We were greeted by some friendly-looking parrots when we stepped out of our car in Milford Sound, New Zealand. Not only did they let us get close to them, but they were quite the little hams when it came to taking pictures of them.

Warning bells were sounding in my head, however. Were these sweet-looking, fun-loving parrots actually the Keas I had been warned about? The same ones that are known to pull the rubber off your car?

Sure enough, one of the big birds flew to the top of our rental car and began tearing away the rubber around the window.

I knew from what I had read that if left alone, the Kea could chew all the rubber off the car. Did this include the tires? I had to wonder!

The problem with Keas is they have become addicted to human food, and as a result, they have become quite a nuisance. Many merchants in Milford Sound have warning signs begging tourists to please not litter or throw the remains of their lunches into the wild, but instead, to use the “bins” provided.

It’s true, the more we feed wild animals human food, the more destructive they become. Bears attack campsites, racoons go through coolers, gulls swarm picnic areas, and, apparently, Keas attack cars! We have unwittingly created monsters in disguise, because believe me, rubberless cars are really not that attractive!

The same is true with our unhealthy obsessions called “addictions”. The more we feed them, the more they get control of our lives and the more destructive they become. Where lust is allowed to have free rein, we become transformed into scary monsters.

But this doesn’t have to be the case. Freedom is possible! This is why we, as believers, have access to a wonderful Counselor, God’s Holy Spirit. With Him at our side, freedom is guaranteed. Unless that is, we insist on having our way or the highway! (It sounds like a book I saw once in the bookstore!) He will help us to be transformed into the likeness of our Heavenly Daddy, a life radiating with love, peace and freedom from obsessions. Who in their sane mind would want to eat rubber anyway! And this is true with any of our unhealthy obsessions!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:17-18 NIV)

Notice though, that those who follow their ungodly desires are not filled with God’s Holy Spirit. They are the ones who would rather believe the lies of the evil one, to the detriment of anyone around them.

“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” (Jude 18-19 NIV)

The battle takes place in the mind. That’s where we decide our allegiance. Either we trust in God or we believe the enemy.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2 NIV)

To start experiencing God’s Holy Spirit, all we need to do is to invite Him into our lives, giving Him complete control over us. Too often we keep clinging to the remaining control-freak in each of us, which leads us to repeated defeats, but once we let Him be at the helm of our lives, God’s power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, will become real in our lives as well! Sadly, we too often take control back into our own hands, and then we wonder why we don’t experience victory …

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…” (Eph 1:18-20 NIV)

It’s all about who we trust, and one thing is for sure: “With God on our side like this, how can we lose?” (Rom 8:31)

Be careful where you park your car! There could be playful Keas on the loose!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Fearless Victory!” devotional series, please click here.)