I try to keep his feet out. Well, I try to keep all of him out but especially his feet. His feet are what he uses to get in. His foothold is the prerequisite to the rest of him. When he’s in and and his feet are firmly planted he becomes something stronger. He becomes a stronghold.
How do we keep Satan from creating a stronghold in our lives? It starts with keeping his feet out.
In 1 Corinthians Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, and he said, ” ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV).
Some Christians, after understanding that they were saved by grace and not works, thought that they could do anything they wanted. However, Paul quickly rebukes this thinking by explaining that just because something might be sinless doesn’t mean that it is beneficial. Why? Because it may cause a foothold.
So what? So it causes a foothold. What’s the big deal in that? Paul goes on to say that we are not to be mastered by anything. The foothold makes the stronghold possible. The stronghold is the master. We become the slaves.
Let’s play this out with a common and legitimate example.
On Monday I drink a glass of wine. That is fine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine. So I have a glass of wine.
On Tuesday I drink a glass of wine. That is fine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine two days in a row. So I have a glass of wine.
On Wednesday I drink a glass of wine. That is fine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine three days in a row. So I have a glass of wine.
On Thursday I drink a glass of wine. That is fine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine four days in a row. So I have a glass of wine.
On Friday I drink a glass of wine. That is fine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine. It is not a sin to drink a glass of wine five days in a row. So I have a glass of wine.
A month later I realize I have had a glass of wine every day for the past month. I like the wine, and I realize I look forward to it. I plan for it. I rearrange my schedule to get it. I get irritated when I can’t have it.
Now I have a new master, and I am slave.
The days were footholds that in time turned into something stronger – a stronghold – that no longer just has a foot in my life, but has its whole body it my life.
How do I look out for footholds in my life?
1. I “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB). Throughout the day I am talking to God even about the most minor and seemingly unimportant things. Why? Because the smart comment I made to my husband could lead to something stronger. The anger I felt towards the cashier could lead to something stronger. The jealousy I have about my friend’s blessings could lead to something stronger.
2. I ask God to show me my weaknesses (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV). There are things that I struggle with that other people may not. They have their own struggles. So for me it is best that I not be involved in situations that will perpetuate those struggles even though they might be quite all right for someone else. I ask God to search my heart and show me where I need to be careful.
3. I monitor my desire to “sit at His feet” (Luke 10:38-40 NIV). Sometimes I don’t feel like praying. I don’t feel like reading my Bible. I don’t feel like doing my Bible study. This is when I try to perk up and pay attention because I know I am highly vulnerable. I try to be very intentional with the time I spend with Jesus.
How do you look out for footholds in your life so that they don’t turn into strongholds?
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