That Day Ending on the Beach in Australia – The Day I Knew We Were Under Attack by the Devil
I knew what to do; I did not want to let these attacks from the Devil win! I told Leo I did not want to return to our Airbnb but pull over and pray. Leo and I were in Australia after leaving our country, home, property, and friends when Jesus called us to leave and move to San Diego, California, with our three daughters. That was in 2008, and it was September 2019! We had returned another time, in 2016, before my mother had passed away, and visited my parents. But today was different; Leo and I and our marriage were personally under attack. And I did not want the Devil and the enemy of our soul to spoil why Jesus had brought us here, driving along these roads and what He wanted to teach us!
What We Were Talking About in the Car – Setting the Stage
Leo had worked near where we were driving at the local pump station during the early part of our marriage. He was talking so fondly about this time and where it had led him that I could feel myself becoming annoyed. His job had gone from this simple life together into a career that had led me to much hardship. As Leo talked, it felt like he had forgotten all the pain his career had caused me. But it wasn’t what was happening. And I knew that, too. The Devil was here, at play. And what Leo was saying to me and what I was relaying back to him was getting twisted and miss-heard. I knew the Devil could twist our words and what we meant to say so that the other would miss-hear it. He had done it so many times before. It was to get us to attack one another and drive us apart. And forget all the good we had done for each other and that we loved each other and were not enemies.
The Devil wanted to get us so riled up that it would be impossible to keep talking as it would only make it worse. And hopefully, to a point where we couldn’t discuss anything together. Suddenly, Leo said he wanted to return to our Airbnb and not continue our drive through the Adelaide Hills like we had planned today. But I did not want to go back! I wanted to take advantage of what Jesus was orchestrating for us to learn and why the Lord wanted us to drive here. We were in our home country on missions, and Jesus had led us to return from San Diego. He had told us that we were to be witnesses of Salvation and the gospel to our friends. Show them that we were still persevering in our faith. And the Devil did not want that; he wanted to foil the plans of God and destroy our witness and our relationship. And I told Leo I did not want to go back. I wanted to pull over somewhere and pray!
We Pulled Over to Pray
I knew the only One who could help us was Jesus, who could stop what was happening and give us victory over the Devil’s attacks. Leo and I remained silent as he found somewhere safe to pull off the road and park the car. And then it was time to put our feelings aside. And come to the cross and Jesus Christ with a willingness to have peace with one another and come in love with a genuine desire to move forward and not hold a grudge. Leo and I prayed. I can’t remember our words, but I remember the victory. We said sorry for any hurt feelings we may have contributed to one another, with an excitement to grab the full reward Jesus wanted to bring. He had a reason for today. It was not a surprise to Christ that this had happened to us. And there was a purpose for this afternoon, where He was leading and where we would end up at the end of the day.
That Day, We Ended up on the Beach Watching the Sunset
Leo and I drove through the Adelaide Hills, reminiscing about our past and the victories Jesus had brought. We ended up on Aldinga Beach. You can drive your car onto the beach, where Leo took these photos. We sat watching the sunset in our car and talked about how blessed we were to have found the true meaning of life with a relationship with Jesus Christ, the savior, and light of the world. In our home country, we were here as missionaries with no land or country to call our own. We were indeed foreigners in this world with our sights set on our heavenly home with Jesus, His future place for us.
Leo and I read Philippians Chapters 3 and 4. I wrote it down and knew it was significant. And today, when I read it, I know it represents a life in Christ like the day I’ve described when the Devil attacked Leo and me and the victory we received. It confirmed that the blog I had started with this name was to continue. As Leo and I watched the sunset at the close of the day, I liken it to when Jesus returns. He will return and want to find His people pure and blameless before Him. We are not to surrender to the easy choice that our flesh and human desires want to lead us. We are to yield to Christ. Leo and I could have remained stubborn towards each other and not listened to the Voice of the Holy Spirit. We could have turned back and missed out on our relationship and the joy we shared, reminiscing, and building our marriage on the victories Jesus has for us. Anger never produces righteousness, and it is a foothold for the Devil. He uses it repeatedly (James 1:20) (Ephesians 4:26-27).
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (Matthew 4:26-27).
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1-19-20).
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