Just a quick thought that I fancied sharing.....
My kids were watching "Home Alone" yesterday on the television and I happened to walk in the living room and sit down, cuddling with my five year old for a bit, catching some of the movie. I came in as the two bumbling burglars tried to access the house and the little boy turned on all the lights and then ran upstairs and hid under the bed. After being under the bed for a while he said to himself, "I can't stay under here forever". He then walked outside and announced, "I'm not afraid anymore! Do you hear me? I said, I'm not afraid anymore!" About that time when he was feeling empowered as he announced his new found courage, he came face to face with his neighbor looking ominous and holding a shovel, to which he turned and ran screaming back to the bed.
Isn't this analogous to many of our spiritual walks? We learn something about the character of God and we step out in new found faith and courage only to have Satan come at us with his shovel, scaring us back into our old ways and habits.
I didn't watch the whole movie but I remember when I watched it years ago that the old man that scared Kevin so badly at the begining of the movie ended up helping him defeat the bad guys in the end.
Just for the record, I want to say that I am truly not afraid anymore. I know the end of the story. I know that those things that Satan means for my harm, God will turn and use for my good. I know that I am victorious.
