Unexpected Victory
June 28, 2011
Last night I had an interesting experience. I was at my son’s baseball game. The teams were evenly matched in a closely fought game. As the scoreless innings marched on by, it became apparent that the umpire’s strike zone was a little too generous for both teams. I felt bad for some of the kids who barely had arms long enough to reach to the other side of the plate. Needless to say, there were many strikeouts on both sides. As this continued on, I could not contain my thoughts and found myself offering my critique about the umpire’s decisions. This was done in a way in which most, if not all of those within earshot would not be offended at all. I was not yelling or screaming or calling into account the character of the umpire. I was simply making truthful observations in a socially acceptable way to which no one would disagree. I was also not alone in this. Others were making similar remarks and as I said, the strike zone was equally large for both teams. However, I noticed that as I had these thoughts in my heart, there was a brokenness of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. These thoughts, and more than that, the spirit behind these thoughts, did not find its origin in God. These thoughts, although truthful, came from the enemy of my soul and found a welcome home in my sinful flesh. “But it’s true”, I heard my flesh cry out in self justification. “It wasn’t fair for the kids”, came the argument from the enemy. “Something had to be said”, my thoughts proclaimed. "Nothing you said is 'bad' or 'out of order'", my feelings truthfully observed. And I would have found supporting voices from most of the parents watching the game with me. But the only opinion that matters is God’s.
I praise the Lord for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and I also praise Him for a discerning wife. When we got home from the game, I shared with Karlene what I thought I was hearing the Lord say. She too knew that my words had not come from a good place. She did not try to downplay what had happened or comfort me by assuring me that no one else even noticed. She knows, as I do, that when these things are revealed to us, it is a blessing from the Lord because it gives us an opportunity to be freed from sin and from the enemy who wants us to remain in bondage to sin. And so there in the kitchen, minutes after we got home from the game, we prayed together. I confessed my sin. I declared that I want my thoughts to be God’s thoughts and the words that come out of my mouth to be His words. I told the enemy that His ways are not welcome in my life and I commanded him to leave. And then I praised God for His correction.
Who knew that going to a baseball game could lead to such victory?
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