Ants

I parked my chair outside in the morning shade to enjoy the light breeze. Morning birds were serenading, and the summer flowers were in full bloom around me. I had my Bible, and my journal, and my cup of coffee, and I was set. Or so I thought.

I did not plant myself near an ant bed; I know how insidious they are. Nor did I attempt to disturb any creature. I was just seeking a few minutes of quiet under the summer blue sky.

But the ants found me. One crawled right across Ephesians. When I flicked him off, another crept onto my arm. Soon they were arriving with such frequency that I could not concentrate on the reading. I went inside, defeated by the ants.

Those ants had a lesson for me.

Unlike David, I don’t fight many giants. Ants, though, often challenge and threaten to defeat me.

Ants – the little irritations and inconveniences that set my mind on me rather than on God.

Ants – the attitudes of self-reliance and apathy that like to attach themselves to my heart.

Ants – hurts and unforgiveness that run right across my soul when I am trying to love and serve God.

Ants – busy distractions that dim my vision and clutter my mind.

Ants – the insidious worries that attack my faith and peace.

Ants. I don’t seek them out, but they find me. Every. Day.

I don’t have a spray that will chase the ants away from my heart and life, but God has given me His encouragement in His word. When I focus there, the ants have a tendency to disappear.

Here are a few of my ant chasers. Perhaps you have some of your own.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ephesians 4: ³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Philippians 4:⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

I Peter 5: ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: ⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I John 1: ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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