Several months ago, my roommate and I had a problem with ants. For about a week, we noticed a thin trail of little black ants scurrying up and down the walls in the kitchen. Then within days the trickle became a steady stream.

We did everything we could to rid them from the kitchen with sprays and sugar mixtures and even caulking up the cracks around the windowsill. But those ants kept returning with dogged determination.

Exasperated, I finally called the exterminator, who I affectionately referred to as the Terminantor. He had just the right formula to annihilate the whole nest inside the house and out. Within the span of a week, the entire ant colony had been wiped out, and peace returned to the home.

Sometimes you have got to clean house, particularly when your house is under attack by some persistent threat. If you turn a blind eye, your enemy – however small – will just increase efforts to overtake territory that is rightfully yours.

Does this scenario sound familiar? It should if you are living the life of faith in Jesus Christ.

We must be just as vigilant to keep watch over our spirits, which house the Holy Spirit, to ensure that no little “bugs” can get in. We must carefully inspect any cracks in our souls, because those could be potential entry points for Satan’s onslaught. Confession of wrongdoing, repentance for sins, and prayers for protection are all excellent ways to “caulk” up those holes in your soul. Then when fortifying defenses is no longer enough, we need to be ready to go on the offensive with the Word of God poised and ready to cut down our parading enemy with deadly accuracy in one swift, unified movement.

Friends, this is why we need to humbly come into the presence of the Lord on a daily basis, so that with prayer and study of the God’s Word, we will be aware of any crawly critters that have entered temporarily unnoticed or are trying to break through our defenses with tenacious teamwork.

– Laura J. Bagby