He wants us to feel offended so that we will judge and refuse to forgive.
He wants us to feel hurt so that we will isolate ourselves.
He wants us to feel suspicious of others so that we will be weak and vulnerable to believing his lies.
He wants us to feel hated and unappreciated so that we will ignore and be indifferent.
He wants us to feel overwhelmed so that we will take steps backward.
He wants us to feel jealous so that we will compare ourselves and accuse others.
He wants us to feel nervous, scared and uncomfortable so that we will become fearful and paralyzed.
He wants us to feel different and awkward so that we will despise and reject ourselves.
He wants us to feel unloved and unlovable so that our hearts will grow hard.
He wants us to feel attacked so that we will fight back.
He wants us to feel indignant so that our pride will grow stronger.
He wants us to feel betrayed so that we will gossip and tear others down.
He wants us to feel threatened so that we will try to control and manipulate.
He wants us to feel anger and rage so that we will hate and self-destruct.
(and the list goes on and on and on.)
So, the next time you feel...
rejected,
offended,
hurt,
suspicious,
hated,
attacked,
unappreciated,
overwhelmed,
ignored,
jealous,
nervous,
fearful,
scared,
awkward,
indignant,
betrayed,
threatened,
angry,
unloved
(and the list goes on and on and on)...
Just picture that devil looking at you with his evil eyes, rubbing his palms together and raising his eyebrows as he smiles and savors his victory. He thinks he's got you exactly where he wants you. Feeling sorry for yourself; defeated, depressed and believing his lies and accusations.
But you have to make a choice in that moment. Will you chose to live according to your flesh and let him carry you away and immerse you in your feelings and negative thoughts?
OR will you fight back with the armor God has given you?
You reject that devil and you tell him what you know. You tell him that you know that your are safe and sure with your life in God's hands. That you are loved and accepted and forgiven and treasured by the God of the universe and that he can't control you or manipulate you with a little human rejection, offense or hurt. You tell him that you know it's him you have to fight against, not man; not flesh and blood! You tell him you're on to his strategy and you refuse to let him get away with it!
And you fight back in the opposite spirit - in God's Holy Spirit. You cry out to God for help and you choose to love and forgive and accept. You choose to humble yourself and take your thoughts captive. You choose to trust and believe the best and give the benefit of the doubt. You choose to appreciate and treasure and bless and be true and faithful and right. You choose to be courageous and intentional and obedient.
You choose!
James 4:7 (AMP)
So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
Ephesians 6:10-12 (AMP)
10 In
conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with
Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless
might provides].
11 Put
on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God
supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all]
the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12 For
we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with
physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers,
against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present
darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly
(supernatural) sphere.
.
