2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Once again I return to the chess board for an example for being played. I have certain opponents that challenge me over and over again. I have been playing one for over a decade. You learn a lot about an opponent over time. You learn what they favor, where weaknesses are and you see many of the same positions over and over again.

Do you find yourself in situations where in the past sin prevailed? Do you think that you can repeat the past with a different outcome? You may be a new person, you may have gained knowledge, you may have new weapons to fight the enemy but the enemy has the positional advantage. There is no way to take advantage of the trap that has been set for you.

Chess is all about playing your game, your strength comes from making the enemy adjust to your move, not in reacting to his. All he has is manipulation and as long as you stick to the plan, the enemy will always be behind you. Turn the enemy’s trap into an advantage for you in that he has wasted moves and created weakness within his camp doing things which produce no results. It is wasted moves on his part, vain glory.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Don’t play his game. Execute God’s plan.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

I was just drifting off to sleep last night when a scorpion strung me in the underarm. I yelled in pain. It hurt me physically. It left a whelp. This morning even after having a poultice applied all night, I can still feel it.

So is Luke 10:19 true or not? I did not use the Lord’s name in vain. I did not curse. I did not cuss. In a past life I would have done that and more. I would have made everyone within ear shot uncomfortable. So in one sense it did not hurt me because I remained who I am in Christ.

The incident showed me that I really have changed. I am no longer that man I once hated within myself. I am a new creature, a new creation in Christ. I don’t often think about it. I am comfortable with who I am today. It was in the unguarded moment, when my faith shield was stacked against the wall that I was vulnerable and my true nature was revealed. That is a new nature for me, not of the old dead man I left behind.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Praise the Lord.