I was listening to a sermon on Christmas night from my former youth pastor (I will post a link to the sermon at the bottom of this post, its a great message). At the 27 minute mark he says something which I believe to be entirely true. "I believe that Satan whispers in our ear with rational thoughts, not irrational thoughts. I believe you and I are too smart, we're too smart, when Satan whispers crazy stuff we go, 'that's not true, there's no way, back off..' But I think what happens, I think Satan comes and speaks with rational thoughts." This is how Satan can fuel our fear, or fuel our addictions, or fuel our anxieties. It is a simple as a friend going, "let's go to the bar.." when they know I don't drink anymore. Or when someone goes "have you played that new champion?" knowing that I no longer game. It is that simple, but I want to take it a little further than what Pastor Shawn said. I believe these thoughts from friends, family, loved ones, or acquaintances, take root in the deep recess of your mind. Similar to Inception, it slowly comes to fruition where whomever said something to plant that seed, Satan in turn makes you believe that it was you who had the original thought, not the devil himself. He manipulates the thought to his own plan, to easily take you down. "All my enemies whisper together against me, they imagine the worst for me, saying, 'A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.' Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who has shared my bread, has turned against me." (Psalm 41: 7-9). It doesn't even have to be spoken, it can be something read. If it has a way to enter your mind, Satan can get a hold of it and turn it against you entirely but make it seem as if it was you all along whom generated the thought and not an outside source that was manipulated.
God gives us tools to help combat these whispers. It is our choice if we decide to equip the tools or leave them scattered on the ground. "Let's go to the bar.." "Nah not tonight..maybe some other time.." "Hey did you play that new champion.." "Sorry man, haven't played anything in a month.." "Hey haven't seen you at the gym, everything alright?" "Yeah, everything is good. Just need to discover my reason for lifting again.." It all lies in the choices we make to help combat these whispers. Some of us have been falling victim to the whispers for so long that we don't know what the right or wrong choice is. This becomes our opportunity to learn what the right choice is. To ask ourselves as christian men and women, "Does this glorify God?" "Is this what He would want of me?" Those two simple questions can define whether you make the right or wrong choice, if you will listen to the whisper or if you will answer to a higher calling. Find the opportunity in everything to glorify God, and I guarantee you that you will notice a significant change in your life. I know I have, but only because I put God before any decision that I make.
As I have stated previously in one of my posts, there are times when I am talking with my mentor that I firmly believe I am in direct contact with God. There are times that I feel Dave is my conduit to God, and that He (God) is listening in to what I have to say, and in turn is speaking directly to me. "Ask yourself this, is it the right thing to do? God will give you three answers, yes, no, wait.." I find myself asking this question before a lot of things that I do. Let me tell you, there have been a lot of times that I felt yes was the right answer, but I was told no so I backed away. "There will come a time when I suggest you and Emily sit down and talk like you and I do. Remember, as much as you are leaving the door open for her, she is leaving the door open for you. So I just suggest you wait, and trust in God. Only He can give you the answers that you seek, but in His time not yours." Right there again, patience and trust. The themes that keep recurring in my life when speaking to my mentor, my mom and family, and the men in my bible study. Patience and trust. I get the hint. I will wait, and I will trust in His ultimate plan for my life. I did get an affirmation again that I am on the right path, and it came this evening before I dropped the boys off after Christmas. As we were packing up the car and getting ready to head out the door Caleb looked to me and asked, "Are we gonna have another sleep over soon?" Wow. Clear as day. "Sure bub, I'll talk it over with your mom.." "Can we play Magic?" "Of course, gotta teach ya some more deck building skills.." "Awesome!" The look on his face, just priceless. I get just as excited to have them over here as they (the boys) are to spend time with me. Without God in my life, I never would have had the courage to change, but I know that all my strength comes from Him. They are the reason I fight. Stay strong, fight, you will be victorious. Make it a good week everyone..
"We will find hope in the impossible.." -Spock
"So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free." Romans 7: 23-25.
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