Thursday, January 28, 2016

When You're Under Attack

Hey Friend,

You've been there...you are in the dark movie theatre slurping your $5 coke and shoving handfuls of your $8 popcorn into your mouth.  The ominous music starts playing in this action-thriller movie.  There's a knock at the door and the young, beautiful, innocent woman goes to the door - which of course has one of those chain locks that lets you open it 5 inches and peer outside.

Everything in you screams, "Don't open the door!!!"  Yet, what does she do...she cracks the door open....and then it happens...the bad guy shoves his black boot into the 5 inch space...he has a foothold....you know it's going to go down hill from here. 

Why did she open the door you wonder to yourself.  Didn't she know it would be dangerous?

Now the bad guy is inside.  He's wielding a knife.  He's come to kill and destroy.

Are you ever like the young woman in the movie?  I am.  A negative thought will come into my head.  Instead of keeping the door slammed shut, I start rolling it around in my head.  I ponder it.  I engage it.  I want to analyze it or argue with it. 

Instead of dropping the negative thought like the hot potato that it is, I, in essence, crack the door open...just enough...that the enemy is able to get his foot inside the door.

Once he gets his foot inside the door, you know he's going to come after me with a vengeance. 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  (Jesus speaking in John 10:10)

When I am weighing whether or not to open the door to a thought, I often use this verse and mentally make two columns and I ask:

      Does this thought...

Steal and kill and destroy?        or does it   Give life abundantly?

If the thought falls under the first column, I know it's a lie from the enemy.  One I need to avoid like the plague and drop like that hot potato.  I need to not so much as crack the door open an inch or I know what's going to happen next.

What are some of the "red flags" that these thoughts come under that first heading? 

* Do they make you anxious?
* Are they condemning?
* Do they say negative things about you like "You're a failure...you're disappointing God...you're not enough or good enough..." 
* Do they tear you down instead of building you up?
* Do they isolate you by telling you you're all alone; God doesn't care?
* Do they have you comparing yourself to others?

**If you loved someone, would these be words that would come out of your mouth?

For me, recognizing and discerning whether these are lies from the enemy or are these truths from God has been the first big step. 

What next?

I rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus Christ

I used to think that rebuking Satan out loud was only for the crazy preachers on tv.  Not so.  Satan, unlike God, cannot read our thoughts, therefore I command him (out loud) saying, "By the power given to me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I command you Satan to flee from me - to get behind me, to be gone and leave me alone."

The Bible tells us that at the very name of Jesus Christ, Satan must flee.  The name of Jesus is powerful.

If I'm able, I replace Satan's lies with God's truth

For example, if the thoughts are really condemning and causing me to feel guilt and shame, I replace the lie with a truth like:

Romans 8:1: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (emphasis mine)

I weigh the thought by passing it through the lens of scripture.  And, if a scripture doesn't immediately pop to mind, I ask myself, "Is this thought in keeping with what I know to be the nature of God and Christ Jesus?"  If not then I know I need to trash it.

Drop it like the hot potato lie that it is and pray!

Sometimes I find, that even trying to replace lies with truth, I am engaging the thought.  I am arguing with the enemy.  I'm being baited into a fight.  Often the best thing to do is drop it; walk away; distract myself with something uplifting and turn the battle over to the Lord in prayer.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

On our own, we are no match for the enemy...but, here's the hope.  God does not leave us to fight our battles alone. 

The Lord will fight for you (me), you (I) need only to be still.  (Exodus 14:14)

If God is for me, who can be against me?  (Romans 8:31)

"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart!  I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33)

Lately, I have been under attack by the enemy.  Why? you might ask.  Working with Redeemer Christian Foundation, Inc. which supports Biblically based, Christian schools right in the epicenter of evil which is the Middle East, we welcome orphaned, impoverished, hopeless children into our doors where they receive the love of Christ and the hope that comes with an education. 

When they come through our doors, they are not entering jihad seminaries that fill their lost and seeking souls with grandiose thoughts of waging war and perpetuating hate.

We are infringing on Satan's territory and he is hopping mad. 

He would like nothing more than to render me defeated, hopeless, helpless, weak, and impotent. 

If you are doing God's work and walking in His way, Satan has you in his crosshairs.

Sometimes the best offense is a good defense.  If I am a soldier preparing for battle.  My best game plan is not to feed my body Cheetos and Mountain Dew and stay up all night listening to raunchy music. 

No, my best defense is to get my rest; take good care of my body; fill my mind with what is pure, noble, and true so that I can fully put on the armor of God.

The battle is spiritual and must be fought in God's strength, depending on the Word and on God through prayer.

I say all this like I have it mastered...I don't!  In fact, my writing this is, in essence, my pep-talk reminder to myself of God's truth.  I'm putting these thoughts that God is giving me down in words so that when the enemy comes after me...and I know he will...I will have something powerful to refer back to.

I hope and pray that your reading along with my pep-talk from God will also give you strength, peace, hope, and grace for the times when you are under attack. 

God has also reminded me to keep filling my mind with His Word during the calm periods in life, so that when the battle draws near I will have my quiver of scriptural arrows to pull from.

What about you?  What do you do when you're under attack?  What preparations do you make for battle?  Any encouragement you can offer those who are battling right now?

Dear Heavenly Father, I think you so much that You are Love and You are Good and you have given me your Son so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Help me to discern whether the thoughts I have are life giving from You or lies that seek to destroy from the enemy.  Enable me to line up my thoughts with what I KNOW of your character and give me the strength to trash thoughts that don't come from you.  Thank you that you never leave me to fight my battles alone.  I praise you that you are Jehovah Nissi - my battle fighter.  I know you will fight for me, I need only to be still.  Thank you for the armor  of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit.  And, if I can do nothing else, enable me to stand firm in You.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed...
ps.  Remember that I pray for everyone (morning and evening) who reads my blog. You are in my prayers!

We need your help to grow up the orphaned, the lost, and the impoverished into the love of Jesus in the Middle East.  We need your support now for school supplies, desks, tables, chairs, additional teachers, text books, Bibles, rent, food, clothing, a security guard, etc.

Every gift matters and goes directly to helping the children.  Will you join Redeemer Christian Foundation, Inc. in our battle for precious lives?  If your answer is "Yes!", send your contribution to:

Redeemer Christian Foundation, Inc.
103 Silver Lining Lane
Cary, NC  27513

*include your email for an end of year giving statement
*for more information visit my "MISSIONS" tab above

26 comments:

  1. This -> "Drop it like the hot potato lie that it is!"
    I have a tendency to hold onto things that are harmful and FALSE, trying to work them out in my head, testing different endings, what if I'd done this or that?
    Counter-productive -- and probably sinful -- behavior.
    Thanks for this blast of truth on a Friday morning!

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    1. Michele,
      I don't know if it's sinful behavior, but like you said, it's counter-productive. I am the queen of wanting to argue with a thought...always a losing battle. God gave me a good "blast" I'd say :)
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  2. Hi Bev, This was exactly what I needed to read this morning! I am on my way to have the next phase of a procedure done to try to give me relief from a lot of nerve pain and migraines. I'm feeling anxious for some reason and a little unnerved. The enemy has been working hard to get in the way of my ministry and writing work with these migraines and pain. I know he'd love for me to not pursue this healing! But, I'm claiming him powerless in the Name of Jesus!
    This post was so beautiful written. I just loved every second of it!!!!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

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    1. Lori,
      Good for you for sticking to your guns. Yes, the enemy love to interrupt your ministry and writing work. Praying that you get some relief with the migraines and pain!! May God grant you healing so that He may get the glory. Thanks for your encouraging words!!
      Blessings and prayers,
      Bev

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  3. WONDERFUL reminders here! And with you I pray: "Enable me to line up my thoughts with what I KNOW of your character." Thank you, Bev!

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    1. Nancy,
      Sometimes I do have to step back and ask myself if these thoughts that are plaguing me really line up with what I know of God's loving character. Usually the answer is no and if so...I need to let them go. Always good to have you here, Nancy!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  4. Bev - So often we talk about battling the lies and read words telling us how to refute the lies. And we must do this actively! But you opened our eyes to the truth that we can discern the red flags waving and deal with the lies before they take on legs of their own. May we all be wiser and nip those lies in the bud as soon as we see the red flags. Let's make them wave the white flag of surrender instead as they surrender to the truth of God's Word. Grateful to have stopped here this morning. Blessings!

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    1. Joanne,
      You said it...nip those lies in the bud. I literally go down my "red flag" checklist when I am struggling with negative thoughts. I know if they meet the criteria then I need to drop them. Easier said than done sometimes. Joining with you in making those thoughts wave the "white flag" of surrender - love this!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  5. Wow, Bev! We are kindred writers this week! I think negativity invades all our lives daily, sometimes so frequently the lies embed themselves in our consciences and become our normal. I love how you are teaching us to identify them at the start. It is definitely a process to think differently. Praise God He provides us a way out! Blessings!

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    1. Carrie,
      I've read several blogs this week on this very subject. Yes, it truly is a process to think differently and not just accept the negativity that invades our thought life. I keep coming back to God wanting me to live abundantly and too often these negative thoughts do not help in accomplishing that.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  6. What a perfect analogy of the cracked door when you know you're allowing the enemy inside. How often I do this. The thief comes to steal--and indeed, he steals in when I don't let Jesus guard my heart and mind. Your word pictures will help me next time I start to open the door.

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    1. Debbie,
      I am a visual learner just like you. Having that mental picture of the enemy trying to get his foot in the door, reminds me that I need to slam the door shut on those negative thoughts. Also, like you pointed out, asking Jesus to guard my heart and my mind is key!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  7. Your post came at just the right time for me! I was watching a 3 part BBC series that ended up being too scary for me, so I elected to forego part 3 and just read the epiloque in the book. (Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." As I read your post, I think, "I SO DO NOT need to read that epiloque, even if her books aren't so scary like the series was." I don't want my mind to go there at all!!! Thanks, Bev.

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    1. Betsy,
      So true that we constantly need to guard our hearts and our minds. I really have to be watchful as to what I feed my mind and what I allow to enter in!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  8. It only takes the tiniest crack for the enemy to get in. I seem to have too many of those tiny cracks that instead of letting God patch them up, I open them even wider by believing what the enemy is saying. It happens way too often and catches me when my defenses are down. Drawing close to God and staying in His word are the best defenses I know. Praying, praying and praying some more keeps me focused on God. Thank you for these reminders today and for leading us back to God. Love and hugs!

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    1. Mary,
      I think you said it right here - when our defenses are down. When I am, like you, in a state of more stress and less rest, it cracks open the door for the enemy to do his dirty work. Praying that God would keep you under the refuge of His wings and keep the enemy at bay!!
      Love and ((hugs)) back to you,
      Bev xx

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  9. Oh, I don't like when I'm like the girl in the movie, and open the door to the wrong things. Yes, those cracks. :( May we continue to learn what to let in and what not to let in! Thanks, Bev.

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    1. Lisa,
      I'm like that girl in the movie...I don't like what I do (cracking the door open) yet I do it anyway. Praying for the discipline to slam it shut each time. Thanks for popping by.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  10. I can definintely relate! Thank you for the great tips and the logical way of analyzing those pesky thoughts! May God bless your ministry! I head Bob Goff say in an interview that 'Nothing terrifies a terrorist more than books in the hands of little girls."

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    1. I love that quote...that's exactly what we're doing in the Middle East...putting books in the hands of little girls and boys. We are teaching them Biblical principles and raising them up to love like Jesus. Thank you for your well wishes!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  11. Oh, Bev, how I relate to engaging with the enemy. Love your comment to "Drop it like the hot potato lie that it is" "And Pray." Yes. Great reminder. Just shut him down immediately, and walk away. I can only imagine how you're under attack with this wonderful work you're doing...and, in satan's backyard, no less. I'm really impressed with all that you're doing. Keeping y'all in prayer. ((blessings, friend))

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    1. Brenda,
      I like that image of the hot potato...I need visual images. Thank you so much for your prayers for this ministry. Thank you for the personal prayers as well - they are so needed! Yes, Satan is not happy...but that's a good thing!
      Blessings sweet friend,
      Bev

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  12. What a great metaphor for the way Satan weasels his way into our thoughts and lives, Bev. I love the practical tips you've given us here too. So spot on and very necessary in the day to day fight we all find ourselves in. Great post, my friend!

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    1. Beth,
      That's the thing - spiritual warfare is not a once and done thing - it's a daily battle. I don't know about others, but I need some practical battle strategy in order to make it through. So thankful that I have a God that fights for me. Thanks for the encouragement!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  13. Bev, I love your analogy of a person preparing for the battlefield and how they can't stay up all night sipping on Mountain Dew and eating Cheetos! Likewise, spiritually we have to pay attention with what we're feeding on. Are they things of this world or Godly things? Things that will allow us to grow in Christ or stunt our growth? That's something I'm going to be chewing on :)

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    1. Crystal,
      I'm glad that analogy resonated with you. Spiritual battles take discipline and for me getting good rest is key to being able to slam the door when the enemy is trying to get a foot inside. Thanks for joining in...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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