The deep blue sky of the chilly winter day was a balm to my weary soul, for God’s creation calls to me as deep calls to deep. While I walked, I thought of the beauty around me; creatures as small as a field mouse and as large as an eight-point buck were all in sight against the forest’s edge.
The hawk’s beauty was deceptive
I watched a hawk lift from its perch at the top of the tall pine. His wings spread wide as he swooped toward the meadow, the sun burnishing his rusty feathers with glints of red and gold.
He was beautiful against the winter sky.
His beauty deceptive to the reality of his intent.
I could see movement in the swaying of the meadow grass. Leaning against the fence post, I saw a field mouse emerging from the grass, and sensing the hawk, it scurried across to a fallen log, where it found refuge from the imminent danger. It was then that I realized something:
What I perceived as beauty, the field mouse knew as danger.
An odd statement from the Lord
The Lord whispered, “Be like the field mouse. Know your enemy.”
Know your enemy …
What an odd statement for the Lord to make to me, but I stood still in the afternoon sun to ponder and to listen and to watch.
The Bible teaches us that the enemy of our souls comes to us disguised as an angel of light. We are often drawn to his beauty, not understanding that what lurks beneath the surface — his true nature and intent — is evil and bent on devouring us as a roaring lion.
But why would the Lord be giving me such instructions?
I believe it is due to the nature of the days we are living in. Evil appears to be good, and good appears to be evil.
We must know God’s truth
Even though most of us have our hearts set on good, there seems to be an ominous cloud of darkness lurking about, seeking to deceive us, to catch us off-guard, to cloud the Truth of God.
It cannot be!
The Truth of God cannot be clouded nor diluted nor compromised. His Truth stands forever and ever.
But if we don’t know His Truth — His precious Word, we are susceptible to the evil one who appears as an angel of light, perhaps with glints of red and gold, tempting us to let down our guard and fall prey to his scheme.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge, and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His Truth shall be your shield and buckler.” ~ Psalm 91:1-4
Be like the field mouse
The field mouse was safe in the shelter of the fallen log. He did not fall prey to the hawk because of his diligence to know his enemy, AND his awareness that recognized the approaching danger.
“Be like the field mouse,” The Lord reiterated. “Know your enemy.”
Selah
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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down, and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.
Sweet blessings to you,
