This is a sticky subject to write… It is one that Holy Spirit is working on with me, but I like to be transparent in my walk and as I asked Holy Spirit what I should write about this morning, what He indicated made me wince… You see, it is one that I feel a level of conviction on and one that I know many of us deal with, but have to choose (with the free-will God has given us) how we are going to respond. I think I will try to write this like one preparing to get a shot in her arm… Quickly, grimacing and recognizing that this is one area that I am still a work in progress… Many of you will probably read this and nod your head in agreement. Okay, here we go…
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:15-17:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
I know I reiterate this with every post, but it is only because it is important and relevant – we exist in the middle of a spiritual war that has been going on long before we were born…And whether or not you choose to believe it really isn’t the point. It is happening and you are part of it. We have an enemy who is set on destroying us. Destroying those we love and if you aren’t careful and discerning he will accomplish that goal. So listen carefully…
Part of being very careful of how we live includes what we choose to listen to and what we view. The enemy is NOT stupid, he studies you. He knows your weaknesses and what buttons to press. He knows how to keep you from accomplishing ALL that God has in mind for you to do and he can do it in ways that you don’t even realize that is what is occurring.
We live in a fallen world that is getting worse as ol’ slewfoot realizes his days are numbered and Christ’s return is imminent. Jesus IS coming back. Matthew 24:36 says:
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
Jesus IS coming back for His remnant. And the devil and his demons know this – so we live in frantic times… That is why we MUST be wise and pay attention to everything that is going in around us. Walk with a discerning spirit…
Because evil is all around us, the messages can be subliminal and you may not even know when you are opening up a door to allow the enemy in… As someone who has been an ex-prodigal for 11 years now, I can tell you that the door I had innocently opened was one I did not know would wreck such havoc on my life. On my family, on my home, on the course of my life – all by opening a door without discerning what it was I was opening. To put it simply, I was stupid. I walked right into a trap of the enemy, not knowing that I had until it was too late. The damage that was done because of my stupidity is one that I cannot undo, but God uses our mess to make messages – and this is one I pray dearly that you heed before you step expectantly into a trap set out by the enemy of your soul.
WALK WISELY. WALK IN DISCERNMENT. EYES WIDE OPEN.
Traps don’t always come in the usual expected ways, remember – you have an enemy that diligently studies you, studies the ones you love so that they can plan accordingly how they can trip you up. You are like a bug under a microscope to the devil and his demons. They plan accordingly and unless you are wise to the doors you open, most of the time you won’t even be aware that you have walked right into a trap.
BE WISE. BE PRAYERFUL. LISTEN TO HOLY SPIRIT. PRAY FOR EYES TO SEE, EARS TO HEAR AND A HEART TO RECEIVE WHATEVER DIRECTION AND ADVICE HOLY SPIRIT IS TELLING YOU.
There are many Christians who don’t even believe that the devil is real. They don’t believe in demons. They may believe in angels, but they scoff at the fact that there is a demonic realm. If this is you than you are RIGHT where they want you. And they are laughing at you, because you can unknowingly be used as a pawn. I pray that you wake up and realize that the enemy is staring you right in the face. God’s Word is truth. If you say you believe the Bible is the written Word of God, you have to believe ALL of it, not just portions. ALL OF IT. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
God gave us a beautiful love letter full of knowledge and wisdom and direction and purpose:
HIS WORD, THE BIBLE
Everything you need to know – is written in there and it IS the Living Word of God. One of the biggest tricks of the enemy is to make that wonderful God Inspired Written Rule Book just lay around your house collecting dust… Instead of having you first pray that Holy Spirit will reveal to you ALL that God wants you to know, teach you, show you, reveal to you ALL you need to know to deepen your relationship with Father God. If you want to KNOW God, you NEED to READ HIS WORD. But many feel that they “just need to have a Bible in their house” maybe it sits raised on a stand collecting dust, “the family Bible” that doesn’t DO any good to the family that is not reading it! The GOOD NEWS comes in the READING it! And oh my goodness! When you do! That Living Word jumps off the pages and reaches the very heart of whatever matter you are going through! I pray you HEAR me. The Bible is filled with wisdom, guidance, direction, love, forgiveness, help! You just have to determine that you are going to find out for yourself! When I first got saved, I prayed:
“LORD IF YOU ARE REAL – REVEAL YOURSELF TO ME! I NEED TO SEE YOU FOR MYSELF!”
And because my request was genuine, came from my heart – God did! The Bible says in Revelations 3:20:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Jesus IS waiting for you to let Him in! Will you? Come on now, let’s be really transparent – you are willing to let OTHER things into the house of you – what are you watching on TV? What are you listening to? What are you reading? Now let me ask you this –
HOW’S THAT WORKING FOR YOU?
Are you discouraged? Are you depressed? Are you frustrated? Are you angry? Is life going the way you thought it would? Maybe it has to do on what you are allowing INTO your life? Maybe unbeknownst to you, you are allowing the enemy access into your life by doors you are opening up for him… Have you thought about this before??? Maybe this is an eye opener for you, but you can and probably should do a study on what doors you are opening to the enemy, because most of the time we aren’t aware that we have done it (are doing it) and when Holy Spirit shows us what the doors are – we best listen! Isn’t it time you paid attention? Isn’t it time you opened that door to Jesus? My guess is that in some of you who are reading this lives, He’s been knocking for a while, you just have been oblivious to it. But now it is front and center and you need to determine if you are going to take a stand, wake up beautiful dreamer! Before the dream becomes a nightmare and you run out of time… Contrary to how we all live, God does NOT “owe” us tomorrow. We are gifted with EVERY day God gives us. Please don’t take life and your choices for the hear and now (which WILL affect eternity) for granted. You may run out of time, because none of us know how many days we have. God has you reading these words now, for a reason. It is not a “coincidence” that you have come to this post. Can you feel Holy Spirit nudging you? He is! GOD LOVES YOU.
What you watch on TV allows access to your home… What you choose to read allows access into your mind… What music you listen to affects you… What are you allowing into the house of you? What are you allowing access to your family in your home? Believe me, it makes a difference. I pray you will think on these words and examine your life. Ask Holy Spirit to show you what doors need to be closed… The thing is, this is a constant self-check we must do. We have to be diligent! Do you have an alarm on your house so that no one will enter in when you are not there? If you have an alarm system set on your physical place of residence how much more so should you tap into Holy Spirit as your God-given spiritual alarm system whose job is to alert you of things that need changing within you, or make you aware of broaching danger? Please listen! God is speaking to you as you read these words – asking you to examine your heart! Examine your mind! Choose to listen and walk in the wisdom of Holy Spirit! Even as a Born-Again Believer, the refinement of our minds are an ongoing process! Holy Spirit refines us (if we allow Him) ALL the days of our lives, we just have to be obedient and discerning and accepting and willing to allow Holy Spirit to make any changes that will enable us to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. Galatians 2:20 says:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Proverbs 4:7 says:
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
Maybe it is time for you to take a walk around your house and ask Holy Spirit for wisdom as to what unexpected doors you have for the enemy to enter in… A discerning spirit is one that can change the atmosphere of any home and family. If you wouldn’t let a robber in – why are you allowing entrance to the one who is determine to destroy you? Kill you? Harm your family? Think on that…
Don’t allow the enemy to infiltrate your home, your family, your life. Holy Spirit had me write these words for a reason, I see within my own life areas where I have opened doors that I need to close. God has blessed us all with free-will, so you get to choose. This is a hard word but a good one! If an alert symbol comes up, there is a reason for it – I pray you listen, I pray I listen too. What you allow to enter into you (your thought process, your life, your home, your family) is what comes out through actions, decisions and circumstances. Walk in Wisdom! Govern yourself and guard your peace! Watch what you allow to enter in… You’ll be glad you did! You WILL see a difference!
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