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5 Ways to Fight the Tricks of the Devil
This past week, my eyes were on God, but it felt like my heart was being towed to Never Never Land. I didn’t want it go, but away it went. People, issues, problems, doubts, uncertainties and fears all came into sight, as my great God moved far from sight – into the horizon of peace, where I surely wasn’t.
Shame backfired in my heart, burning me with the thoughts, “You have issues. Big issues. God doesn’t value a girl like that. God has left you.”
Ahem. What?!
Now we all know that these words aren’t true.
But in the moment, lies seem as true as the rabbit that magically appears out of the hat,
don’t they?
Sometimes, in order to see truth,
we have to take a different position to see the reality of what is happening.
Then we get a chance to shift our mindset from the destructive power of feelings
to God’s instructive hand of healing.
We begin to see:
“You stink” is really sent from one who wants us to sink.
“Not enough,” is an attempt by the great thief to replace Gods’ “more than enough”.
Utterances excluding grace are like shots of mace sent to blind our face.
The devil loves to use fear as the springboard to inadequacy. Because then, he can plunge us into the ocean of shame, if we don’t step off that mind-dizzying, nausea-inducing board of agony quick enough.
God never condones oceans of condemnation.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17
Knowing Christ never condemns helps me see the one who always does.
I don’t want to be listening to his lies.
5 Ways to Drive out Lies and to Drive in God’s Truth
1. Determine which Father to serve. The father liar or Father God?
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Jo. 8:44
When we acknowledge our wrong direction, we can finally get on the right one.
2. Let God take his rightful standing. God is higher than opposition, man or my feelings.
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Mt. 16:23
When we tell the devil to get back, we invite God to step forward.
3. Pledge allegiance to the one who has already claimed me. Allow the General of Love to rule over thoughts and actions.
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming.
He has no claim on me… Jo. 14:30
When we realize who has already claimed us, we also realize who has no claim on us.
4. Get low to grow. So I don’t have a hard go.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Ja. 4:7
Submission leaves no permission for the devil to enter in. He flees.
5. Recognize: what God sees goes much farther than me.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD. Is. 55:8
The vantage point of God is all-knowing, all-powerful and just-right. His will will be done. We can fight by our might or let go by his will. The choice is ours.
God is always waiting for us. His truth will always set us free.
As we break down God’s truth,
lies break down,
leaving space for God to breakthrough.
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