MONDAYS WITH KERRI
I always try to remember to save and back up my writing several times a day. Recently I did not remember to do so, and at the end of my writing session I put my laptop on standby, as usual. The next time I went to use my computer, it would not respond. No lights or beeps or warnings–nothing. It was completely dead. Immediately I could feel my heart in my throat. Had I saved everything properly? Would my files be lost? What had I done? In desperation I punched and pounded my laptop from every angle as though trying to wake it up. I unplugged and re-plugged and poked on the power button repeatedly as if to say, “Are you in there?” Finally, even though it didn’t make any sense to me at all, I decided to try taking out the battery. I was sure that too would be futile, but what did I have to lose? So, I simply pulled the battery out and then slid it back into its cavity. Instantly my laptop jumped to life and started to reboot. I was perplexed; the thing that made the least sense to me was the very thing I needed to do to jumpstart my computer.
Often, our spiritual lives need to be rebooted. We are dry, empty, half asleep or desperately wounded spiritually. We need to be willing to do the thing that, to our minds, makes absolutely no sense. We must stop and pull out from the places we believe we need to be, the things we must do, and the places we feel led to serve–long enough to stand alone in solitude with our Heavenly Father. Once we have taken a “time out” with Him, we can reenter the places He has created us to fill and be much more effective. It is amazing how powerful His presence is in our lives when we stop to be “powered up” by simply being intentional to receive God’s love and listening for the sound of His voice.
This week we are going to do the “Action Steps” first
//Action Steps//
As you put yourself in a listening posture to experience basking in God’s love, you are ready to start the third discipline of asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the lies, shame, and fear that are coming against you. We must identify and address what has been sent to destroy us, just as Jesus did. He did not ignore the attacks of the enemy; He refuted them with The Truth. So must we.
Pull out three of pieces of paper right now and label the first page lies, the second shame, and the last one fear. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind what has been sent to assault you. Remember, these weapons are arrows, bullets, and spears that were sent to destroy you; they are not who you are. Be warned that if you try to mentally ascertain the lies you believe, you will come up empty. It is humanly impossible for us to identify what is coming against us in the spirit realm without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it was better that He go away (John 16:7) so the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead could help you and I in moments like this. Be still and wait quietly as you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the lies you believe. What are you believing that is opposed to what The One who created you has to say about you? They may sound like, “No one loves me or God can’t use me”.
In the same way, ask Him to show you any shame you carry that has become your false identity. What do you believe that has caused you to live as The Betrayed? These tend to be “I am” statements like, “I am stupid. I am unlovable.” Then, ask Him to show you any fear you are in bondage to. What is causing you to doubt and deny your identity as His Beloved? What are the fears that make you step back from what you were created to be? They may sound like, “I will never succeed, or I can’t speak for God.” As these three areas of attack are brought to your mind, write them down. Don’t be in a hurry and don’t feel that there is one proper way to do this exercise. Your lists on each page may be different lengths. You may have twenty lies and only three fears listed. Write what the Holy Spirit brings to your heart and mind as you pray, nothing more, nothing less.
As you review your list you may find one, or all, of the top three lies we have already discussed. You will also find that most of your lies are focused on your relationship with God and other people. Continue to prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s help by asking him what family members, friends, or acquaintances have spoken over you that is not true. Write these down as well. Lies, both directly from the enemy or through other people, must be exposed and confronted in order for you and me to be free.
The spiritual battle is all around us as we see here in Ephesians 6:10-18
The Armor of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
This passage makes it clear that what we are wrestling against isn’t human. We are target practice for powers, principalities and spiritually wicked beings each and every day. Therefore, it is extremely important that we separate what is true from the lies, shame, and fear that are launched at us. We simply cannot embrace and cling to our identity as His Beloved if we are not operating in The Truth. We will not hear or know the voice of our Father until the mental clutter is cleared. It is impossible for us to hear His voice and heed the voice of The Betrayer at the same time.
//Questions//
What does your list reveal about your thought life?
Has this exercise brought a new sense of clarity and freedom to your life?
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