Often times the voice of negativity rings loud and true in our heads and hearts. It is sad, but we can hear 100 positive comments in a day and focus on the one negative. That one negative comment or action can torment us and tease us and defeat us if we allow it. Satan uses words as well as actions to keep us locked up and not living out God's plan for us.
When my children were little, I would teach them about the good voice and the bad voice. The bad voice said mean things like you are stupid, you can't do whatever...or you are a nerd, or you are slow, ugly, mean, fat, too skinny, too tall, etc. The good voice says things like yes you can do whatever, you are beautiful, you are smart, you are sweet, kind, respectful, nice,etc.
Where do you think the good voices come from? Where do you think the bad voices come from? Of course, I would then go into the Holy Spirit vs. Satan. The Holy Spirit may redirect you by convicting you that you were acting mean or bossy or whatever, and people who love you will redirect you. The hard thing is figuring out if what is being said or done to you is good (from the Holy Spirit) or bad (from Satan). Then, you have to decide which voice (or action) are you going to allow to be the loudest in your life.
As adults, we struggle with the same thing. Today, God blessed me with four different positive interactions with a friend, two former staff, and a former student. A friend who humbles me with her humility, grace, kindness, and loving nature continues to display what to her may seem small but to me are tremendous acts of kindness as simple as sitting with me at games or a hand on my shoulder while I weep.
The former staff members were positive about my leadership, and the former student went out of his/her way to come up and say hi and tell me what he/she was doing with his/her life (now an educator who coaches). What a blessing to run into all of them and to experience the positive feedback as well as the love and grace from a kind friend. God was lifting me up through their words as well as actions. However, what does my mind keep traveling to this evening? My mind keeps focusing on the person who shunned me because of my first divorce.
The Bible says we should forgive 70 times 7. I have a real hard time forgiving myself as well as other people who hurt me, my children, children in general, my friends, and my family. I have to pray, pray, pray, and pray some more for God to help me forgive even though I know that Christ readily forgives me for all of my plethora of sins and will forgive me with the measure that I forgive others. Likewise, Christ forgives me yet I refuse to forgive myself (am I putting myself above Christ)?
Matthew 6: 14-15 reads, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 7 1-2, "Do Not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." So, today, being shunned again for an old sin that I have struggled and struggled with really got to me.
Satan can use any of us at any time to speak against someone or something. We have to guard against the negative things that come out of our mouths because there is power in our words. In Matthew 12:34-37 Jesus said, "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be aquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Well, how do we know when someone is acting out of good or evil? Well, you have to test the nature of it. Is the person speaking to you out of love to redirect you or out of judgement and condemnation? Is it the truth that they are speaking? Are they clearing the temple because you need your temple cleared?
Sometimes, the only way to get my attention is to "clear my temple" by knocking over some tables and kicking some unholy things out the door (which should only be done by someone who has relationship with me). Other times, a gently loving voice redirecting me (the way my grandma often did) is perfect to get me to change my stinking thinking. Could shunning someone ever be done out of love? I don't think so. Could calling someone a name be out of love? Could telling someone that you don't believe in them or harassing them in any way be out of love? You have to ask what the objective of the words or behavior is: kill, steal, destroy or any of their synonyms? Or love?
1Corinthians 13 :6, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
It is difficult to discern some motives at times, but I believe that through prayer and supplication that the Holy Spirit will convict you if a person's motives are out of love or from a sinful nature. Does that mean that Christians never speak on behalf of Satan and that we always speak from the Holy Spirit? No way!! Remember, "none are perfect no not one."
If you are a Christian and you catch yourself speaking on Satan's behalf, you repent and seek forgiveness. We are not perfect, we do not have it all together, and we will never be perfect on Earth. We are messes, but we are saved.
Do I respect Satan? Do I live my life for Satan? Do I respect those that allow themselves to be used by Satan to kill, steal, or destroy? No!! So, why do I allow those that I do not respect to hurt, disable, or defeat me and keep me from focusing on God and His plan for my life? Do I want to allow their behavior to draw me into sin. NO!! I draw myself into sin enough on my own; I do not need anyone's help or assistance. Also, I want people around me who walk in victory and speak God's victory redirecting me and holding me accountable out of love.
In John 13: 34-35 Jesus commands, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." I challenge you to squash Satan's voice in your life whether it is from someone else, a whisper in your mind, or from yourself.
Which voice are you going to allow to be the loudest in your life? Which voice are you going to allow to come out of your mouth? Which voice is going to keep you walking in Christ's victory or wallowing in defeat? Which voice will direct your path?
Keep the faith, and STAND Firm!
When my children were little, I would teach them about the good voice and the bad voice. The bad voice said mean things like you are stupid, you can't do whatever...or you are a nerd, or you are slow, ugly, mean, fat, too skinny, too tall, etc. The good voice says things like yes you can do whatever, you are beautiful, you are smart, you are sweet, kind, respectful, nice,etc.
Where do you think the good voices come from? Where do you think the bad voices come from? Of course, I would then go into the Holy Spirit vs. Satan. The Holy Spirit may redirect you by convicting you that you were acting mean or bossy or whatever, and people who love you will redirect you. The hard thing is figuring out if what is being said or done to you is good (from the Holy Spirit) or bad (from Satan). Then, you have to decide which voice (or action) are you going to allow to be the loudest in your life.
As adults, we struggle with the same thing. Today, God blessed me with four different positive interactions with a friend, two former staff, and a former student. A friend who humbles me with her humility, grace, kindness, and loving nature continues to display what to her may seem small but to me are tremendous acts of kindness as simple as sitting with me at games or a hand on my shoulder while I weep.
The former staff members were positive about my leadership, and the former student went out of his/her way to come up and say hi and tell me what he/she was doing with his/her life (now an educator who coaches). What a blessing to run into all of them and to experience the positive feedback as well as the love and grace from a kind friend. God was lifting me up through their words as well as actions. However, what does my mind keep traveling to this evening? My mind keeps focusing on the person who shunned me because of my first divorce.
The Bible says we should forgive 70 times 7. I have a real hard time forgiving myself as well as other people who hurt me, my children, children in general, my friends, and my family. I have to pray, pray, pray, and pray some more for God to help me forgive even though I know that Christ readily forgives me for all of my plethora of sins and will forgive me with the measure that I forgive others. Likewise, Christ forgives me yet I refuse to forgive myself (am I putting myself above Christ)?
Matthew 6: 14-15 reads, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 7 1-2, "Do Not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." So, today, being shunned again for an old sin that I have struggled and struggled with really got to me.
Satan can use any of us at any time to speak against someone or something. We have to guard against the negative things that come out of our mouths because there is power in our words. In Matthew 12:34-37 Jesus said, "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be aquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Well, how do we know when someone is acting out of good or evil? Well, you have to test the nature of it. Is the person speaking to you out of love to redirect you or out of judgement and condemnation? Is it the truth that they are speaking? Are they clearing the temple because you need your temple cleared?
Sometimes, the only way to get my attention is to "clear my temple" by knocking over some tables and kicking some unholy things out the door (which should only be done by someone who has relationship with me). Other times, a gently loving voice redirecting me (the way my grandma often did) is perfect to get me to change my stinking thinking. Could shunning someone ever be done out of love? I don't think so. Could calling someone a name be out of love? Could telling someone that you don't believe in them or harassing them in any way be out of love? You have to ask what the objective of the words or behavior is: kill, steal, destroy or any of their synonyms? Or love?
1Corinthians 13 :6, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
It is difficult to discern some motives at times, but I believe that through prayer and supplication that the Holy Spirit will convict you if a person's motives are out of love or from a sinful nature. Does that mean that Christians never speak on behalf of Satan and that we always speak from the Holy Spirit? No way!! Remember, "none are perfect no not one."
If you are a Christian and you catch yourself speaking on Satan's behalf, you repent and seek forgiveness. We are not perfect, we do not have it all together, and we will never be perfect on Earth. We are messes, but we are saved.
Do I respect Satan? Do I live my life for Satan? Do I respect those that allow themselves to be used by Satan to kill, steal, or destroy? No!! So, why do I allow those that I do not respect to hurt, disable, or defeat me and keep me from focusing on God and His plan for my life? Do I want to allow their behavior to draw me into sin. NO!! I draw myself into sin enough on my own; I do not need anyone's help or assistance. Also, I want people around me who walk in victory and speak God's victory redirecting me and holding me accountable out of love.
In John 13: 34-35 Jesus commands, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." I challenge you to squash Satan's voice in your life whether it is from someone else, a whisper in your mind, or from yourself.
Which voice are you going to allow to be the loudest in your life? Which voice are you going to allow to come out of your mouth? Which voice is going to keep you walking in Christ's victory or wallowing in defeat? Which voice will direct your path?
Keep the faith, and STAND Firm!
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