Squelched…forcefully silence or suppress
Quench…..extinguish
Snuff….extinguish, kill or put an end to in an abrupt or sudden manner
Stifle…..unable to breathe, to restrain or stop
Wonder what the heck this is about? Well, it’s about decisions; making just one decision that can change the direction of your life, possibly forever!
Let me start by telling you that Johnny and I are “old black and white movie” junkies! I am even intrigued with silent movies. If you have ever watched one, you have to see how incredibly creative people were back then to be able to convey a plot and carry it out and the viewer be able to follow and understand…all without sound! But we also like watching some of the British series by Agatha Christie. Lots of “who done it” detective plots with beautiful European scenery. Well last night we were watching one such episode and at some point there was a scene with a noose swinging and then the shadow of feet swinging in the air. One of the things we like about these movies is there is no fowl language, no nudity, and the crimes committed are never acted out. Pretty boring huh? They are actually great! But I digress.
The scene with the noose and swinging legs began to bring several words to my mind…the ones I listed at the very beginning of this post; squelched, quench, snuff and stifle. I even went to bed thinking about those words, at some point woke up thinking about them and then woke at 5 am this morning thinking about them. Why? Because two characters in the movie we were watching made one decision that changed their life forever….it actually ended their life abruptly. But you know what? It never entered their mind that things would end that way. You’re probably saying “but Carol, that’s the movies”. Yes it is, but I also know that that is real life too! I’ve experienced it in my own life….just one decision and BAM…life is forever changed!!!
So……I got to meditating this morning on all of this because I couldn’t get it off my mind. I really felt like the Holy Spirit wanted to convey something to me through all those thoughts and contemplations. Back to my movie scene…two middle-aged people decided they couldn’t resist the temptation to fulfill a desire (she was married, he was not). They have an affair and then justify killing her husband because after all he is a brute, so that makes it ok, right? After the detective puts all the 2+2’s togethers, the verdict is pronounced and it’s death at the gallows for both of them. Just like that. One impulse, acted on and BAM….life is squelched, quenched, snuffed, stifled.
Now I know my description is abrupt and to the point but isn’t that what often happens when we make decisions based on impulses, emotions, temptations? Isn’t that what often happens when we allow ourselves to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Isn’t that what happens when we are led by our flesh and not the Holy Spirit? Can’t these things happen if we fail to be spiritually nurtured and fed daily, but rather go days feeding on the wrong things, putting ideas, suggestions and temptations in our minds? Just one decision and all of the sudden we can find ourselves where our options are extremely limited or have none at all. We can find that the life we had planned is suddenly going in the complete opposite direction. All of the sudden, the blessings, the good things, the things we had planned….just gone…completely squelched!!
So how does this happen? When this happens to people there are usually several things in place. First…They are not focused on their God-given goals. This means that they are not priority and by priority, I mean that they are not daily taking action steps to accomplish this. Second….they live undisciplined lives…somewhere in their life is a place where flesh is dominating and not under control. Thirdly…too much of their time is focused on “me” plans.
Ephesians 4: 24-27 (amp). 24and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. 25Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ]. 26Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. 27And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].
1 Peter 5:7-8. Casting all your care upon him; for he carter for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walkers about, seeking whom he may devour.
You can see in this scripture when we engage in “me” behavior, things can go south quickly.
Let me ask a few questions. What is your focus right now? Is it primarily things for your own enjoyment and pleasure? Or, do you have time that you set aside for helping others? Ministering to people in need? How are you spending your time and money? Is it all on your endeavors or are you asking the Lord to show you who and how to minister? How do you begin and end your day? What do you think about all day?
You see, when we set our life on “auto pilot” and just go from day to day doing “our thing”, it is so easy for us to fall in the traps our enemy has set specifically for us. We are not being that sober, vigilant “new man” that is capable of discerning the vices of our enemy. Satan is not on “auto pilot”…he’s watching and conniving everyday to trip you up…to snuff out your life…to squelch your God-given purpose….to stifle God’s plans for you. Life can just happen or it can happen “ON PURPOSE”. There is a difference. I know we all have jobs to do, bills to pay, families to tend, but guys that’s not our primary purpose…it’s not for any of us. God has a specific purpose for each of us. There are things God wants you and me to do and they transcend jobs, bills, vacations, eating out, social media indulgences.
When we get so caught up in “doing life”, we become dull to the things of God. We are not alert. We are not protected and we make ourselves vulnerable to making stupid decisions that can change our lives forever.
I want to encourage you today to make sure you are being vigilant. That you are focused, disciplined and aiming in the direction God is pointing you. In 2 Peter 1. It says “ according to His divine power we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue; By which are given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” This is SO POWERFUL!
Do you realize what Peter is saying? According to God’s power, we have ALREADY been given all we need to live a godly life but it’s through Jesus…knowing Him! And….through that knowledge we can receive these awesome promises and be able to escape the traps because we can actually operate just like Jesus….with His nature..being a giver and focusing on others!
I want to encourage you today to lift your head, look up, quit focusing on you. You’ll never hit the target if you’re not talking aim. Daily take some kind of action that moves you closer to your God-given purpose. OTHERS are apart of your purpose. God blesses us to be a blessing!!! When you are focused on your purpose and taking steps that aim you in that direction, your decisions will catapult you into success!! Be vigilant today! Satan can only take what you give him! You are in possession of God’s gifts and promises…use them today to accomplish His purpose for you!! You’ll live your best life now with this attitude!
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