One Step At A Time

"Nneka stood still with tears gently flowing down her cheeks. The arena was packed full with people from across the country, a characteristic signature of this program tagged 'Unforgettable Encounter.' The presence of the Lord was so strong it was almost tangible and the attendees unabashedly expressed themselves in different attitudes. Many sat down to have an undisturbed communion with Him; many knelt down, overwhelmed by His awesomeness and glory; many positioned themselves on the floor lying facedown at 180 degrees to the Master, in deep contrition and humility; Nneka stood still like many, with outstretched hands giving a wave offering to Him alone who is worthy.

The tears were not of sorrow or of pain. They were tears of worship, of knowing that she had met with God face to face, her life would never be the same again. She blessed God that she attended.
After hours that seemed like minutes, the program came to a close and she went home more sober than she came.

At age 25, she lived in the city with her dad and step mum who had four teenagers to show for their union. This setting did not give Nneka the much needed space to serve God in peace. Home was like a battleground for her faith.

Her sibblings chose this fateful day to sneak into her room and ransack everything, everywhere. They made no point of rearranging anything. The girls tried her clothes and sprawled them on the floor, the boys had it with her books and personal files, then they left the house to visit friends.

Covered with shock at the state of her room and the mess that would take days to clear, Nneka stormed to their mother to report. This one took it really personal and lashed back, raining abuses on Nneka which infuriated her for a woman who was just 3 years older than herself. Before long a nasty fight ensued, leaving both women wounded and bruised. This marked the end of Nneka's stay in the house, she was sent packing to her mother in the village."

"Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron and said to him, 'Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him'." (Ex 32:1)

The children of Israel fell into sin right after they had danced and celebrated, proclaiming they had seen God face to face on the mountain, as seen in previous chapters. The occasion so pleased them that they ate and drank. After such a glorious and historical encounter with God on the mountain, circumstances drove them into sin, Moses was no where to be found. And God said, "They have turned aside quickly out of the way..."

Have you noticed how the enemy's attacks are fiercest right after you have had an encounter with God? Do you remember how you conciously trained yourself not to fall into that temptation that sought to beset you, just after you had fellowshiped with God? It's the devils prime strategy to steal from you the entire package you got from the presence of God. If there was no package, there would be no blinding temptation. This is the time we need to watch it the most. Don't let anybody, or yet anything steal your joy.

Now that we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil, let's enjoy the rest of our days winning in line with God's will.

Shalom

Please let us know what strategies you used to overcome these temptations.