Genesis 26:18: He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

We live in a subdivision that has a pond for the homeowners to enjoy. Periodically, the Property Owners Association has to hire someone to come with a piece of earth moving equipment and clean the sediment out of the reservoir that feeds the pond. Over the course of a year or two, the dirt that is washed by rainwater into the stream is carried to the reservoir before it enters our pond. If that reservoir isn’t maintained, eventually the pond will be full of sediment and will become unhealthy for the fish.

Just as it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. Whenever God brings showers of blessings down on the earth, the flesh of man can become stirred up and pollute the flow that originated at the Head of the stream. In the book of Job, we can read that the sons of God presented themselves to God, and Satan was among them. It seems that anywhere God is pouring out His blessings, Satan is somewhere close by ready to defile them through the frailties of man’s fleshly ways.

After the death of Abraham, the Philistines, who were the enemies of Israel, sought to destroy all the wells that provided water for the Jews and their livestock. I don’t believe that it was just a coincidence that the Philistines did these evil deeds after the death of Abraham. It seems that Satan can have a greater influence to pollute the blessings of God in people’s hearts in the midst of death. Satan also works very diligently to set up scenarios to make us believe that something is beyond hope so that we’ll cast off all restraint and give ourselves over to His devices.

I’m writing you this word today to encourage you to guard your heart from the strategies or methods of the Devil. God is preparing us for the return of Christ. However, while God is on the move, so is Satan. He is orchestrating diversionary tactics to draw our attention away from the impact of what God is doing in order to rob us of seeing the hand of God at work and to discourage us with his destructive acts. Beware of anything that would cause you to lose hope and place doubt in your heart concerning God’s ability to save us from destruction.

Satan desires to regain access back into your heart, but you must stand your ground against him. The enemy of your soul wants to use the weakness of your flesh to try and defile your heart through actions brought on by fear. If you’re concerned that you have given a place to the enemy, and he is robbing you of God’s pure blessings, and you want to be free from the impurities of this world, ask the Lord to keep your heart continually. If God keeps watch, then we will be kept, but if we try to keep watch, there’s a good chance that we will fall asleep. His eyes are on us to watch over us as our Great Shepherd. Our duty is to listen for His voice and keep our eyes fixed on Him. Place your hope and trust solely in the Lord today.  —submitted by Asa Dockery, US