To Catch A Thief
CBN.com I had been working on a book project, Becoming a Woman who Listens to God, for seven days straight and welcomed the invitation from a friend for a "mindless movie break." Barb and I ventured to the theater to see a film that I am now convinced was aimed at thirteen-year-old girls. I plopped down in an aisle seat, put my purse on the floor, kicked off my shoes, and enjoyed the show. For just a few minutes, I went to Rome with Lizzie McGuire for a nice, albeit ditzy, diversion.
Two hours later, I was back at home working on the manuscript and burning the midnight oil. Close to midnight, the phone rang again, only this time it was not a friend. It was a credit card company telling me the police arrested the man who stole my credit cards. They explained that I needed to press charges at the police station.
"Wait a minute," I said, "I'm not missing any credit cards."
"Just call this number and ask for Sergeant Pearce," the man continued.
Very confused, I called the police station. As the phone rang, I rummaged through my purse and sure enough, I was missing two credit cards, all my cash, and my cell phone. As the who, what, when, where, and how questions were running through my mind, Sergeant Pearce put the pieces of the puzzle together.
It seems that while I was sitting in the dark, a man entered the theater, took my purse (from right beside me!), went into the hallway, removed what he felt would be useful to him, and then returned it to my seat. Where was I? Sitting right there, with my mind off in la-la-land. Ditzy diversion indeed!
Two hours later, the man who had stolen my cards got in an altercation outside of a gas station. (That's police lingo for "fist fight.") When the police came to break it up, they cuffed and searched the "perp." Upon frisking him they found my credit cards. He told the policemen that the cards belonged to his girlfriend. She was a crack addict and had asked him to pick up a few things for her. (Which he had done, I might add.) Well, after spending some time on the phone with Sergeant Pearce, he was convinced that I was not this man's crack addict girlfriend.
I never did get my credit cards back. They had to keep them as evidence for the two felony charges. But I did get to keep the lessons I learned from the incident. First and foremost, even though I took a break from writing Becoming a Woman who Listens to God, we can never take a break from being women who listen to God. All week I had been immersed in thinking about, praying about, and writing about being such a woman. As soon as put my guard down, I was robbed. God showed me that this is exactly what happens when I "take a break" from listening to Him. Satan looks to attack us at "opportune times" ( ).
Paul reminds us to never be unaware of Satan's schemes ( ). "Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy," Jesus said. "But I have come that they might have life, and have it to the fullest." ( ). I need to be on the alert at all times.
There was a second lesson I learned that evening. Prayer warriors are of the utmost importance. See, those types of crooks are rarely caught. They're quick, thorough and careful. However, I don't imagine this thief was accustomed to stealing from someone with such incredible bodyguards. Yes, the policemen were pretty proud of themselves for catching the criminal (they did do a great job), but I imagine the angels were doing a few high-fives themselves.
Remember, prayer is so important. Satan is not happy with what we are doing. But we know that "The one that is in you (Jesus) is greater than the one that is in the world" ( ).
Sharon is a wife, mother and Vice President of Proverbs 31 Ministries. For more information or to book Sharon for an upcoming women's event, please visit the Speakers section of the Proverbs 31 Ministries' website at www.proverbs31.org or call 1-877-P31-HOME.
