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Recognizing the Thief

John 10:1

“I assure you: Anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.”

Jesus warned that there would be those who would try to enter His fold uninvited. A thief’s mission is to take what is not rightfully his for selfish gain. Thieves will come into our homes and even our churches to rob the work that God has done. They cleverly disguise themselves as one of us, but their intent is to steal, kill, and destroy.

We should all be careful who we befriend and who or what we entertain. When we worry about things that are out of our control or things that could happen, we are entertaining the Devil as he plants treacherous thoughts in our heads. When we succumb to feelings of depression or low self-esteem, we are befriending a habit that has made us feel comfortable but not content. These are thieves and robbers to the abundant life the Good Shepherd provides for us.

While the Devil does use people in his schemes, his biggest henchmen are often the thoughts and fears with which we struggle daily. These have the power to paralyze us or distract us by monopolizing our time. We must resist and reject them. When we do, they flee. Reciting God’s word over those negative thoughts and emotions helps in the battle. Calling a strong Christian friend to pray with you or even to just hang out with you during the day also helps.

Jesus opens the door to His sheep. He invites you to dine and to fellowship with Him. He does not invade you, as do negative thoughts and emotions. Enter His fellowship through the word and through prayer. Take every thought captive, and present it to Him. He will ease your mind and give you peace. Allow Him to fight your battles by turning them over to His care in prayer. Release your burdens to Him as your Shepherd and Defender. The enemy will have to flee and take his hands off your rightful possessions. While fishermen practice the methods of catch and release when fishing, we need to practice resist and release in spiritual warfare. Resist the Devil, release your burdens to Christ, and rest in the abundance of life the Good Shepherd has for you.

Have a blessed day!

PHOEBE Connections, Inc. is a 501(c)3 dedicated to enhancing the lives of widows by building relationships and helping them find new identity in Jesus Christ through serving others. We promote an atmosphere of fellowship, where the widow can connect with other widows to develop friendships and supportive relationships.