The Pig Pen by Debbie Tindall 04/25/24

I was so fortunate to grow up on a farm. Of all the animals we had, our pet pig, Porky, was really special. He was less than a day old when my dad brought him home. We barely recognized him as being a pig. He was so tiny and his nose so scrunched up. As the runt of the litter, he wasn’t expected to live. We bottle fed him and kept him in the house that first winter. He was amazingly smart and a lot of fun to play with. There’s lots of good memories there including taking him on a leash to Centreville to play on the courthouse lawn. I liked my pig. However, lately I’ve been dealing with some different “spiritual” pigs and the people they use. I don’t like those kind of pigs at all.

Pigs are expert at getting out of their pen…a real Houdini (escape artist). They nose their way persistently under the fence until they get out, usually getting into places they should not be. If they get into your yard or garden or flower beds, they’ll root it up, and tear up everything they put their noses in. They’ll chomp away everything you planted, eat all the fruit, trample it to shreds. It all adds up to total destruction if you don’t capture, contain, or chase them away to stop them. Pigs will always be out there trying to get in. Keep the fence up, in good repair, and the gate closed.

The Bible speaks of pigs. It has instructions on how to deal with those swine. Matthew 7:6 AMP “Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Pigs do what pigs do. I’ve found that if you wrestle with pigs, you get dirty and they love it. They’ll drag you into their mud and trample you. I’ve been dealing with some spiritual swine lately. They’ve rooted their way into my weaknesses, under my “fence,” and torn asunder my peace of mind. They eat up my spirit fruit of love, joy, and peace. If I wrestle with them, I get dirty, look really bad, and they absolutely love it. Satan loves to kill, steal, and destroy and he’s good at finding weak areas to get into. Spiritual pigs? Health issues, relationship issues, anxiety, worry, fear, financial challenges, and a multitude of other areas threaten all of us. Spirit forces use people to wreak havoc too. In their own weaknesses and brokenness they are tools in the devil’s hand to destroy anything good they can put their noses into. I have to consciously look beyond them to the real source of their evil intentions. I don’t like to come across “spooky pooky,” but I am far enough along in my spiritual walk with God to know when these attacks are not just normal challenges, trouble or trials. This is spiritual warfare at a deeper level that is intended to take me down and devour me, destroying my peace and God’s plan for me. These pigs and peace do not coexist.

This verse in Malachi 3:11 has been my hope and my go-to Word promise: “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine case her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” He says He rebukes the evil forces for my sake. When the battle is raging in the spirit realm and I’m too weak and weary from the fight, it is good to know that he promises to fight for me. The battle belongs to the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 20:15). So, my faith and trust is in God. I put His armor on, stand in faith believing what He’s been telling me over and over: “I’ve Got This! Watch and see my hand move for the victory.” He’s got this. He’s got you too. We need to trust Him in the middle of it all. God, help us!