False promises always appear attractive. Otherwise, they wouldn’t draw us.
My head turned when I heard thump, buzz, thump, buzz. I searched for the source of the unusual noise I heard after putting away my garden tools in the garage. Then I heard it again.
This time my eyes were drawn to the garage window. A hummingbird had flown inside while the door was open and bumped the glass, attempting to escape.
I tried to catch the tiny bird, but each time I got close, the hummer discovered a new surge of energy and escaped. It flew higher, so I grabbed the ladder and waited until its wings slowed down. Finally, I cupped my hands around the miniature avian and rescued it.
The shimmery green head poked out of my finger cage. The wings continued to buzz for a moment as if the bird couldn’t decide if it was relieved to be rescued or afraid of a predator.
I sat on the ladder steps and held it until it calmed down. After I tapped on the house door to show my husband our visitor, he prepared sugar water for our little friend. The bird’s long tongue slipped out and lapped up the much-needed refreshment. After she rested, I released her.
The bird must have seen the red plastic handle on the garage door release and mistook it for a flower. The confused hummer followed a false promise. The red plastic appeared to be a food source, but upon closer inspection, it found it had been deceived.
Things can lead us astray the way the little hummer was deceived, leading us into a trap where we need help.
The hummingbird didn’t trust me to rescue it, even though I had her best interest at heart. When we fall prey to temptation’s false promises, we may resist God at first because we don’t recognize how He tries to help us.
Hands larger than the bird’s body surrounded it and brought rest. Nourishment energized the bird to fly again.
If you feel trapped by deception, submit to the Lord’s loving embrace, and let Him rescue you from temptation. You will find His hands are the safest place in which to rest.
How can you do a better job of resisting false promises?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Barbara Latta’s desire is to help others find intimacy with God through a deeper understanding of the power of the Word. She writes a monthly column in her local newspaper and contributes to devotional websites and online magazines and has stories in several anthologies. She enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband. Their rides inspired her book, God’s Maps, Stories of Inspiration and Direction for Motorcycle Riders. Barbara’s blog can be found at www.barbaralatta.blogspot.com. She has two grown sons and one daughter-in-love and adores being Mimi to her granddaughter.