Break-in

Our home was broken into today while we were at church and lunch. The dogs, alarm, security patrol and police all did their jobs and responded quickly. Our family, pets and home are no worse for the violation. Our home is tucked in on a safe cove in a safe neighborhood. We are pretty good about locking and dead bolting the doors. We pay a monthly fee to have a neighborhood security company patrol our house. We have an alarm system. We have dogs and one of them recognizes and aggressively barks at strangers. (God love Kevin… at least she’s pretty). We really do everything we know to do to prevent break-ins and establish safety, and today, we saw our efforts pay off.

We are not invincible and a more-clever or determined thief could have successfully looted our home, but that did not happen today. As I securely sit here by the fire, surrounded by my dogs and family I am so thankful for the discipline of being prepared. It takes discipline to remember to lock up, pay the security bills and to set the alarm. It doesn’t take a lot of effort; it has become habit. These habits protected us today.

The assault on the Nelson home today was from a petty and uninteresting thief. The event came and went and might as well be in the dumpster with all the Christmas wrappings. There have been bigger assaults on our family: cancer, death, broken hearts and relationships…. And the effects of those assaults linger, but the trouble of most of our days measure closer to a .02 on a Richter scale. The break-in today was just a little bump, because we were prepared.

I cannot consider the events of today without comparing them to other parts of my life. Every day, I do all I know to do to be prepared. Whether it is a meal plan or laundry, a full tank of gas or scheduling my calendar, I am organized and equipped to tackle the events of the day.

I have made it a habit to begin each day with a quiet time. There is nothing praise-worthy or extraordinary about this habit; I am weak and vulnerable and prime for attack. I need the buffering and strength of the Holy Spirit to ward off all the petty and unimaginative attacks of the enemy. He knows all my weak spots and the perfect place to break in. He tempts me to lie and covet and swim in guilt. He loves to tell me I am unworthy and unimportant. I have to be constantly reminded to set a guard on my mind and an alarm on my heart. I wish the Spirit would bark as loudly as “Donut” when temptation pushes on the doors of my mind.

I am encouraged to know that the habit and obedient spirit that I have been blessed with does so much more than protect me. When I listen to the warnings and alarms, and I take heed, God is glorified. I am being conformed to Christ when I listen and obey. I cannot recognize His voice if I don’t participate in the habit of listening.

As I grow in Him and watch Him faithfully stand with me in the smaller, constant tremors, my assurance in His love and omnipotence grows. He will never leave me and He is just as present and faithful to protect me when the big earth-quaking assaults hit.

His voice is beautiful and strong and wise. I want to know it better. I crave the protection of His promises. We are living in a broken world primed with threats and intentions to harm. We must be prepared in order to fend off the fiery darts and attacks. We are guaranteed immediate results and protection.

Dear friends, set a guard…lock up… get prepared…turn on the alarm. There is no safer place than in the home of the King. There is no comfort greater than being held tightly in the Shepherd’s embrace.

 

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3 (NLT)

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

“In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)