From Chaplain Alice to you.... When Stillness Meets Surprise
June 23, 2026
When I looked at that snake on my deck – small, harmless, barely aware of me – something in my spirit tightened. Not in fear, but in recognition. Because the serpent in Eden wasn’t frightening either. It wasn’t large. It wasn’t violent. it wasn’t dramatic.
It was subtle.
And that’s what unsettled me. Scripture tells us the serpent was “more subtle than any beast of the field” (Genesis 3:1). And Scripture later identifies that serpent clearly as Satan himself (Revelation 12:9; 20:2), who at that time approached Eve in an upright form before the curse that sent him to crawl (Genesis 3:14). He wasn’t more powerful, not more threatening, not more threatening, not more impressive. Just more strategic. More calculated. More intentional in how he approached the human heart.
—
Eve’s Strength and Her Moment of Interruption
Eve wasn’t spiritually lazy. She wasn’t prayerless. She wasn’t rebellious. She wasn’t uninterested in God.
She lived in unbroken fellowship with Him. She walked with Him. She heard Him clearly. She had no competing voices, no cultural noise, no trauma, no past wounds, no spiritual baggage.
And still – the serpent found a way to slip a question into her clarity.
Not because she was weak. Not because she was foolish. Not because she lacked devotion.
But because deception doesn’t require spiritual immaturity – it only requires spiritual interruption.
One moment of hesitation. One pause in certainty. One tiny crack where a whisper can land.
That’s what hit me as I stared at that little snake on my deck: If Eve – who lived in perfection – could be momentarily unsettled, then even the most faithful disciple today must stay alert.
Not Paranoid. Not fearful. Not suspicious of every thought.
Just aware.
The Enemy’s Strategy Hasn’t Changed
The enemy doesn’t need to overpower a believer who prays daily, studies deeply, and walks closely with Christ.
He only needs to distract them long enough to plant a question.
A question that sounds harmless.
A question that sounds reasonable.
A question that sounds like wisdom.
A question that sounds like you.
“Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1)
“Are you sure you heard Him right…?”
“Maybe you misunderstood…?”
Not an attack — a suggestion.
Not a shout — a whisper.
Not a lie — a distortion.
The serpent didn’t need Eve to be spiritually weak.
He only needed her to be spiritually unguarded for a moment.
And the same is true for us.
Even the most devoted disciple — the one who prays, studies, fasts, worships, and walks faithfully — can experience a moment where clarity wavers. Not because they’re failing, but because they’re human.
And that’s why Scripture tells us to be “sober‑minded, vigilant” (1 Peter 5:8) — not because we’re fragile, but because the enemy is persistent.
—
The Real Lesson of the Snake
That little snake on my deck didn’t threaten me.
It didn’t chase me.
It didn’t coil or strike.
It simply appeared — quietly, unexpectedly — in a moment of peace.
And God used it to remind me:
• Even strong believers must stay watchful.
• Even mature disciples can be momentarily unsettled.
• Even seasoned Christians can experience a flicker of doubt.
• And none of that means we’re failing — it means we’re living in a world where the enemy still whispers.
But here’s the truth that steadies me:
A whisper cannot overturn what God has spoken.
A question cannot undo God’s clarity.
A serpent cannot silence the Shepherd’s voice.
(John 10:27)
And the believer who walks closely with Christ is not easily fooled — they are simply human enough to be targeted, and wise enough to resist the enemy’s whisper and stand firm in truth.
Because Scripture promises: (James 4:7)
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Will you pray with me???
Dear Heavenly Father,
We now come humbly before You, to thank You for Your precious love for us. I am always brought to my knees to know that when we come before You in prayer, we can come directly into Your presence.
We can do this only because of Your gift to us, Your Son, Jesus Christ who came as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. He died willingly so that He could then forgive us of all of our sins. According to the scriptures, He rose again, defeating our enemy three days later and now sits at Your right hand, soon to return and gather His children.
Heavenly Father, we call upon Your Holy Spirit to protect us against the enemy who seeks only to kill and to destroy. We ask that You keep us strong, sober-minded and vigilant against the wiles of the devil, for Your Names sake.
We pray that our focus will remain on You, Heavenly Father, for we are children of the King. Help us, oh Father to walk in our true identity, as Your child.
We ask these things all in Your Son’s Precious Name, Amen
Chaplain Alice
From Chaplain Alice to you.... Sunrise for the Soul
June 16, 2026
Several days ago, one of my clients sent me this picture of this beautiful sunrise. I truly enjoyed the picture, I didn’t know then how much I would need it … but God did. Sometimes He sends reminders ahead of time, little deposits of peace waiting for the exact moment our heart needs them.
This morning, after taking a picture of the chipmunk, the Lord brought this picture back to my mind. As I looked at it again, I felt Him whisper the same truth found in Psalm 23. A passage that has carried God’s people for thousands of years.
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
“He restores my soul” Psalm 23:3
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6
Sunrises preach the same message David wrote: God goes before you. God provides for you. God restores you.
When the sun rises, it doesn’t rush. It doesn’t force itself. It simply appears…faithful, steady, and full of promise. Just like our Shepherd. When David said, “He leads me beside still waters,” he was reminding us that God guides us into peace, not chaos. When he wrote, “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” he was pointing to God’s desire to give us rest, not exhaustion. And when he declared, “He restores my soul,” he was testifying that God meets us in the places we feel empty. Sometimes that restoration comes through Scripture. Sometimes through prayer. And sometimes…through a sunrise sent by someone who didn’t even know they were being used by God. Let this be your reminder today: God is already in your tomorrow …Psalm 139:5 His mercies are new every morning … Lamentations 3:22 – 23 His light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it … John 1:5 Just like the sunrise, His presence arrives faithfully, even when we’re not looking for it. May this simple picture steady your steps as you walk with the Shepherd who restores your soul.
Chaplain Alice
