I have a couple of statistics counters on my blog to tell me how many visits I get on the site. My counter tells me that I have a very small handful of faithful readers. I am thankful for each person who reads. If I can be a friend to you through writing, I am glad.
I installed a new counter last week. I didn’t know this would be the outcome, but this counter shows me how many malicious login attempts are made on my blog. In less than a week, there have been hundreds of attempts by computers all over the world. I am shocked. My blog is not a worthy target. I have no economic power, no sponsors, no voice in important circles, and only a few people would notice if someone took down my site or filled it with malicious links. Perhaps this is another illustration of the truth that there are no unimportant people.
Wouldn’t it be interesting/alarming if we had “counters” for all the malicious attempts made toward us by the adversary each day? Would our counters spike high when we turned on the television or computer? Would we see a decrease in malicious intent as we stepped into our churches and temples, served our neighbors, and gathered our families to pray? I think so.
Conversely, wouldn’t it be interesting to have a “counter” for the number of times people were thinking kind thoughts about us, or praying for us, or speaking about us in a positive way? What about a measure for the divine influence around us? I think we would be amazed at the effort, love, protection, and power that surrounds us, especially when we seek it. Good not only outnumbers and outlasts evil, but it is more powerful.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
-2 Kings 6:15-17