The power of influence over our minds is a crucial battle we must grab hold of and overcome. Are we easily convinced that we are nothing, insignificant, no self-esteem, unworthy, and just not good enough? Or the opposite - do we think we are too good, that we deserve better than what life has handed us, and in this belief we have bought into the negative outlook that life is a scam and what use is it trying if we keep getting the bad end of the stick? I fear we may need a new power of influence over our minds, and a new awakening to the spiritual warfare that is being fought around us. If we are not alert, we won't see it staring us right in the face. Maybe the key to finding confidence and peace isn't just in overcoming our circumstances - maybe it's deeper, maybe it's even supernatural. . .
The battle started long, long ago, when the angel Lucifer thought God was holding out on him. He longed for his power and his greatness, and in his wickedness, he was cast out of Heaven, and became God’s very enemy, and has since prowled the earth trying to convince you and I that God is holding out on us. John 10:10 tells us that Jesus said, "...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." Does he have no new tricks? Did he not try to convince Eve in the Garden of Eden that God was holding out on her? The devil is introduced to us in the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 3 and in verse 4 he speaks to Eve in regards to eating the forbidden fruit, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
As we all know, Eve so easily bought it, and then convinced her husband to take it! Likewise, he listened to her. I find it so interesting, how being the only two people ever to walk the earth, with no outside influences, Adam was so easily lured by Eve. Still today, the enemy uses the same old trick he used with Eve. The enemy wants us to think, “Why stay faithful to your spouse? Surely you deserve better!” Do we really believe God is holding out on us? Matthew 7:11 tells us, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" The enemy knocks again, “Just give up. You’re not worth it. You really think you’re going to make a difference?” Do we really believe God’s word is not truth? Psalm 139: 13-14 says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
The enemy wants you to look at your neighbor’s house/family/body type/financial status/kid’s behavior/boat, etc. Do we really believe God is holding out on us? Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." All we have to do is buy into a fraction of one of the enemy’s lies, and bam! We really believe God is holding out on us! It absolutely excites me to take hold of this incredible realization and share it. It’s like I found the cure to cancer, but so much better! If you see a dart coming at you, you’re going to move to dodge it! Once you know the dart the enemy throws is the same dart over and over and over again, he has absolutely no power whatsoever because he’s an absolute idiot playing old tricks!
I don’t know about you, but I am SO DONE playing his stupid, old tiresome games! I choose to believe God’s word IS TRUE! I choose to believe you and I are MORE than enough because GOD formed us, He breathed life into us, and He chose to call us by name! I choose to believe that if we are saved, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living and breathing inside our very souls; and friends, if we lived like we believed in that power, we’ve got no time to sit around in gossip and comparisons and weak, futile thinking that we are nothing and unlovable! The TRUTH is God created you, God loves you, God saved you, God redeemed you, and now He is calling you to get up on your feet and walk in obedience to His calling on your life.
I lived the majority of my Christian life, believing that God's word is true, but also believing that the enemy had power to chain me to my sins. There's major contradiction and conflict in that belief I held. How can the enemy possibly chain me to my sin, if my Savior, by his death and resurrection, broke my chains and set me free, then ascended into Heaven and sent his Holy Spirit to live in me? The enemy truly has no power over me, nor can he because of what Christ has done for me. I find it so sad, yet incredibly comical that I lived so many years walking like a crippled Christian when I had two perfectly good legs. The devil didn't have to cripple me, he only had to make me think I was crippled by his power of influence. Through trials and various circumstances in my life, the enemy pursued me viciously and he had his running laughs - I'm certain of that. However, now - I truly believe he regrets messing with this girl. I have, to my childhood detriment, a pretty rebellious, stubborn spirit - but I do not believe this is a product of sin. I believe God uniquely designed and wired us intentionally and exactly the way He made us for a purpose. I certainly chose to sin out of my stubborn rebellion, but I believe God intended my stubborn/rebellious nature to be meant for good, to be determined to get up time and again after falling on my face, to be determined to give God every bit of glory that He deserves for all the bad the devil wants to do in our lives. I now choose to take a righteous anger and spur head on toward the enemy with a stubborn will to crush him under my feet - and not stop there - but to take you all with me in this fight. And ya wanna know a 'not so secret' - secret? We already win! He already won on calvary - and the devil already knows he loses in the end.
Ladies, we hold great power of influence over our husbands and our children, our friends, siblings, even our parents, our schools, our neighbors and our communities! May the words we speak, and the integrity of our character, be ever pleasing to our Savior, that our sphere of influence may be uplifting and breathing life into all we encounter. May we take every trial as joy and may we ever sing His praise.
I pray right now, by the power of the mighty hand of Jesus, that He cover our minds with purity in thought, our mouths with kindness in words, our hands with gentleness in touch, and our hearts with fierce strength and bold faith, to always persevere in the seasons of trial and pain. May the life our sweet Savior lived before us be the way we strive to live every moment of every day. I pray when He calls us home, that we may each hear those sweet, sweet words from precious Jesus, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Be blessed my sweet, strong and beloved wonder women friends!
*If you happened upon my blog, and you don't know Jesus, but you want to get further information, or maybe you do have a relationship with Jesus - and it feels stagnant and distant - or have any questions about coming to faith or growing deeper in your faith, subscribe to my email list and follow me on FB! I will consistently be writing on the sovereignty of God in my life, with both professionally therapeutic and Biblical foundational truth and insight into His word. I would be happy to answer questions and help guide you along the way. My goal is to create an army of women, that we may join together to equip, empower and serve one another.*
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