Watch Where You're Stepping!

Have you ever been bit by red fire ants?  It’s a miserable experience.  If it was just one ant, no problem, a simple brush of the hand and the ant is gone.  But that’s not how red fire ants work.  You are unaware that they are crawling up your leg until the signal is sent to the troops to attack, and oh boy that’s when the dancing and yelping begins.  

The first time this happened to me, I’d never even heard of red fire ants, but once we crossed paths, I’ve never forgotten.  Now I have a healthy respect for their territory, and a can of bug spray handy to do battle. 

Sometimes we can position ourselves in a place knowingly or unknowingly that we don’t belong.  Then we find ourselves prey to the attack.  No one would knowingly step in the path of red fire ants, but we knowingly step in other places we know we don’t belong; it may be as simple as what we watch, where we go, or how we speak.   

Here’s a few verses from the Message Bible.  It’s plain and easy to understand.  James 4:7-10 says this: 

Watch where you're stepping!

“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”

This week be mindful of the path you are on and don’t give the enemy a foothold.  He loves the sneak attacks just like the red fire ants so watch where you’re stepping.