One of my favorite things to do is sit on the porch while watching the birds come to the feeder. When the weather is nice, my preferred place for my morning quiet time is on the porch with my open Bible and a very large cup of coffee.  Something that often appears when I am not paying close attention are sneaky squirrels. One will climb to the top of the tree and then jump onto the feeder to claim some of the food for its own. As the bird feeder sways, the entire contents fall to the ground below. A full bird feeder is now left empty. The squirrel has absolutely no fear of me as I try to send him away. He still lunges as though I can’t see him and will only scramble to leave when I get very close. That sneaky squirrel is awfully persistent. He will leave, however, as soon as he thinks I am not watching again will reappear doing the same thing again and again. As I was watching this transpire one morning, The Lord impressed upon my heart that just like those sneaky squirrels there are many distractors in our life that can sneak up on us and leave us feeling empty and depleted. They strike close to home. The past few days I have found myself really just wanting things to go back to the way they were.  As each event has gotten removed from my calendar, I have felt as though I was becoming a little more defeated and depleted. Our three kids are all struggling and wrestling with this, each in their own way. At times, I am not sure how to even help them. As I was fussing at that sneaky squirrel The Lord laid this on my heart and it provided me with such comfort.

John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” In another version of the Bible the word “abundantly” is used.   An abundant and full life – That seems like a challenge right now doesn’t it? Amidst the fear, anxiety, and stress of Covid-19, doesn’t it seem so easy to allow Satan to deplete our spiritual supply of joy, peace, and hope? Each time the squirrel squanders my bird food, I have to refill the feeder for the birds to feast on again.  It is an active choice to not leave that feeder empty – one I have to make time and time again. We have to make this same choice today, tomorrow, and the day after by refilling our spiritual supply with God’s Word.  God led me to John 16:23-24 on that morning as I was berating that squirrel.  These verses have brought me so much comfort the past few days of quarantine. John 16: 23 and 24, “In that day, you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” My prayer for your family and mine is that we will not allow our enemy to steal our joy and deplete our spiritual supply little by little, but rather allow Our Risen Savior to fill us with His infinite peace and joy.