Monday Morning Manna: Satan’s Shenanigans and God’s Plans

I was excited about the chance to speak on a subject I had not spoken on in several years.? I worked hard updating old notes and adding new thoughts.? I even spent several hours preparing a power point presentation to accompany my notes.? An invitation went out to area churches including and emphasizing the live-stream links that would be available for those who could not attend in person. ?To the very best of my ability, I was prayed up and prepared, but I was totally unexpecting a series of events. On the evening before my presentation, I was informed that no one was available to facilitate the live stream.? For the first fifteen minutes of my scheduled presentation time, men worked unsuccessfully to connect my power point. ?Approaching bad weather had reduced the size of the anticipated crowd. As if that were not enough to depress me, on the way home, a truck threw a rock into my windshield, creating a rapidly spreading crack. ?Reflecting on such, I’d just like to blame Satan.? However, I don’t think he is smart enough to put together such a scenario.? Here is what I think Satan does.? He takes such a series of life circumstances, for which does he gets zero credit, and capitalizes on them to his advantage and to the discouragement of those who are trying to serve God. I hope you never have a twenty-four-hour period like I had.? If you do, just do what I did next – read your Bible (In my case, The Message paraphrase) until you get to 1 Peter 5:8-11, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So, keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” Pause there and meditate for a while.?? Then thank God for the opportunity to serve Him and pray that the people were blessed by your service in spite of Satan’s shenanigans.

Dr. Dan R. Crawford, Senior Professor, Chair of Prayer Emeritus; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. Former Head of Task Force for the Teaching of Prayer in Theological Education for America’s National Prayer Committee.? Administrative Consultant for the Valley Baptist Missions Education Center. President of Disciple All Nations, Inc.

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