It was audition time for honors band and emotions were running high. The assignment required completing a continuous recording of all twelve scales played to tempo. She enjoyed band and had done well across the year. This particular evening, she was determined to raise the bar and play every scale flawlessly. What started out with a confident “I can do this!” mantra rolled into “I don’t know if I am good enough for honors band.” Finally, there was a frustrated scream, “I can’t do this!” She stomped upstairs and slammed her door.
When doors slam physically, emotionally or spiritually, it is a dad’s job to open the door and talk about what is going on. There are three lies that have been around since the garden of Eden still stirring up frustration today. The first is, “You are not good enough …” The Truth is that we are good enough – We are made in God’s image (Gen.1:27) and are, “… heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus,” (Rom.8:17). The second lie is, “You don’t have what it takes …” The Truth is that in the power of the resurrected Christ (Jn.20:17) and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), we have whatever it takes. The third lie is, “The situation is hopeless.” The Truth is “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom.5:5). There is everlasting hope in the living God. Dads are to recognize and rebuke lies of the evil one with Truth.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” – Genesis 4:6-7. Cain was convinced he was not good enough because the Lord did not look at his offering with favor. In his anger, the lie that he did not have what it took to please the Lord may have stirred up further frustration that there was no hope he could ever please the Lord. Sin is always crouching at your door. The devil does not always tempt man directly to sin but works through the shifting of his point of view. Cain’s point of view shifted from God and sin controlled him. Cain had the opportunity, as we do, to focus on God and do what is right. That is how we rule over sin in the power of the risen Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Dad did open his daughter’s door. She was frustrated, tired and sure she would not be able to complete the audition as she wanted to. Dad reminded her of who she was – a hard worker, determined to be the best she could be with no ‘quit’ in her. He also reminded her of Whose she was – a child of God and that He was not about to abandon her in such a time as this. Her job was to not let anything shift her point of view from the Lord and keep her eyes focused on Him. She completed the recording successfully that evening and went on to have a fabulous honors band experience through high school.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for the Truth that is Your Word. The lies of the evil one have distracted me more than I would like to admit. Forgive me. Strengthen me as a man, husband and father to rebuke lies that inhibit how You want to work through me. Help me equip my family in Your Word and in Your love to recognize and rebuke lies at work to shift their point of view from You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A faithful father recognizes and rebukes lies of the evil one with Truth.
