The Tiny Mouse

I woke up to the sound of tiny teeth chewing on something somewhere in my bedroom this morning. I laid there trying to tune it out but it kept getting louder and louder. I tired harder to ignore it but finally, I got up to investigate the constant gnawing.

I was irritated as I hit the sides of the furniture hoping to spook the intruder. I found myself tripping over the darkness and stumbling through dog beds on the floor waking each of the dogs from their dreams. After beating and banging on the furniture with my bedroom slipper in hand, I realized the annoying tiny intruder was under the floor and out of reach. The only thing I was accomplishing was waking up everyone else in the house.

I decided to get up and make my coffee and I started the day two hours earlier than planned. I made my gluten free bagel then sat down at the kitchen table angry that I wasn’t asleep in bed like everyone else. Without realizing I started eating the bagel without saying a blessing and giving thanks to God for waking me up to another day.

Mid-bite I stopped and asked God for forgiveness because I was so focused on the small tiny mouse who ruined my morning that it took my focus off of what was really important. Which was giving glory to God for another day.

In that moment of shame I hung my head and the Holy Spirit spoke softly saying, “the devil is much like the tiny mouse. He doesn’t have to hurt you or make a big scene. He doesn’t even have to make an appearance, he simply has to find what annoys you most then use it against you until you do something to mess up.”

We have been made to believe the devil is a vicious predator we should fear but the truth is he is more like a tiny mouse gnawing at the little things that annoy you the most. It’s up to us not to get distracted by his games or let him ruin the day because Jesus already defeated him.

The devil’s days with you are numbered and he wants to try everything within his power to get you to sin and keep you from God. The devil doesn’t want you in hell with him because he loves you or because even likes you. The devil wants you in hell because God wants you and loves you so much that he (God) sacrificed his one and only son Jesus to give you eternal life.

The devil doesn’t want to go to hell, he doesn’t like pain or fire, he loved God so much that he wanted to be him which led to his downfall. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV).

Don’t get pulled into the devil’s games and get distracted from God. Keep your focus on things above and not on the problems in this world.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” 
(Colossians 3:1-3 NIV).