Have you ever had days where you just wanted to run away from your own self? Be honest. Feeling hard pressed on all sides, I decided to do a self evaluation (check my spirit) and spend some time before the Father in prayer. Holy Spirit gave me what I call an “ouch word” that made me wince because He showed me things about myself that I really rather He didn’t, because it hit too close to home. I figure that if it hit close to home with me, it just might hit close to home with you too and “sharing is caring” so here is my share…
We live in a world that is growing darker every day, as part of God’s Called Remnant you cannot help but feel the darkness. Think about it: You can’t turn the television on without seeing a show that has some form of witchcraft, sexual perversion, moral compromise or darkness in it! I wanted to throw my hands up in the air the other night because there was NOTHING appropriate that I could watch on TV. Remember, the eyes are the windows of the soul and the mind is a battlefield for our thought life. What goes in comes out. The devil has blinded the eyes of people, desensitized them so that they become like spiritually blinded living zombies – not realizing what it is that they are allowing access into their homes, into their families, into their thought process. We have become a society of “ohhhh that’s okay, it doesn’t mean anything…” While swarming around your home are all kinds of spirits that YOU unknowingly have allowed into your house. But many poo-poo that, don’t believe it because unless you are spiritually discerning, you’ve opened up doorways into your house, and you are not even aware that you did it. Pretty much invited them in, all by spiritual ignorance. One of the biggest coups of the devil is the fact that many people (including those that call themselves “Christians”) do not believe in him. They profess to believe in the Bible – yet they choose to throw away the waring part – the fact that we are IN spiritual warfare and with some of you, the devil is kicking your spiritual butt and you aren’t even aware of it… The major battle we face in this life is not with what is seen, but with what is UNSEEN totally ignoring Ephesians 6:12:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
You wonder why you are having problems with fear or anxiety, problems your marriage, problems with your health, problems with your children, addiction problems or other can-be-spiritually-related issues – all because you ignorantly invited the enemy in. Can you identify with that? I know that I can, so this message (as I indicated in the beginning) is not ONLY for you, but for me as well. There had been a series that my husband and I had been watching together, I felt a check in my spirit, but I shrugged it off – I was intrigued by the story line… I watched three seasons of it, but when it came to the fourth season, Holy Spirit (who generally speaks to me with a quiet voice) loudly asked me as the scenes became more gruesome and the subject matter more demonic in earnest:
“WHY ARE YOU GRIEVING ME?”
I had to shut it off. I had no business continuing on, fascinating storyline or not. I could feel the darkness coming into my house and I could not ignore it anymore. The subject matter had reached a level that I could not in good conscience wave off. Galatians 2:20 was the first scripture that came front and center into my head.
“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.”
The second scripture that came into my head as I indicated to my husband I was done with watching it was 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.”
And also Psalm 101:2-4:
“I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”
Listen, we are responsible for how we handle ourselves, if you are a part of God’s Called Remnant, a follower of Christ, you have to LISTEN and be ATTENTIVE to what Holy Spirit is saying to you. You have free will, so you have a choice – but with every choice there are consequences, do you want to feed your flesh or feed your spirit? Are you looking to satisfy yourself or be obedient to how God tells you to conduct yourself? THERE IS A REASON FOR IT! Whether you believe it or NOT does not change the fact that you are in the middle of a spiritual battle! Are you allowing God to do a good work in and through you or are you allowing yourself to be used as a pawn by the enemy???? Ol slewfoot is angry, his time is becoming shorter with every passing day and so his fury grows and as a believer and follower of Christ, you can bet he has it out for you, you are thwarting his plans, interfering with shining that beautiful light of Christ that radiates from you as a beacon of light! So if you feel hard pressed on all sides, there is most definitely a reason for it! You’ve got a furious enemy on your tail! BUT here is the GOOD NEWS Child of the Utmost High God, 1 John 4:4 tells us:
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is within the world!”
Isaiah 41:10 says:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
As I have stated above, the days are becoming darker. 1 Peter 5:8 indicates:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Please know that I don’t say all of the above in a “judging” manner. YOU are responsible for your own decisions… But there are serious consequences that you may not even be aware of for the decisions that you make… It is easy for us to be led astray if we don’t pray for discernment and wisdom as we live in a world that is growing darker and darker. Are you feeling frustrated? Are you filled with fear or anxiety? Are you constantly worried? When I have felt like that, it is time for me to examine my heart, my thought process and my mind to find out if it lines up with the Word (and way) of God. Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Philippians 4:8 tells us:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
What are you allowing into your life? Are any red flags coming up in your spirit? Are you shrugging them off or recognizing the warning signs? Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He stated His reason for sending Holy Spirit to us. John 14:26 says:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Are You allowing Holy Spirit to do His job? To help you? Are you even allowing Him to DO a work in your life? This has been a year where I have allowed my relationship with the Third Figure in the Trinity to deepen. I love and appreciate Holy Spirit, for He truly has become my Teacher, my Comforter, my Guide. I am so thankful that He IS in my life, I honestly don’t know how I would get through life without Him. I rely on His teachings, I have come to appreciate and know His voice (even when I don’t like when He tells me things that need changing! LOL). We make a decision daily as to what matter we are going to conduct ourselves, who it is we are going to glorify in our lives. Are we going to glorify our flesh and its desires? Or have we TRULY given our lives over to God, for Him to do a good and perfect work in the lives of us (as His vessels?). The decision is ALWAYS ours to make, our loving God has blessed us with free will, we always have a choice… I CHOOSE Him, how about you?
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