Sifted as wheat

"...behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Luke 22:31 


Today was a crazy day. I knew I didn't have to get up super early because VBS was being held at night, so I slept in. After getting up and getting some coffee in my system, I realized that I did need to get out of the house early (just not as early as we had been leaving all week) and I was nowhere near ready. I still needed to shower and get some breakfast (not to mention more coffee!) before heading out. 


Well, I'm sure it's not hard to guess what went by wayside this morning. Can you guess? If you guessed reading my Bible and praying, then you are correct ....... 


Shower, get dressed, get more coffee (anyone who knows me knows that I must have coffee before I am a human in the morning), find something for breakfast, gather library books (so we can avoid those nasty fines!) and head out the door. "Mom, where are you going? You were supposed to stop here for this." Ooops, already zoned out and 3 steps ahead of myself, so off we go to the other  place we can stop at for the thing I supposed to stop for; drop one teenager off at church, then switch seats to let other teenager have some driving time on the way to pick up yet another teenager! Are YOU tired yet? I am, and it's not even 10:30 am yet! Ok 2 more stops then home - pick up teenager and get to library - yes, we are home ... LUNCH! Teenager #1 calls, weather is not cooperatingand needs to be picked up at church, lunch must wait. Finally, close to 1 pm, we are back at home. Lunch and a movie to chill out ... maybe it should have been lunch and quiet time, but I wasn't thinking. Next thing I know, it's 2:45 and we need to leave at 3:30 and my eyes are rolling back in my head - quick nap! 


We head off to church to set up for the VBS carnival. When we arrive, things are quite chaotic since there is a huge chance that it's going to rain and we can't do most of the stuff outside - big change of plans. Now let's toss in a bunch of tired people that have been working VBS all week on top of their other jobs ... can you guess? Yup, bring on the grumpies! 


In my mind, I am determined that we will not  have a repeat of last year's drama. Yes, in MY mind, MY plans, but remember earlier, I haven't yet taken anything to the Lord but have let life get in the way. 


Now I have left my heart unguarded and given Satan a foothold. There he stands desiring to have me, to sift me as wheat, and sift he did! Words were said, attitudes given into, feelings hurt ... 


Thankfully, there was a young man (who was also grumpy) who insisted that we all stop, stop right where we were, and pray! Prayer is one of the main ways that we guard our hearts from Satan's attacks. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23  I am so thankful for that short time of prayer, because I know God worked in each heart tonight. Because of that prayer, attitudes were "fixed" and apologies given. 


I am ever thankful for the Lord that we have; that He is always ready to forgive and to receive us back into fellowship with Him!