Satan’s Favorite Recipe (Stirring the Pot)

Have you ever noticed that when something irks you, satan will find a way to exemplify it? After all, he has nothing better to do than to try and wreak havoc in your life.  For me, it seems to be whenever I am in a hurry to get somewhere, that satan shows up and I become a magnet for every slow poke out there, or anyone oblivious to the fact that they do NOT have the right of way.  Just once I’d like to make a green light without the person in front of me failing to realize that the light has changed from red to green. Only then, do they slowly creep through the light, as if they are at a buffet, deciding what they want to choose first. Never mind that there are other people who would like a chance to eat before the buffet closes, or at least getting through the light before it changes to red.  The words, “hey buddy, the world doesn’t revolve around you” has popped into my thoughts more times than I care to admit when it comes to traffic. Lookie loos and slow pokes have a way of getting under my skin and of course satan knows that.  “Leave early,” was the motto I’d always been taught, instead of blaming the little blue-haired lady in front of me for driving twenty miles under the speed limit.  “Give yourself plenty of time to get there,” another motto I’ve rehearsed in my mind often, and yet it seems that no matter how early I leave, traffic always happens and I often find myself flustered. 

As any Christian probably knows, satan’s favorite recipe is aptly named, stirring the pot. Unfortunately, I have allowed myself to chomp down on his best served dish, only to have God convict me for allowing satan to give me heartburn with his well-prepared recipe. As is normally the case, after a few Rolaids (or please forgive “me’s” to God), I can often forget the reason that I needed antacids (or forgiveness) in the first place. Therefore, I again find myself overindulging in the very thing that first gave me heartburn.  Satan is well aware of this, and so he will assuredly do whatever it takes to make sure to feed me and any other willing partaker, his favorite recipe.   And let me clue you in, if you don’t already know, he has many versions of that recipe. Insert whatever pet peeve you have right here and understand that he will use it to stir the pot and entice you into taking a huge heaping.    

Obviously, he can’t feed us what we refuse to eat. Have you ever tried to force a kid to eat something that they don’t want to.  Their mouths seal shut like a bank vault and nothing short of holding their nose can get any undesired food into their mouth. However, should you get lucky enough to open that vault, you can probably rest assure that the undesired food will end up being catapulted your way, due to an overexaggerated gag reflex.  Satan on the other hand doesn’t need to hold our nose in order to force feeding us undesirables.  He simply tempts us by placing those undesirable situations in front of us and if it works, he’ll keep stirring the pot, knowing full well that we’ll take a bite.      

As Christians, we need to metaphorically take satan’s stirring spoon and beat him over the head with it.  If you want to get literal, why not take a wooden spoon and imagine beating your invisible adversary over the head? Who am I to judge??? As far as any onlookers will know, you could be swatting at a fly with that wooden spoon, so if it makes you feel better, go for it.  Hey, I’m the woman who has written satan on the bottom of her shoes in order to remind myself that I can step on him any time that I want to.  And let me tell you, there is power in finding yourself with the ability to step on satan.  So, if you must lash out with a wooden spoon, no judgement here.  Do whatever it takes to keep the upper hand on him. After all, satan is a master chef when it comes to concocting recipes. However, always remember that you don’t have to eat what he’s serving.  So, the next time you find yourself being tempted by his favorite recipe, take the cue of a finicky child and refuse to eat it. Eventually he’ll get the hint and go elsewhere to serve his menu and you will find freedom in knowing that life is much better without heartburn . . .