Today I had the day off because my wife and I both had doctor's appointments we needed to go to with only one car. I also have to work this weekend so my boss wanted me to take the day off to break up the schedule so I wouldn't be working 10 days straight. I am so thankful that I had a break today because my back had really tightened up last night and I needed a day to allow the muscles to let go and allow me to do my job to the best of my ability.
After my wife and I finished all of our doctors appointments, I decided to take a muscle relaxer to help encourage my back to return to normal. I know that a muscle relaxer can make you drowsy but I was not prepared for how drowsy I would feel the rest of the day. A couple hours after taking the pill I decided to take a nap but I did not want to wake up after taking it. I felt an intense desire to sleep. I literally had to force myself to get up and start moving.
The rest of my evening has been one long struggle to stay awake so that I can get normal sleep tonight. I definitely do not believe I will be taking a muscle relaxer during the day again even if I am off work with no where to go. I do not like the feeling of my energy being drained from me. I also do not like having to focus to keep my attention on things.
As I sit here still in my muscle relaxer stupor, I can't help but think about how my walk with Jesus feels like this sometimes. Sometimes I struggle to stay close with Jesus. I feel like I have no strength to walk in Him. I feel like my mind focuses on everything but Him. Have you ever been there? Has the distraction of work, school, holidays, family, friends, tv, and music caused you to struggle in your walk with Christ? Have you ever considered that maybe like my muscle relaxers these things are used by the devil to lull you away from a passionate walk with Jesus?
Unlike the muscle relaxer, the devil only has power over us when we give it to him. We allow ourselves to walk off the narrow path. We allow ourselves to be distracted by the many things of this world. We take our eyes off Jesus. The devil cannot make us do any of these things. As followers of Jesus, the devil has no power over us. James 1:13-14 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."
We allow ourselves to be pulled away from Christ. We allow the devil to have power over us. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." As I had mentioned in my blog yesterday, we already know that we can do all things through Christ in Philippians 4:13. The power we have against the devil is fully shown through John 16:33 where Jesus tells the disciples, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
So if you are sleepily struggling in your faith, take heart because Jesus can help deliver you from any struggle you are facing. He is strong enough to deal with any situation you find yourself in. He is strong enough to overcome the devil's hold on you. Just completely trust and lean upon Him (Proverbs 3:5). Put your complete faith and assurance in Him and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:6).
Blessings,
Greg
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