Hold On. Hunker Down. Hear God.

HOLD ON. HUNKER DOWN. HEAR GOD.

The tiny raccoon scurried and climbed, choosing the highest branch, hunkering down as low as it could. I bet it even held its breath for a second or two—maybe more. Its heart banged from under its fur, causing its tiny chest to quiver.

The predator came close.

Closer.

Closer still.

The furbaby’s little hands gripped harder at the bark-covered arms of the giant tree. At the base of the raccoon’s refuge, the predator’s breath is audible.

Its size is massive.

I’m thinking about hiding my eyes now or turning the channel, but my 10-year-old has his heart set on watching this “nature” show with me. Why is it that there’s always a cute and cuddly little love-muffin of fur that I instantly fall in love with, only to become witness to its demise five minutes later?

So there he is–that adorable, little, masked-face coon that reminds me of the book I read to my first graders and then to my son on his first day of preschool:  The Kissing Hand.

I’m clenching my jaws and donning my worried face. But I can’t seem to look away.

I wondered where his mama was. Wherever she was, she has taught this little one well. The little bunch of fur stayed quiet and still, its enemy roaming below, seeking to devour it if given the chance.

                    BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD…. PSALM 46:10

How keen that animals instinctively know how to be quiet, to be still.

Why don’t we humans do that when our enemy comes lurking?

Surely we’re smarter than a juvenile raccoon, right? (No offense to the cutie-pie coons of the world.)

Maybe it’s because most of the time we don’t even realize the predator is near.

Life is so incredibly hurried and scurried. Some days most days we’re just operating in a flurry of motion and emotion, so hyped up on schedules and busyness that we’re left caught off guard. That means we’re less instinctual, more tired, and super sluggish.

You might say—as we do here in the south—we become “easy-pickins.”

BE ALERT AND OF SOBER MIND. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. 1 PETER 5:8

Just as our little friend’s potential slayer is subtle yet determined, so is our enemy.  The evil one stalks us, learns our weaknesses, sizes us up—looks for the slightest opportunity to pounce.  

Let’s don’t make ourselves easy targets for the enemy. 

Just like the tiny coon, let’s climb high into the arms of refuge, get low, and become very still, listening for the still, small voice that guides and directs. That still, small voice that comforts and calms.

The more I study His word, the more I believe that He actually longs to have communion with us, to guide and direct us, to bless us, and position us so that we’re victorious over the enemy. If only we’ll take time. If only we’ll be still long enough.

Oh! And don’t worry, friends; little-but-clever “Chester” outsmarted his enemy, and, in my mind—

He lived happily ever after.

Are you like me and have been making yourself an easy target for the enemy lately?  Let’s don’t make ourselves easy targets for the enemy.

 

What’s one thing you can do differently this week that will help you slow down (or even stop), hunker down, and hear God?