them. I awoke today with a heaviness on me. After considering where that heaviness arose from, God revealed much of its source. Believe it or not, it arose from yesterday's coverage of the Casey Anthony trial and the verdict.My kids go to the school feet from where they found the body of little Callie Anthony. We drive past that site every day. As much as you try to guard your kids they have ears and very attuned ones. It was the topic of many discussions with them over the course of the last 3 years. It's proximity to us has had me attuned to the proceedings of this case. But none like I was yesterday. Somehow I found myself trapped by the coverage of this final chapter in this 3 year long saga.
This climaxed last night when barely 7 hours after the verdict was read "Not Guilty," 48 hours did a full one hour long episode of the case as an "Unsolved Mystery." This had me stunned and perplexed more than the 2:15pm verdict reading. What is the word God was wanting to speak underneath this frenzy of media fire.
It wasn't until this morning it hit me. Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
The trap of the enemy is to monopolize your hearts energy on things dark and not of light. When he can get us fixated on darkness it taps our humanity on the shoulder and un-cages our sin nature. The darkness swallows our heart and confuses our thinking and feeling until what is produces now is unholy and unrighteous. Our thoughts words and actions follow suite to what our mind is fixated on and before we know it we are on an unmanned train racing toward populated areas. That hurt, frustration and fear are then unleashed on everyone around us.
Who is most susceptible are our kids. Remember those attuned ears I mentioned earlier. They are all too eager to get on board whatever train their parents are on. They long for connectedness to whatever has our hearts. It is shameful to admit to ourselves that what has our hearts too often is not those qualities of Philippians 4.
Monitor your heart. Measure it's volume of peace. Peace is what guard our hearts and minds. If you find yourself short on it lately, turn off the T.V. pick up your bible and be reminded of what God's dream for you is.
2 comments:
Well Said! The enemy will do all it can to get our minds and thoughts off track. Even see to the death of an innocent child.
Phil,
I too have found the "Casey events" very troublesome and heartrending for the last 3 years.
To think of a precious gift from God - murdered and thrown away like garbage - is something I just can't get my head and heart around.
I have asked God many times in prayer - where were You, and why was this allowed to happen - what are we, and specifically I - supposed to do with this? It is painful and horrific - so where are You Lord? How are we supposed to handle this, and what do You have to say to me Father?
And through my tears of sorrow and struggles God reminded me of the same Philippians 4:8 verse. It is a word that has moved my heart and focus in so many other challenges - to look upon His Holy Face rather than the ugliness of the world.
As we have prayed over this situation for the last 3 years, we have prayed that the children in our community will be protected from what they hear and read that is of evil and not of God. We have prayed for physical protection and spiritual protection, so that God's Love will be the center of whatever they hear and read.
And we continue to do that - pray even more so that this circus of evil will not enter their minds and hearts. We pray for our children, and all of the other precious children. They are each precious in the eyes of God. Jesus spent extra effort to show the Father's love to the children He met.
So I hold tight to the Word of God and I thank Him for answering my prayers and pleadings for answers, and then for answering your prayers for the same things. It is always soooo exciting to see how God confirms a response through His Word with believers!
Thank you for sharing and thank God for confirming His answer to prayer. It is the most effective weapon we have to defend and protect His children.
Blessings on your day Brother.
Jackie and Rich
Post a Comment