I recently went to the movies after church and had a “faith-testing” experience.  I had paid my money after pre-selecting my reclining seat at a movie theater during a time when there wouldn’t be any crowds.  I walked to my seat in the near empty theater anticipating the ease of the reclining sofa-like chair.  As I approached my seat, I saw a twenty-something Caucasian couple sitting directly next to it.  As I went to sit down I noticed that the woman had her popcorn in my seat with her soda in the cup tray.  I silently stood there for a second, checking the number on the seat and checking my ticket to confirm that I was at the correct location.

I said to the woman, “hi, this is my seat” and stood there patiently waiting for her to move her drink and food so I could sit down.  She replied that the theater was empty and that I should go find somewhere else to sit.  I felt my body temperature rise as my blood began to boil, then calmly replied to her, “I’m near sighted and picked this seat when I paid so that I could see and enjoy the movie.”  She looked at me as if I had 10 heads growing out of my neck.  The man that was with her said, “just move your stuff.” She angrily moved the food and drink and began mumbling something to the man she was with as I sat down.

I knew that Satan was at work because I was on a “spiritual high” joyful after just leaving church and found myself in a situation (which upon further reflection and prayer the Lord revealed) was designed to steal my joy and impact my behavior and testimony so that I would not act like a “child of the king.”

When the movie was over, as I walked to my car, some of Christ’s last words resonated in my ear. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  I immediately began to pray and thanked God for the strength He had given me during those earlier moments of adversity.

The words “Father forgive them” are three of the most powerful words spoken by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while he laid dying on the cross at Calvary (Luke 23:34).  Despite the fact that He had been beaten, mocked and ridiculed and was in agonizing pain he prayed for his persecutors. His love outweighed the hate of others.

If you and I are truly the representatives of Christ that we think we are, then we must be on guard for the snares of the enemy and stay prayed up. We never know who is watching and might be influenced to begin a relationship with Christ based on what actions or words they have observed from us.

Be consistent and vigilant in prayer and be blessed!