to be asked for help; we should embrace Him in our prayer life every opportunity we have, and ask for His guidance. He will help us as we need along our unique individual spiritual journey, if we ask.