In the Eye of the Storm

"Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I stay close to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:7-8

Hurricane Irene's predicted path places my home to the right of her eye-the windy side. Exhausted by two days of preparation at both our home and our parents' brings me to nervous cleaning inside today. Awaiting my husband's safe return before the storm, I pray. I pray between small piles of laundry, with every mop slosh across the kitchen floor, and dusty swipe-Lord, protect.

Another storm raged yesterday-threatening our foundation-filled with hissing, incongruent words and lethal arrows. Like Eve in the Garden, my head believed twisted lies spoken as truth, but the words made no sense in my heart. 2 + 2 = 4 my husband says. But this time, the numbers didn't add up. My mouth and heart did not align. A sign my husband soon recognized: twisted truth only comes from one source--Satan himself.

In chinked armor my husband held my hands and together we waged war against our Enemy in Jesus' name--the most powerful weapon we know. Praying,"Jesus come. Jesus come. Jesus come." The storm passed but left me shaken, almost convinced the lies held truth. I realized how susceptible marriages (even good marriages) are in the hands of the Enemy.

Storm warnings come days in advance and allows us ample time to prepare and protect our homes and families. Spiritual storms have warning signals, too:

• You're a Christ-follower
• You've taken a step of obedience

Satan prowls around those who love the Lord like hungry lion seeking to kill and devour; not just scratch or injure. He's out to destroy. Although he's cunning, we can prepare and protect ourselves for his storms by spending time alone with God:

• Reading God's Word
• Prayer - speaking and listening to God
• Thanksgiving - being watchful of God's little graces even in the midst of raging storms

Then, when you find yourself in the eye of the storm, your heart and mind are prepared to recognize and wage war against the Enemy and you can pray- Jesus come. Lord protect.

Dear Jesus, come. Come into our midst. Calm the storms. Send your angels to protect our hearts, our homes, our marriages, our families. In your precious name, Amen.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10