Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  — Matthew 25:41

I was working out at Total Fitness one morning.  Lately, when I’ve been working out, I listen to the You Version Bible app, or I listen to a sermon that relates to what I’ve read in the Bible recently.  It is normally very easy for me to ignore what is around me, get lost in the reading, get in the groove of finishing all of my sets, and then get out of there. 

For whatever reason, on this morning I could just not concentrate.  I was starting chapters over and backing up to repeat things because I was distracted.  The music in Total Fitness was a little bit louder than usual.  In addition to not being able to drown it out with my ear buds, they were playing just about all of my favorite 80’s rock songs from back in the day.  It was like they were just calling out for me to just turn my stuff off and rock for a while. 

I said a prayer, “Lord, help me to concentrate on You and Your Word.”

It didn’t help.

What did happen was the very next song came on with this killer power chord and these high-pitched harmonizing guitars.  I thought, “Whoa! Where have I heard this before?”  I turned my stuff off and I listened.  

Speak of the devil

He’s no friend of mine

To turn from him is what we have in mind

Just a liar and a thief

The Word tells us so

We like to let him know where he can go

To Hell with the devil

Needless to say, I have been cranking some Stryper lately.  

God, you are absolutely amazing.  As many times as I’ve been in Total Fitness, I’ve never heard a Christian song.  You played that one right after I prayed.  There is no one like You.  Help me to live for You.  Help me to recognize when I’m being attacked by evil.  Then, help me tell those demons boldly and loudly where they can go.  I look so forward to the day when my faith becomes sight and I get to meet the One who has been with me all along.  Amen.