“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  1 Peter 5:8

Defensible Space

For the last couple of years my husband and I have been working on our property to create more defensible space around our home in order to help protect it from devastating forest fires, which are becoming more frequent and intense. “Defensible space” has become a well-known concept, and many people are heeding the advice of the forestry and fire officials, especially in the aftermath of so many horrific wildfires.

My husband has purchased several power tools to make our work more efficient and easier: mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, etc. Overgrown foliage and tall dead grasses are fodder for even the smallest accidental spark to ignite and develop into a massive, uncontrollable forest fire. Sadly, arsonists deliberately set some fires. But sometimes the “defensible space” we create is not always adequate to protect us, as we learned with disbelief that the Carr Fire had jumped the Sacramento River!

As I was weed-whacking this morning, I got to thinking about defensible space in the spiritual arena and saw some similarities. We know we have a spiritual enemy, a thief and an “arsonist” if you will, who is out to kill, steal, and destroy anything he can in our lives and relationships. Unrepentant sin can grow and encroach on our defensible space, providing the fodder for his evil plans.

Thankfully, Jesus has provided “power tools” for us to use in order to give us defensible space from the devil’s fiery darts. Those tools are: the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 6:22), and the many diverse gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12:6-13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

But just like protecting our physical property, it’s not enough to know what to do—we need to DO it (James 1:22)! However, our trust and hope is not in the “tools” alone, but are in the One who purchased them for us (with His own blood) and trains us how to use them, all while developing Christ-like character in us. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). “He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Now that’s defensible space!

God is all-powerful, but He expects us to partner with Him to do our part in this journey (battle) here on earth. How might you use His “power tools” (love, forgiveness, prayer, etc.) to create and maintain defensible space in your walk with the Lord?

“Lord I love You and Your Word. You tell us if we submit to You and resist the devil, he will flee from us, and if we draw near to You, You will draw near to us (James 4:7, 8). Thank You for providing, empowering, and being our defensible space. Amen!”