Saturday, March 14th

Another selection from from a West Virginia Methodist:

THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF SHADOWS”

Scripture: Matthew 4:8-11

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Away from me Satan! How many times have we said that? I know I’ve said it many times.  It seems that no matter what I do Satan is always lurking around. As Christians we pray, read our Bibles and listen to God for guidance. But no matter what we do Satan always seems to show up. I remember one time when I was young, there was a kid who would always pick on me. Growing up poor I’m sure I wasn’t always clean, and I probably didn’t smell very good. But no matter what I did she would always pick on me. It was to the point I didn’t think I could take it anymore. When things were just about as bad as they could get between us. My parents came to me in the middle of the night, gave me my box and said, “Pack, it’s time to go.” My problem was solved.  We were moving to a new town, a new school, new kids, and maybe even new friends. My parents had gotten divorced things were looking up. I started going to church, life was better. Then guess who showed up in my class, the same girl who always picked on me. Of all places to move, she came to the same town my dad moved me and my mom. How could this be, I’m back in the same spot I was before. I was going to be picked on all over again. But now things were different I have things a little better, I had clean clothes, we had utilities so I could wash up before school, but what mattered most I had God. She could try to pick on me if she wanted to, but it wasn’t going to work. I had made friends. I was someone now. That’s how God see’s us. We are someone, we are important, we are His children.

Get away from me, Satan I am God’s. No matter how hard things get just say “Get away from me, Satan”. He must listen to us because we belong to God.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father help us each day to realize we are your children, protected by you. Give us the courage to say “Get away Satan”.  In Your name we pray. Amen.

Teresa Prince, Highland Park UMC