This devotion is inspired by my original song Shortcuts & Wolves from the album “Work in Progress.”
Shortcuts and Wolves tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood from the other perspective, from the perspective of the wolf. I’m exceedingly baffled by nursery rhymes and why we tell them to our children. A lot of them are grim and gory. I was really afraid of this story when I was little. But for some reason I thought it’d be neat as an artist to flip the story and share it as it’s told from the wolf’s voice. That’s how Shortcuts & Wolves came about.
As I was singing this song one day I was reminded of
1 Peter 5:8 | NIV
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Doesn’t that sound like the wolf in this story? Like eerily so? Interestingly enough, the guy who wrote 1 Peter, is the same guy who Jesus told point blank that Satan desires to sift you as wheat.
Luke 22: 31 | NIV
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Listen, our adversary the devil is busy. This is what he does - going back and forth looking at how he can entrap us. Listen to him talk to God in Job describing what he does…
Job 1:6-8 | NIV
One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Satan is just like that wolf going back and forth in those woods looking for God’s people to devour. But God is with us. Just like in Luke chapter 22, when Jesus said he prayed for Simon Peter and the disciples that their faith may not fail, so too does the blood of Jesus cover you and me if we believe. Listen, Satan knows that you have a barrier of protection if you are a child of God. Let’s continue in Job.
Job 1 9-10 | NIV
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands so that his flocks and herd are spread throughout the land.”
Your story does not have to end like Little Red Riding Hood’s does. God can and will bless the work of your hands, give you the ability to get wealth, get out of debt, overcome poverty, sickness, disease, addictions, mental illness and be set completely free. You are not out there alone.
1 John 4:4 | NIV
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
God is in you. Remain in Him and he will not forsake you.
John 15: 5-6 - | NIV
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
So keep studying the Word of God, keep praying, and keep watching. And stay out of those woods. God will cover you.
Shortcuts & Wolves - Lyrics
She walked through the woods one day.
It was a shortcut to the way grandma stayed.
She lost so much time
Walking on the road where she was safe and fine.
Chorus
But since you asked me, I will say
Matilda had it coming her way.
Shortcuts might be easy.
But it was a wolf that spotted her on that day.
It was a wolf who spotted her on that day.
My name is Wolf and I see you.
Trying to take the easy way is what you do.
Big eyes I have to see you with.
Big mouth I have to eat you with.
