Encouragement

---

Marla
©

by

Stephen A. Peterson


It was an unusually warm November 11, 2003 in Tulsa, Oklahoma when Marla a 17 year old teen decided to rent her home out to boarders. Three months earlier Marla left the care of her parents after a year long dispute with them. She asked for and received her inheritance to go out and live on her own. From this money she purchased a house but used the rest of the money to host parties with her new found friends. However, as soon as her money ran out, the people she referred to as friends stopped visiting her. Desperate for money and not wanting to return to the care of her parents, Marla decided to accept boarders. Within a day after placing an ad in the local newspaper, a young man came to her house. The young man identified himself as Jesus Christ. At first Marla refused to accept this announcement as she believed God did not exist. Within a matter of minutes came to realize that God does exist and that He had asked to live in her home as a boarder. Marla was shocked that Jesus would even consider living in her house after having denied His existence for so many years, not honoring her parents and living a sinful life since leaving her parents. She offered him her very best room. The room was upstairs and on the northeast side so that Jesus would see the sunrise each morning. Very tired, Marla retired to her room downstairs next to her kitchen.

Around midnight, Marla was awakened by loud knocks at the front door. Marla put on her robe and cautiously walked over to the door. Although she turned on the porch light, she was unable to see who it was. She slowly opened the door to find that Satan had sent three of his most aggressive demons to attack her. Marla quickly tried to close the door but during the struggle one of the demons kept slipping his foot in.

After about 15 minutes of struggling, Marla managed to shut the door on the demons who ceased their attack and immediately left. Marla returned to her downstairs bedroom totally exhausted. “I can’t believe it! Jesus is upstairs and Satan sent demons to my house! Why, the nerve of Satan! I wonder if Jesus heard any of this? Gosh, I hope not. He may not want to stay here. I want my house to be a respectable place so He’ll stay. I won’t mention it to him! Yeah, I’ll keep it from Him so He’ll stay! Tired Marla fell into a deep sleep. The next day every thing seemed to go along in a normal manner. Marla retired early as did Jesus. Around midnight, there came loud banging at the front door. The banging was so loud Marla thought that whomever it was trying to get in would tear the door down. Marla quickly walked across the living room with a metal bat in her hand to beat back anyone who might try to enter her house.

When she turned on the porch light to see who it was, she was once again unable to see just who it was. When Marla opened the door, she could see more than a dozen demons trying to enter her house. For nearly six hours, Marla struggled against their attacks preventing them from entering the house. “Why does Satan do this? Doesn’t he know that Jesus is here? Why didn’t Jesus hear all of this noise? “Exhausted Marla fell fast asleep on the sofa in the living room.

Late the next morning, Marla decided to ask Jesus if He had heard any noises over the past two evening. Quietly Marla walked up to the stair to the room where Jesus was, knocked on his door then entered. She saw Jesus on His knees apparently in prayer.

“Lord, may I ask you some questions?”

“Yes, certainly!” responded Jesus.

“Lord, I don’t understand what is going on. For the last two nights I’ve fought Satan and his demons while you were sleeping. Didn’t you hear all of the noise? I thought when I let you live in my house you’d protect me.”

Marla could see tears welling in Jesus’ eyes but she continued her questioning. “Lord, I don’t understand you! I thought that if I allowed You to live in my house you would protect me from evil, suffering and pain. I gave You my best room!”

Jesus responded, “Marla, my daughter, you have Me in this room for a price and I have paid that price. But I am not Master of this house. I have protected this room and no force from hell may enter here.”

Marla realized the error of her heart. “Lord, I’m sorry! Please forgive me. Take my house, what little money I have and everything in this house. I’m sorry I never gave You control of everything. It’s all Yours. Marla knelt down at Jesus’ feet, “Please, Lord forgive me for being so selfish and disobeying Your commands. Lord, I have a secret. I've been cruel to my parent. I've disobeyed them. Stolen from them. Lied to them about what I've been doing.”

Jesus smiled then lifted Marla up, "I know, all that you have done". He told her that He had already forgiven her, that she should sinner no more and He would take care of everything. After midnight the banging on the front door began. Marla stayed in her room but slipped out of her room to see what was happening. Marla watched in awe as Jesus opened the door. Satan accompanied by dozens of demons stood at the door demanding to be let in. “What do you want Satan?” Jesus asked. Recognizing that it was Jesus, Satan and the cohort of demons bowed down in His presence.

“Eh, I’m sorry. I, I seem to have the wrong address! He! He!” With that Satan and his host of demons ran or flew away in every direction. Some demons were in such a hurry to get out that they tripped over or trampled on each other trying to get away.

Yes, there is a moral to this story. All have fallen short of God’s grace. But when we recognize Jesus, He wants ALL of you not just a small part. Jesus’ love is unconditional. That is, each person is able to choose how much of their life and heart they want to give to the Lord. The attacks from Satan and his demons are more intense the longer one fails to give their life over to Jesus. Why not let Jesus fight your battles? He is always victorious as Marla found out!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE