Tag: satan

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Resist the devil and he will flee

One of the strongest attacks from the enemy (also known as Satan) is the constant condemnation and accusation he brings to  your life. Whether you’re a Christian or not, Satan doesn’t discriminate, he’s always ready to accuse you. Thankfully there is a way to stop these thoughts. Jesus has set us free through the redemption of His perfect sacrifice on the cross. Due to this, we now have the power through Jesus to cover ourselves with His precious blood. “Now there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who not not after the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” – Romans 8:1

There is a grave danger when we allow ourselves to dwell in the past, our uncertain future, or on what could have been. These are tactics the enemy uses to ensure that you don’t move forward. The devil gets a foothold if we give it to him. Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated nor taunted by the devil. Propose it to yourself to not allow Satan to play with your emotions, you’re not his puppet. I believe that part of the reason why we allow these thoughts of condemnation to filter through our mind and spirit, is the lack of self-dominion. We do not know how to stop these thoughts and we entertain them. We have the Holy Spirit talking to us, but instead, we choose to ignore that still small voice. So how do we choose to stop these thoughts? Below are a few tips on how to do this effectively.

#1 Remember that you’re in control. God’s word says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and sound mind.” – 2 Tim 1:7.  This means you have the fruits of the Holy Spirit and one of those fruits is self-control. Believe that you are equipped to stop those fiery darts with the shield of faith. You can lift that shield and cover your mind with the word of God. This will counter those lying words.

#2 You have been set free. The word of God says that “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” – John 8:36. You’ve been forgiven, redeemed, and purchased at a price. Nothing that you did in the past is unforgivable, Jesus already paid the price for your sins. Your past is “finished” and so are you sins. You’re no longer a slave to sin, but a slave to Christ. Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sin does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” That word gives me a lot of hope. To know that if you’ve sincerely repented to God about what you’ve done…mercy is sure to follow. God’s mercy is indeed new every morning. Let your soul and your mind rest in the Spirit of the Lord. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!

#3 Look ahead. The greatest weapon you have against the enemy is the present and the plans that God has for you. While we shouldn’t boast about tomorrow, God is the one who decides where we go, if we do this and that. Those days are filled with hope and desire…days of prosperity. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” Don’t look behind, the past is considered garbage, whether good or bad, you’ve gained Christ now. Have hope in your heart that all will be well and God does not remember your sin. He’s that kind and generous. His desire for you is to move forward in Him, remain in Him, and He will make His home in you.

God bless.

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Don’t be Satan’s target

Most Christians place a big emphasis on Satan’s tactics and schemes, but the reality is we are able to evade them. When we declare God’s word that “no weapon forged against us will prosper” we should literally believe it. For a long time I used to believe that I lived in a protective bubble, and while I am protected by God’s sovereign hand, if I make myself a free target, I will surely be darted.

Here is what I mean: if I open “legally” a door to the enemy, Satan has complete reign and permission from God to bother me. You might be saying to yourself, but how could a loving God permit that? Well, the truth is, you did. For example, if you watch pornography, lie, indulge in gossip, or simply are flat out disobedient… expect oppression from Satan. “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Elgon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.” Judges 3:12

As you can see, oppression comes when you are deliberately in disobedience. Okay, so we know that God allows oppression if we are disobedient, but this oppression leads us to repentance. How do we resist Satan? Here are three simple tips:

#1 Pray that you don’t fall into temptation. The spirit (meaning your spirit) is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:1 (You should pray to avoid falling, you need God’s help).

#2 Look for a door of escape. 1 Corinth 10:13 says that God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (This doesn’t mean you get to indulge in your temptation or weakness by enduring it. It means God will give you the door to run away, it is up to you to find it).

#3 Engrave God’s word in your heart. Proverbs 7:3 says, “Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Keep God’s word fresh in your heart and mind, what you don’t read or revisit is like seeing yourself in a mirror and forgetting what you look like. The Holy Spirit is gracious to remind you, but you should also intentionally read His word and know when to apply it).

Hope this helps and remember, you don’t have to be be a target.

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This tongue is on fire!

During my devotional this morning, I came across an incredible chapter in James. Chapter three focuses on the one muscular organ that directs your life. Now, you might be saying…well, this really is your brain. You are correct, it is your brain, but what comes out of your mouth are thoughts that came from your brain and therefore it is steering you in either the wrong or right direction.

Have you’ve ever been caught up in a conversation with someone who is probably saying more than you would have wanted to know? Maybe the details of someone’s personal life that you probably don’t care about or shouldn’t really need to know? My friend, you’ve been caught up in someone’s gossip. Now, while it may not be your fault and that person may not even realize it, God is listening. What can we do to avoid situations like this and crash the chatterbox? Here are a few tips.

#1 Listen but don’t agree. Sometimes people are speaking out of frustration and they just want to be heard. That’s okay, but if you see that this person is purely speaking out of vanity, envy, self-motivation or with the wrong motive, do not come into agreement. Being a good listener is a practice we should all have to understand people; however, the word of God also says that “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19 (Therefore, be very careful with what conversation you partake in).

#2 Redirect the conversation. Easier said than done, but it is definitely possible. People have such short attention spans and can be EASILY distracted by the ping of their “Facebook” app or you can use the typical “squirrel” tactic. This will not only save you but give a subliminal indication to that person that you are not interested. Just because this person in Christ, does not mean they have fully manifested the fruits of the Spirit. You may just have come across an immature Christian. James 1:26 says, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” Don’t fall into the trap of believing that they are acting Holy, by no means, they need to be rebuked. God’s word says that you will know them by their fruits.

#3 Pray for them. Perhaps you feel uncomfortable telling someone to stop their gossip for fear of creating strife or offense. It is understandable, if this is you, don’t worry the Holy Spirit will take care of it. The best thing you can do is pray for this person’s heart and let the Holy Spirit do the work. Not only does the Holy Spirit convicts gently and it corrects too. Thank you, Jesus!

That’s all for today. God bless you and I hope this helps. Remember James 3:6…”The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” Don’t be involved in that hell and guard your soul.

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