Day 4: Swimming Against the Current

Have you ever gone swimming or canoeing in a river and tried to swim or paddle against the current?
If you have, you know how difficult and exhausting it can be.  But, this is precisely what the salmon does for much of its life.
 Like the salmon, the true disciple of Jesus Christ will feel like he/she is swimming against the current in the world in which we live. There will be numerous tactics Satan uses to try to discourage Christians in their relationship with God. Some of those tactics may include doubt, loneliness, disappointments, self-hatred, unforgiveness or maybe a physical ailment.

What is the enemy using in your life to get you down? As the salmon has to constantly elude predators, the Christian has to "...be careful! Watch out for attacks. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." (I Peter 5:8) Take heart Christian!

If you're undergoing attacks from the Devil, that means he still considers you a threat to his plan. Are you going through a trial? "...let it be an opportunity for great joy...because your endurance has a chance to grow." (James 1:2-3) The life cycle of a salmon is not complete without a look at the inevitable death. The brilliant colors fade as the fish decomposes. Hopefully each salmon alongside the river has accomplished its mission of bringing new life into our world. The same is true of the disciple of Christ.

A dying of our selfish flesh is necessary in order for Christ to live fully through us. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)


Hitz, CJ (2011-09-14). Fuel for the Soul: 21 Devotionals That Nourish (Kindle Locations 134-135). Body and Soul Publishing. Kindle Edition.
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