On land the snake is powerful, wise, and deadly. But when the Eagle swoops in? Lifts the snake up? Disorients him? Places him back down in another geographical area on the ground? The Eagle wins the battle. Don't you find that ironic? Satan (the snake) is called "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). And yet he is actually powerless in the air when fighting with the eagle (God). Satan is a master at deception.
One of the first things you learn in addiction recovery is that you are powerless without the help of God. You also learn that you can't beat addiction without changing your surroundings. That could mean your physical address. Or your friends. Or your work place. Or all of the above. Once clean you are constantly trying to beat addiction at its own game.
I like to think of addiction as a snake. It is cunning, deceptive, reclusive, combative when provoked, and often deadly. When in a full state of addiction your life is up in the air. Your future is up in the air. But if you can confuse the addiction by creating new surroundings? That's when God can swoop in. Take over. Save you.
How often do we have a problem that we keep on the ground? We run it by our husband. Next we discuss it with a friend. We make a third phone call to a sister or mother. Before long the problem becomes a big drama fest. Anyone? We have played right into satans hand. Unknowingly we have given the enemy traction with our spoken grievances amongst one another.
What if we took all of our fears, disappointments, anger, and sadness to Him? Just stopped what we were doing. Right there in that moment. We confuse the enemy. He's waiting to pounce. Instead we close our eyes and petition the Lord's ear. We tell Him the problem. We allow God to swoop in and fight the battle for us. Think about all of the energy we would save! All the time not lost to petty worry. Petty complaining.
Take your battles to the air. To the heavens. Don't even attempt to fight your battles on the ground. Take your petitions to Him. Let God be the Victor. He's already paid the price for you. Why in the world would you put Him back up on that cross? Offer it up and let Him swoop in!
"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."-Hebrews 2:18
