I can’t sleep and so here I am writing a blog entry to a Wednesday Night Life Group I lead called “Girls Only” which consists of High School Girls. Have you ever know something to be so true that it hurts? Make you physically ill? Deep down inside of me there is this TRUTH and I wish that those around me could experience what I’m feeling and the truth found in Jesus. That’s how I feel about what I’m going to share. It’s after midnight and this is so important it’s keeping me up. God has laid this burden on my heart for all of you.
From the day you were born into this world until you breathe that final breath you are a traveler. Wow, I’m even having a hard time putting into words what I want to say because it’s so important and on my heart I want you to receive what needs to be said.
The devil is a liar, a thief, a destroyer. He is pure evil and if he can win the battle and ruin your life he will. In fact you are so precious to Jesus and those who love you Satan lurks around looking for opportunities to temp and destroy you. Satan takes great pride in continually twisting your thoughts and perception. If he can destroy you when your life is just getting started he will. He will use the world to distort how you make decisions, those around you…teachers, movies, social media, friends, young men and unfortunately even family can sometimes be his weapon. He will use the need for us to feel accepted and loved as a source to make you his and put you in situations where your innocence will be stolen.
In His Word, God warns us over and over about Satan and how there is a spiritual battle raging over us. You must learn how to fight the devil and bring the power found in the Holy Spirit to protect you. You must open your ears and listen to your parents, mentors and best friends. I pray that those people in your life are first of all lovers of Jesus, second that they understand the pressure you are under, the battle you are in and are willing to listen, pray and offer godly guidance. More importantly you must be willing to listen and take their help. You must get on your knees and ask God to give you discernment in all things and then take time to pray, listen, wait, and search the scriptures. Remember every situation you face has been faced hundreds of time over for centuries and God’s Word has the answers, those answers come when you surrender yourself and allow Jesus to speak to you.
So what are the main areas Satan will use to destroy you… self-image, love, worthiness, acceptance, and intimacy. All of these are linked together and are key in Satan’s plan however they also belong to God and when you see yourself the way God sees you the devil loses.
The fall of man destroyed that special union between man and God. Each one of us are now born with an emptiness that can only be satisfied in God. However that does not come naturally to us and so you choose human love, comfort and relationship but they cannot fill the emptiness. In your hunger to fill your empty heart you choose what is tangible and immediate, unfortunately that is not of God. You become self-seeking, self-gratifying, self-loathing and even self-destructive. I know this sounds hopeless but I’m living proof that God is here and He is supernatural and powerful and through His love for us we can conquer the emptiness that leads to our self-destructive nature.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.” Ephesians 6:12 AMP
Most of you have heard some of my testimony, well, God doesn’t want you to have that kind of testimony. His plan for you is amazing, filled with love, acceptance, rewarding relationships and a life where you are witness to God’s kingdom and all the glory found there. There will be bumps and challenges along the road without a doubt because that’s written in His word as well. The problem is you start taking matters into your own hands and listening to what the world is offering. Satan manipulates you into believing lies about who you are and how you should live. Even Disney’s best and most popular fairy tales these days show a rebellious young woman going against her family, only to face hardship and then win the prince in the end! How ridiculous is that, think about it. If you are repeatedly exposed to the same type of story with a similar ending soon you began to believe that as being truth. Everything around you has a distorted view, Satan has done an excellent job at telling lies and spinning an accepted reality far from the life God has for you.
You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what it natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. John 8:44 AMP
Where is Jesus in all of this? He loved you first! The Psalms could not say it better, before you were even conceived He knew you! You know this because you have felt that love through your parents. His love is even greater but to understand and receive it you must stop listening to the devil and start relying on God’s Word as absolute truth. You must discover your identity in our creator. Through the process of understanding God loved you first and receiving this love, you find truth. Knowing God changes everything. Also you must call upon the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to subdue the devil and bind him. Only through Jesus will you free yourself of the hold Satan has on you.
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalms 138: 13-18
I’m leaving this entry here…in the next blog I will begin to breakdown how the devil twists each of the areas I listed above and how precious you are to God and how He loves you. Our Father plays no favorites, each of you are equally loved and valued in His eyes. How God’s truth is the only truth you can live by.
Be Blessed,
Laurie
Instructions For Life According to Jesus Christ 