In Ephesians 6:11-12 the Bible says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

On a recent shopping trip, I was looking for some pillows that were on sale. The sales lady said she had two left. She handed them to me and said, “for you”. I put them in my shopping cart without even looking at them and kept moving. I even brought them home, put them away and never noticed they had green leaves and the word “zen” written all over them. How could I have been blind to this? I didn’t know what the word “zen” meant. But I did realize that I needed to look it up before using the pillows. I kept putting off looking it up for several more days…I don’t know why, I just did. When I finally looked up the word “zen”, I found out it is a Japanese sect of buddism. That had no place in our home! And was a direct violation of God’s first commandment! I was sick to my stomach. Those pillows had to go! I could not take them back to the store. What if another child of God purchased them and it caused them to stumble? So, I gathered them up and marched out to our outside furnace. I stuffed them inside and shut the door with purpose. As I walked back to the house I felt peace but nothing else. I guess I was walking in pride and expecting an “atta girl” or a pat on the head for doing the right thing. Then by the Holy Spirit it came to me, “Why do you expect praise for doing what you are supposed to do?’ And I was humbled.

A short time later, I was in the shower and a dream that I had several months ago came to mind. In the dream, a lady came to my house. She handed me a grass doll and said (of all things) “for you”. I knew the doll was evil and I threw it back at her. She in turn threw it at me again. So, I was thinking that doll in my dream came to me twice. I need to be watching for another thing that dishonors God. And by the Holy Spirit I knew it was already here. He drew my attention to the nature slogan on a shampoo bottle in my shower, which again was the first time I had noticed. It was like my eyes were suddenly opened. The slogan was out and out humanism and as bad as the pillows! Again I was humbled to think that if I had not walked in obedience with the pillows, I never would have been shown the shampoo. And both items dishonored God and had no business in our home!!

I pray that God will forgive me by His mercy and the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that He will continue to guide us by His Spirit that we may see the truth clearly and not be blinded by the world’s evil. So, brothers and sisters, just remember that as a child of God you will have fiery darts and choices to make. Continue to pray, put on your armor, be humble and remember how very much you are loved. And when you stumble, just like a child, be prepared to have the seat of your pants dusted off, your tears wiped away and to be set back on the path leading us home.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Luke 17:9-10 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.