Our lesson material for the adult Sunday School class is presently Louie Giglio’s wonderful book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat At Your Table. This book is excellent, easy to read, and incredibly troublesome. The reason I suggest that it is troublesome is because it is impossible to read it without recognizing and applying its truths. We all are prone to giving our true enemy a rent-free space between our ears (and yes, that is the table he refers to) from time to time.
The enemy may claim that spot in our mind when we are being tempted. He may claim that spot when we are feeling disgruntled with what is happening around us. But one of the most effective ways that he can claim that spot is when we are feeling that life is unfair. It is when we feel that we are suffering from unreasonable challenges and hardships that we invite him into our head.
I would like to present to you an imaginative answer from God, speaking to our state of mind when we feel that life is unfair:
Thank Me for the very things that are troubling you. You are on the brink of rebellion, precariously close to shaking your fist in my face. You are being tempted to indulge in complaining about My treatment of you. But, let Me remind you that when you step over that line, torrents of rage and self-pity can sweep you away. The best protection against this kind of self-destructive self-indulgence is thanksgiving. It is impossible to thank Me and to curse Me at the same time.
Thanking Me through your trials will feel awkward and contrived at first. But if you persist, your thankful words, prayed in faith, will eventually make a difference in your heart. Thankfulness awakens you to My presence, and My presence will overshadow all of your problems. Please, My child, trust Me in this.
Self-pity and anger at God give our enemy a central seat at our table. Today, let’s claim God’s command and promise from Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Give thanks to Him who blesses you in every way!
Vern