Lock in (Vol. 1): Tactical Approaches to Surviving Everyday Devils

By Jonathan McGhee

"Lock In: Tactical Approaches to Surviving Everyday Devils" is the first book of the Lock In series. In short, it is the coming-of-age tale of a preacher's kid, struggling with overcoming insecurities, and ultimately accepting the call of God.

The "tactical approaches" aspect of the book comes from the Bible commentary and interactive journal that is included in the book after the story.

The reader is given the opportunity to reflect over the up-and-down journey the main character "Curtis" undergoes while running to-and-from his calling.

This journey isn't a simple one. None of ours are.

In fact, while the main character experiences highs and lows, there is no definitive "happy ending." The interactive journal that follows the story, therefore, is meant to explore and even question the various processes Christians experience while coming to terms with the lives in Christ they are called to.

Ultimately the text intends to highlight the many tactics Satan uses to keep believers bound and at odds with our callings in God. Through honest, self-reflective observation of the main character, a person is able to think critically about the steps he or she needs to take in order to survive "everyday devils."

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781667890135

Book preview

title

LOCK IN. Copyright © 2022 by Jonathan McGhee.

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America.

FIRST PRINTING

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, dead or alive, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted material in violation of the author’s right’s. Purchase only authorized editions.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Published in the United States by Morals & Values Press.

Los Angeles, California

moralsandvaluespress.com

Cover Design by Curtis McTizic.

ISBN 978-1-7355487-7-7

eISBN: 978-1-6678901-3-5

DEDICATION

To my wife, Neicy, my children—Max, and

Kay, my darling mother, and to the memory of

my father.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special acknowledgements go out to all who helped this text become a reality including, but not limited to:

Melanie and Ralph Jefferson, who were relentless in their support.

Mischa Duffie, who served as both my editor and story development coach.

The McGhee family, the Bethlehem Church family, and to all the family-ish friends who donated to the creation of this work.

Curtis McTizic, who served as my illustrator.

Bishop William McMillan II, who has been instrumental to my growth in this season.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Message From the Author

Part 1: Curtis’s Story

The Unfamiliar Figure

A Faithful Attraction

Bittersweet Cravings

A Painful Aftertaste

Blinding Light

Faith Restored

Faith On the Brain

Lingering Cravings

Boy Meets Man

The Message

The Unfamiliar Figure – Pt. 2

Part 2: Chapter-by-Chapter Tactical Approaches

About the Author

A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

Allow me to introduce you to the stories of Curtis Mitchell. Curtis is a guy who loves God, wants to fulfill God’s divine purpose for his life, but is constantly distracted by the devil’s diversions and fleetingly defeated by his own personal longings. Curtis is also a habitual mistake maker who is equal parts enthralled by and obsessed with the power of God’s grace; a grace Curtis is convinced will forever be enshrouded in the mystery of God’s Godness.

Like many others, Curtis has struggled with the strange discomfort of sharing truths about his life in God. Like Curtis, we hate to be honest about how difficult a life in Christ has been at times, or how much we’ve hated the process at times, or how much we’ve struggled to let go of that old lifestyle of sin, or how much the old lifestyle has spilled over into the new lifestyle.

I can already imagine eyebrows furling up while reading that last clause, which is a testament of how all of us—us Bible-believing, Jesus-loving humans—have faced, and undoubtedly continue to face, personal, professional, and/or spiritual challenges that have added to the varying layers of our complicated experience in God.

Living under the weight of your own weaknesses can make you deeply appreciative of your stronger moments, of every victory, of every moment when you become aware of even the slightest increase of your maturity in God.

All who dare to be honest with themselves about spiritual maturity or lack of it know what it means to truly experience a breakthrough by the power of God because we relish these moments. We live hungry to experience those authentic wins in God. We flinch at the thought of inauthentic victory, fake blessings, ungodly opportunities, and happy moments that lack true meaning. We’ve tried and tried and tried (and sometimes try again) to experience Jesus-less joy.

And we’ve failed enough to realize ain’t no wins without Him.

So, what’s the point of presenting Curtis’s story?

I think the world of Believers and potential Believers need more transparency concerning the journey from calling, to course completion, and everything between. Following the calling of God is never a simple task or transition.

There is a whole lifetime of change that Jesus-lovers sign up for when they allow Jesus to begin loving the hell out of them. A lifetime of change.

Additionally, by embracing Biblical truths and being honestly self-reflective we can begin to extract from our life experience certain shareable strategies for success instead of focusing so much on the pestering challenges of the enemy.

The Bible depicts Satan as many things. One of those things is a roaring lion lurking about seeking whom he may devour. Seeking lets us know that