ZZZT!

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  Matthew 4:1

It seems like everybody has that friend who just always has the right thing to say at precisely the right moment.  I admire those fast thinking, quick witted folks who just spit out the perfect set of words in a flash and leave everyone else speechless.  I especially enjoy hearing that person when they speak words that are kind and truthful.  More than once I’ve observed as a person like that has left a group of people just scratching their heads in silence thinking, “humm, good point, why didn’t I think of that!”  Let’s be clear…I am NOT that person!  I’m more like the one who mulls the conversation over and hours later thinks, man, I should have said___!  

Instead of being the person with the right words, I’m beginning to realize being quiet is usually a much better choice for me.  The story about the temptation of Jesus appears in three of the Gospels and each contains a huge detail I’d never noticed before.  Satan is talking away to Jesus, he’s wheeling and dealing and carrying on but Jesus doesn’t really speak back.  There is no conversation, no argument, no points to defend or no rebuttal on Jesus’ part.  Jesus doesn’t enter conversation at all.  Jesus does speak, but he doesn’t converse.  After Satan huffs and puffs, Jesus speaks one line of truth.  He doesn’t make something up.  He doesn’t embellish or brag or even make Satan feel like the “despicable nothing slug” he really is, he simply quotes one line of scripture.  He doesn’t use extra words because he grabs the perfect ones right from the book of “the only great words we ever need” book; the Bible.  What a genius idea!

After this was pointed out to me in a sermon by a wonderful priest, he said some words that hit my heart.  He said, “Jesus didn’t enter into conversation with Satan and neither should we…ever!”  At first I smugly sat in my pew thinking, well of course not, I certainly would never enter into a debate or a battle with Satan.  But, as he often does, Jesus showed up in my heart with a gigantic flash light and showed me exactly where I let it happen again and again.  Of course it’s never a toe to toe confrontation like the one Jesus and Satan had but the little battles creep in and bring their ugliness along.  Through some prayer I came to realize that I do listen to Satan.  That voice that says, “you aren’t smart enough” or “go ahead and try to do that; you’ve failed there before and you’ll fail again” or the one that goes “yeah, this whole ministry and blog thing; do you really think you’re qualified to do God’s work”.  He starts battles that leave me wondering if I’ve been a good enough wife, mom, teacher or friend.  He creeps into my head with thoughts about past mistakes, weaknesses and calls to my mind the dozens of times a day I fall desperately short and I listen.  In my head I make excuses or even agree with him for a bit.

Since this Gospel has been a big part of my Lenten Prayer, the Lord has led me to a few things.  First, I need to be like Jesus and silence his voice with one well chosen line from God’s truth.  Second, like Jesus, I need to recognize whose voice it is and quiet it immediately.  I’m not called to argue or defend or refute.  My job is to stand on the truth of God and walk away from the conversation.  I have this sign with my middle lovelies.  I’ll clamp four fingers down onto my thumb like  an alligator closing it’s mouth and say “ZZZT”.  All talking stops!   Lately when I hear that voice that tells me things that aren’t true, I give Satan the ZZZT sign.  I’m also  making a list of one line truths from Scripture to go along with my ZZZT.  A raw and honest look at how it works; when I looked at the gorgeous pictures from Jason and Katie’s perfect wedding day I heard that voice say, “Geeze Sheri, you should have worked harder and lost more weight before the wedding because that dress would have looked so much better in a smaller size.”  I quick did my ZZZT and said “You are precious in my eyes and glorious because I love you. Isaiah 43:4”  I’ll be completely honest, I had to repeat it a couple (or couple dozen) times before it choked out that ugly voice but it’s my beginning at ending the conversations! Where do you need to begin?​

A Seed To Plant:  Make a list of those conversations you need to put a stop to and then google a line from Scripture that tells the truth.  Stand on that truth and remember Jesus didn’t enter into conversation with Satan and neither should we…ever!

Blessings on your day!