"The devil is not omniscient. To know your heart, he must study your behavior, so he prowls and seeks. The devil watches our walk and studies our behavior so he can cast his bait into our hearts and catch us. The bait the devil uses matches the yearnings of our hearts as revealed in our external actions. Growing in Christ means learning to distinguish bait from real food. Heart-bait promises to fulfill the flesh’s desires, but God’s real food will feed our spirits." (From 365 Days of Total Heart Health – Ed & JoBeth Young)
WOW!
I never considered that the devil takes the time to study my behavior! This made me think about:
What have I revealed?
What words have I spoken that didn't align with the Word of God?
Then I made a list of those things so I could align my words with God's words moving forward!
Sometimes my words, actions and patterns of behavior have given the enemy the ammunition needed to hit me dead center. In some ways I even loaded the weapon for him! I’ve given him access when my thoughts, words, and actions don't align with God's Word. He knows exactly what buttons to push to destroy me. He just sat back, set up circumstances that I didn't respond to correctly and watched me self-destruct. Again WOW!
"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10 AMPC)
We must recognize the tactics of the enemy. If we're experiencing death and destruction in our lives, in our dreams, in our relationships, in any area then know the enemy is at work. And sometimes, our thoughts, words, and actions assist that work. I know we don't want to think we're part of the problem, but we are when our thoughts, words, and actions don't align with the Word of God.
Ask Holy Spirit to show you what's going on and what to do. Remember Jesus died, and rose again, so that we could enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows! Don't accept anything less.
No matter what it seems like or feels like remember this promise from God's Word:
"Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you." (Ephesians 3:20 TPT)
PRAYER:
Abba, I don’t want the enemy to have this kind of power over me any longer. With Your help I am going to disarm every weapon I have given him. Instead of reacting the way he is used to me reacting I’m going to consciously do what the Word says, especially in the small things. When I feel overwhelmed with emotions,
I’m going to bring them to You, my Balm in Gilead, and trust You to order my steps. I’m going to spend even MORE time in Your presence and in Your Word so my thoughts align with Your Word and my words speak life and do not become self-destructive. I will be armed and dangerous to him from this day forward. His method of operation and his deceptive tactics have been exposed. He will no longer be able to come at me, or anyone that reads this post, in this way. Thank You Abba Father for showing this to me on a deeper level. I praise You in advance for the victory. I rejoice that because I am actively resisting the devil he will continually flee. He can’t stay here! He can’t operate here. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
"So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]." (James 4:7-8 AMPC)
Remember to guard your thoughts. What you think about is important because what you think about you speak about and you will act on. Whenever a thought comes to mind that doesn't align with God's Word cast it down and replace it with His truth. Filter everything through the Word of God.
"Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (James 4:8 MSG)
Be Encouraged! ❤
(Updated From the Vault of LWM
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