January 28

Spiritual Harassment

From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman

"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

I was twenty years old when I approached the first tee of the sectional qualifying round of the Professional Golfers Association US Open, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. I was a college golfer and was teeing it up with the world's best golfers. I was competing against many of the tour players for only a handful of spots available to get into the tournament.

I was called to the tee and teed up my ball when something unusual happened. As I am looking down at my ball I notice the shoes of someone standing no more than two feet from where I am about to tee off.

I am thinking to myself with great irritation, "Who in the world is standing this close to me!?" I look up and it is Sam Snead, still one of golf's greatest players. This man was known for intimidating tactics. But this was beyond belief. Here he was trying to intimidate a young college player. I proceeded to ignore his presence and hit the ball straight down the fairway.

In the spiritual realm we deal with spiritual harassment from Satan and his legions. The Bible says "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12.

It is important to recognize when we are coming against these forces. Satan attempts to distract us from our calling and destiny in life. We often trivialize the reality of the spirit realm of evil.

Paul tells us we must set our minds to deal with the spiritual realm of evil when it impacts our lives. "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13.

The next time you feel obstacles have been placed in your life designed to distract you from your God-ordained mission, remember Paul's words and stand firm in Christ.