Do you have someone in your life that’s a “Button Pusher”? That person that says or does something that triggers negative reactions in you like insecurity or self-consciousness. Maybe it’s someone that has a knack for making you feel “less than” in some way. All of us have different “hot buttons” that trigger negative thoughts, feelings and reactions. Understanding what they are and what pushes them helps us to deal with them more effectively.
As we begin to understand ourselves and what sets us off, it is critical to recognize that Satan is the worst “Button Pusher” of all. Through keen observation, he knows our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, and our insecurities. He sees what triggers us and knows when he can capitalize on a situation and use it to derail us. And that’s why Peter says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV)
Being sober minded and alert helps us to recognize when and where the enemy is prowling around in our lives. The key is identifying places we leave ourselves open to attacks so that we can take measures to avert the lion’s pounce.
I recently experienced what happens when I’m not alert and sober minded on a trip to Mexico. I was serving as a leader with our church’s youth group and we were there to build simple homes for needy families. It was a challenging trip on many levels– physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Each day we’d wake up at 6 at our campground to eat breakfast and pack lunches before taking a bumpy bus ride to our work sites. Days were spent doing hard manual labor: hauling buckets of gravel and cement, hand-mixing concrete and stucco, hammering and sawing wood, etc. Filthy, sore and tired, we would return to camp in time to bathe (sort of), eat dinner, worship, hear a message, and have small group discussions in our tents.
As fulfilling as it was to be serving the Mexican families and the youth group students, I felt utterly depleted on every front by halfway through the week. Physical exhaustion and minimal opportunities for time alone had reduced my quiet times to a few pre-dawn moments when I asked God to fill and strengthen me before I climbed out of my sleeping bag to pull on my overalls. A quick reading of a devotional or Bible passage and some fleeting prayers throughout the day were my main spiritual sustenance. Everything else that keeps me centered was put on hold for the week.
By the trip’s midpoint, my physical, spiritual and relational reserves were at an all time low. I was ripe for the prowling lion looking for someone to devour, and he didn’t miss the opportunity. Throughout one day, the enemy used several challenging circumstances to send me on a downward spiral. I was convinced that I was a failure as a leader and that I had nothing to offer in the way of building expertise. Several of my “hot buttons” had been pushed, causing old insecurities to rear their heads. And I believed every lie the devil lobbed at me.
When I finally pulled away from the group to call home late that evening, I dissolved in tears as I recounted the day to my husband. Immediately reading the situation, he told me I was believing the enemy’s lies and offered to pray for me. My exhaustion had opened me up for spiritual attack, but my husband’s prayer quickly changed that. By the next morning, I awoke with a whole different outlook and could see how deceived I’d been. The prowling lion had been sent packing, thanks to the power of prayer.
Personally, I know I’m more prone to having the devil pounce when I’m not staying grounded in the things that keep me healthy and aligned with truth. Here are a few times when my hot buttons can be pushed:
- I haven’t spent time in God’s Word or prayer
- I haven’t taken care of my physical needs (exercise, adequate sleep, healthy eating, preventive medical care, etc.)
- I haven’t been connecting with healthy people who help me stay aligned with God (which means I’ve missed Bible study, church, small group or other gatherings of believers)
- I’ve let unhealthy thoughts roam freely in my mind
- I’ve let negative attitudes and emotions rule me
- I’ve been overly focused on myself
- I’ve been comparing myself to others
- I haven’t spent time nurturing healthy relationships that matter to me
- I’ve spent too much time with people who don’t care about God or point me towards Him
- I’ve spent too much time in front of screens (TV, computer, phone, iPad, movies)
- I’ve been reading things that influence me negatively or taint my worldview
- I haven’t been honest with myself, God or others about something I’m struggling with
- I’m sinning and not seeking God for forgiveness
- I’m holding onto offenses others commit against me instead of letting them go or forgiving them
When I’m alert and clear thinking, I see how the devil uses these things against me. It doesn’t take long to recognize they are like a button with the words “push me” glowing on top. When I’m unaware and not thinking clearly, I give the roaring lion a lot more room to roam in my life and it takes much longer to recognize he’s been messing with me. I think this is why Peter reminds his readers twice in two chapters to be alert and sober-minded (4:7 and 5:8). The sooner we realize how the enemy is scheming against us, the faster we can pray and stop him in his tracks.
Is it time to take stock of your own “hot buttons” and to figure out where and when you’re unintentionally inviting the prowling lion to pounce?
The best way to remain sober minded and alert is to immerse yourself in God’s Word. Click on the link and be encouraged by “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaVg0cWkgA