Someone we love very much was recently diagnosed with COVID. He is not my DNA, but he is part of my family, and I would lay my life down for him.
The crazy thing? Because of his job, he had to be tested, and found out he tested positive. In other words, he was asymptomatic. Which, praise God, is so good. He was still whisked away and in isolation for 10 days.
The thing about this virus that is so scary, you or I could be walking around and have it, and not know it. We could have no fever, no symptoms, and still test positive.
As I have been praying for him (we’ll call him D) every day, throughout the day, I keep praying that he remains asymptomatic.
But as I am prompted to pray for D multiple times, I can’t help but think about how crazy it is that someone could have COVID and have zero symptoms. Yet the way this virus works, someone with no symptoms could then give it to you or me. And we have had loved ones who suffered horribly from this virus, and died.
It made me think about how the enemy shows up where we least expect it. In our friendships. In our workplaces. In our online messages and posts we read. In the news we read.
In our churches.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Y’all. Satan is a real and present enemy. He is the original identity thief.
We absolutely have to be alert and aware of the enemy trying to sneak into our lives.
One of the sweetest and most treasured things Terry and I ever started doing in our marriage, was when we were facing credit card fraud. This was a horrible thing and we were stunned someone could be so corrupt and entitled to steal. But we knew the enemy wanted this to rip us apart and cause problems.
Instead, Terry and I drew even closer during that period. We began setting an alarm every single hour, and no matter what we were doing or where we were, we would come together, hold hands, and pray. We did not see the enemy lurking and prowling around at first, but once we did, we were alert! We watched out for our great enemy, because he was looking for someone to devour.
It wasn’t going to be us. The enemy is often asymptomatic. He shows up without warning and sneaks into your marriage, your home, your workplace, your friendships. Spoiler alert, though. The enemy loses. We can “self-isolate” and dig into our prayers and spend more time with Jesus. And every single time, Jesus wins.
He proved that on the Cross.
The enemy wants your peace, your heart, your joy, your thoughts, your dreams, your goals, your happiness, your marriage, your job, your health, your everything. He’s prowling, but he doesn’t win.
Jesus wins. Jesus always wins. Self isolate, if you have to, and spend more time with Jesus.