I’ve been reviewing C.S. Lewis’ book Screwtape Letters, again. 
The lessons in this little book are so simple, evident and immediately recognizable. If you haven’t read it, the premise is that Satan and his helpers meet up to discuss ways to sidetrack various Christians who might be a danger to God’s kingdom. We should all know the enemy’s power is limited—he cannot MAKE us do anything. But temptations that feed our weaknesses (they are observable whether we like to believe that or not!) will distract us and keep us too busy either trying to conquer the weakness or enjoying it (one last time) to turn to the Lord for help.
Too busy to have time for others or to write that letter they meant to ages ago.
Too busy to listen to their child or spouse or friend…
Too busy to eat properly (and quickly distracted from the good they were going to do by finding a piece of cheesecake in the back of the fridge— or for me a chunk of chocolate or bag of chips
Too busy to get out into nature where they commune with God
Too busy to pray, certainly.
You get the picture. Then I found this piece, surely based on this book that draws out some of the excuses we use – some of the distractions discussed in this little book.
Enjoy and then take the challenge. What is one thing you can DO or stop doing to redeem the time and make that connection with Jesus?
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. – Author unknown
In his opening address he said,
“We can’t keep Christians from going to church.”
“We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.”
“We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior.”
“Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.”
“So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“This is what I want you to do,” said the devil:
“Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”
“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.
“Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered.
“Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.”
“Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.”
“Keep them from spending time with their children.”
“As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!”
“Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.”
“Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive.”
“To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.”
“This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”
“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.”
“Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.”
“Invade their driving moments with billboards.”
“Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.”
“Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.”
“Have them return from their recreation exhausted.”
“Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God’s creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.
“Keep them busy, busy, busy!”
“And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.”
“Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.”
“Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.”
“It will work!” “It will work!”
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge … does “BUSY” mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan’s
Y-oke?
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Stories of Faith in Action 
Thank u encoruaging word
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Delores, Thanks for this. I’m in a group study and next week this will apply very nicely! It also has already helped me realize some changes I need to make to be less busy and more focused on the things that really matter. I read your blog always and am often helped and touched. I admired your openess about the loss of your daughter. My prayers and sympathy are with you. Blessings, Dottie
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Dottie, Thank you for the kind encouragement. You know what a writer’s heart needs! That’s wonderful this little lesson may apply to your group study.
I also greatly appreciate the sympathy and prayers in the loss of our daughter. I’ve had many acquaintances turn into friendship through discovering we had a similar great loss.
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