Warring with Ourselves

Yesterday we were visiting with a lady in town, whose son operates a shoe store. The son is working with us to find tennis shoes for several children from the elementary school. While we were talking, we heard a loud roar and walked outside to see what was happening. Across the street, a big cow with very long horns was standing in front of a pharmacy. The cow had seen his reflection in the glass and issued a warning roar. When the "other cow" (his reflection) refused to budge, he lowered his head and charged the glass doors. We just knew they'd break as the cow charged again and again, snorting and huffing. Finally, a man was able to shoo the cow away.

I thought about how many times we look at a perceived "enemy" that's actually ourselves.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 1 John 2:16

All those things listed above come from within us, yet we're so quick to blame other people or good old Satan for battles we're really fighting within ourselves. I've said before that sometimes I make the devil's job way too easy and give him too much credit, because my worst enemy is just my flesh. It's my desire to stop butting my head against my reflection and focus on the real enemy, and the battle going on around me, rather than within me. Sometimes I just need a cow to remind me of that.