I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.  I saw that it was overgrown with weeds.  It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.  Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. -Proverbs 24:30-34, NLT

This passage of truth illustrates the fruits of laziness from a natural standpoint, but what about from a spiritual standpoint?

There are Christians today whose lives are covered with weeds — sickness, depression, confusion, poverty.  Their walls have been broken down.  They have nothing to protect them from the thief who is constantly on the lookout, seeking whom he may devour (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8).  They go to church on Sunday.  They sing the songs.  They clap and cheer during the sermon.  They go out to lunch with their church friends and talk about spiritual things.  But then they go home and they sleep.  They shut their eyes to the truth.  Their snoring drowns out God’s voice.  Satan comes in and robs everything they have and they don’t even know it.  When they wake up, they see what’s gone and they complain to God.  They blame Him.  Then, out of frustration, they close their eyes and go back to sleep.  And satan sneaks in again.

What area of your life do you need victory in?  You don’t even have to stop and think about it.  There are areas so overgrown with weeds that your whole life has been choked because of it.  Wake up.

Whatever is robbing you, confront it now.  Fear controlled my life for many years because I was too busy wishing and hoping and making 12-step plans and dreaming of what it would be like to be free.  One night I got so angry and fed-up that I drew a bath and grabbed God’s Word and refused to get out until that fear was gone (that story can be read here and here).  And you know what?  That fear left.

From November of last year until April of this year, I didn’t have a job.  I was laid off because of the economy.  I strived and I looked and I prayed and I reasoned for weeks and months.  Finally, one snowy Friday early this year, I shut myself in my room and refused to come out until I knew what God wanted me to do concerning a job.  I sat there for hours, pressing into God, reading His Word.  But it was not in vain.  By the time I went to sleep that night, I knew what God wanted me to do and I did it.  Today I have one of the greatest, most secure jobs I could imagine.  I like what I do and I genuinely like the people I work with.  Did it “just happen”? No!  I fought for it.

One night, not too long ago, I was overcome by a terrible dizzy feeling in the wee hours of the morning (you can read part 1 of that story here and part 2 here).  I couldn’t even lay down.  I felt sick and miserable.  Did I go back to sleep and toss and turn all night until morning came so I could go to the doctor and have them speak death over me?  No.  I immediately grabbed my sword and went to battle.  By the next morning, I was 100% better.  When the same thing attacked me exactly one week later, I didn’t roll over and give in.  I fought again.  When the same thing came against me two days later as I was getting ready to leave for work, I didn’t call my boss and tell her how awful I felt and that I wouldn’t be able to come in that day.  No, I dug my heels in.  I refused to be robbed.  And that stupid attack of satan was defeated and never returned again.

The issue is not whether or not you have weeds in your life or how overgrown they are or what color they are or what they smell like.  The issue is: What are YOU going to do about it? Now notice that I didn’t say What’s GOD going to do about it? God already did it all.  He made complete and total victory for any area of your life available to you.  What are you going to do with it?

Tags: Christianity, defeat, God, Jesus, Proverbs 24:30-34, satan, spiritual laziness, Victory, weeds

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