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Sometimes life can get really hard and really difficult, sometimes so much so that the devastation we are facing seems too hard to bare. Sometimes we are faced with realities that we never dreamed we would and we find ourselves wondering how did we get here? How did our life take such a turn that we are now here, in this moment facing what we are? We look around and our finger starts to point at all those around us that we could possibly blame for why we are where we are. But, has that really brought us any real peace or does it just escalate and stir up what we are feeling inside already? We think of all those who have wronged us; the parents who did not help us get a firm start in life, the people that we loved and believed when they said they loved us, but ended up betraying and hurting us, the unjust legal system(s) that failed to see or do what was truly right for us and our families, and all the hope-filled plans that we made that never came to pass. When the truth is; we can continue to blame anyone and everyone all day long, but nothing will really change until we start to take responsibility for our own actions and choices (Galatians 6:7).
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7 NIV).
We need to understand something in this, what rages around us is really an indication of what rages within us. Whether those things are self-inflicted or generational, we must get with God and let the Holy Spirit do an inner working in our heart. We need to get in the word and stop talking to defend or explain ourselves and what happened and just listen and receive His word (James 1:19-21 & Romans 10:17). We need to let God's word get in us so that what is infecting us and polluting our thinking, actions, and decisions can be uprooted (Matthew 15:13).
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you (James 1:19-21 NIV).
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17 NIV).
He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots (Matthew 15:13 NIV).
Yes, what has happened, what is happening hurts and a lot of things that have been done to us are not right and God saw it all. He saw every tear that we cried and He has never lost sight of our pain (Psalms 56:8). He wants to set it right, but He cannot operate in a lie. He cannot operate in a belief system that is not of Him and He has given us clear instructions on how to overcome satan in every way. The key ingredient to overcoming satan and his lies is to renew our thinking by washing our minds with the word of God so that we do not continue to give the enemy access to kill, steal, and destroy (Romans 12:2, John 10:10).
He keep track of all my sorrows You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (Pslams 56:8 NLT)."
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 (Romans 12:2 NIV).
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10 NIV).
We need to shut down the enemy and the only way to do that is to stop him with the word of God. Jesus was this example for us. In the garden after Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights, satan tried to infect Jesus with his lies. But, even in Jesus's physical weakened condition, His spiritual condition was fully intact. Jesus met satan with the truth and it stopped satan dead in his tracks, because satan can only access that which is of himself (Luke 4: 3-13). There was nothing inside of Jesus that gave satan access, because Jesus was the word (John 14:30). Jesus was filled with truth and satan can only infiltrate himself into lies, because he is the father of all lies (John 8:44). We too have to become the word, so that we can resist satan and his lies (James 4:7). That does not come through just a corrective action either, but from the word taking root in our hearts (Matthew 13:23).
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test." When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time (Luke 4:3-13 NIV).
"I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me (John 14:30 NASB)."
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lie (John 8:44 NLT).
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7 NIV).
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown (Matthew 13:23 NIV)."
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your word and that if we will just surrender to it, it has the power to transform our lives, because it transforms our thinking. Thank you for all that your son did for us on the cross and how it abled all of us to overcome anything that we have become in this world. Help us to stop defending and excusing and receive your word so that we can stop satan dead in his tracks to kill, steal, and destroy our lives. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.