Author: Renee Faul

July 14

Nothing Is Hidden in God’s Sight

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WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I TALKED LIKE A CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD, I REASONED LIKE A CHILD. WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT CHILDISH WAYS BEHIND ME
(1 Corinthians 13:11).

I bless you to understand that it is not what happened to you as a child that is causing you so much heart-ache, today, but your misinterpretations of these events—what you came to believe about yourself, others, and God. Know that the father-of-lies used your false childhood conclusions as a weapon of deception to take you captive, even as an adult. He used them to shape a Deserted Child, Defiled Child, Defeated Child, and Deprived Child in you.

AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE
(Matthew 28:20).

Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus was present…on duty…alive when you made your false childhood conclusions. He was there. He saw it all. He knew the circumstances; but most of all, He knew the misinterpretations that distorted your mind and the lies that disturbed your heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight.

The Lord Jesus knows of the Deserted Child, Defiled Child, Defeated Child, and Deprived Child that still live in your heart, today, as a result of your childhood misinterpretations. He understands the lies.  But, most of all, He knows the Truth.

NOTHING IN ALL CREATION IS HIDDEN FROM GOD’S SIGHT. EVERYTHING IS UNCOVERED AND LAID BARE BEFORE THE EYES OF HIM TO WHOM WE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT
(Hebrews 4:13).

If you listen carefully, you will hear the Lord Jesus say, “My Child, I have become your Wisdom from God: your Redemption from the deception that has been living in your heart, since childhood…your Redemption from the negative, destructive beliefs of the father-of-lies…your Redemption from the Deserted Child, Defiled Child, Defeated Child, and Deprived Child. Allow Me to set you free from being a victim to these OLD MAN personalities.”

IT IS BECAUSE OF HIM THAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS BECOME FOR US WISDOM FROM GOD—THAT IS, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS AND REDEMPTION
(1 Corinthians 1:30).

What have you done with your childhood conclusions—with the Deserted Child, Defiled Child, Defeated Child, and Deprived Child that were formed in you through deception? Have you allowed these to rule your life…or have you allowed the Lord Jesus to become your Wisdom from God—that is, your Righteousness, Holiness, and Redemption?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, remind me, daily, that I have a choice: to live the rest of my life as a victim to the Deserted Child, Defiled Child, Defeated Child, and Deprived Child in me, or invite You to become my Redemption from God.

Maintain an Awareness

Every given moment of your life, you live either in obedience to the Counsel of the Perfect Father, or in obedience to the counsel of the father-of-lies.

The Two Counsels
July 13

Worthy of the Calling

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NEVERTHELESS, EACH ONE SHOULD RETAIN THE PLACE IN LIFE THAT THE LORD ASSIGNED TO HIM AND TO WHICH GOD HAS CALLED HIM.  THIS IS THE RULE I LAY DOWN IN ALL THE CHURCHES
(1 Corinthians 7:17).

The other day I was very discouraged.  I went for a walk on the beach and asked God to send me encouragement.  When I got home, a friend had sent me a story:

The story was about a man who received an assignment from God.  The Lord showed the man a large rock in front of the man’s house and asked him to push against the rock with all his might.  The man was obedient.  For many years, he toiled from sunset to sundown, pushing against the rock with all his might.  But then the man became discouraged.  He went to God and lamented, “I have labored long and hard for You, Lord, putting all my strength to do what You have asked.  Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged the rock by half a millimeter.  What is wrong?  Why am I failing?”

God responded compassionately, “My friend, I asked you to push against the rock with all your might.  Never once did I mention that I expected you to move it.  Your calling was only to be obedient.  But look at you. With all the toil and exertion, you have become patient and disciplined, which will produce a harvest of Righteousness and Peace in your life.  Because you have done what I have asked of you, I WILL NOW USE MY OWN STRENGTH TO MOVE THE ROCK!”

AS A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, THEN, I URGE YOU TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED
(Ephesians 4:1).

Did you know that God does not expect you to move the rock?  He is only asking you to be obedient and do the task for which He has called you, whether this is to be a mother, a father, an encourager, a giver, a leader, an author, a servant, or any other specific person He has called you to be.

By being obedient, you will become patient and disciplined, which will produce a harvest of God’s Righteousness and Peace in your life, so you may become the person He wants you to be.  Then, when you are the person He wants you to be, GOD HIMSELF WILL MOVE THE ROCK through you.

FOR YOU HAVE NEED OF ENDURANCE, SO THAT AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD, YOU MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISE
(Hebrews 10:36).

When you stand in front of God one day, what might be more important to Him: that you lived a life worthy of the calling He gave you…or that you lived your life trying to move the rock that was in your way?

PRAYER: Lord God, help me to focus on the Calling I have received, instead of focusing on the rock that is in my way. Remind me, daily, that being obedient to Your Calling is far more important than having my own way.

Maintain an Awareness

The goal of the father-of-lies is to fill us with a system of beliefs, so that we would fill our Selves with another system of beliefs that would correct the first system of beliefs.

The Two Counsels

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Worthless

July 12

Self and the Spirit

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Have you ever traveled to Newfoundland, Canada?  I have.  You might know that one of the things that pose a real threat to drivers there are the moose.  Because they are so dark, moose are very hard to spot on the highway, especially at night.  Each year, there are over six hundred collisions between drivers and moose.  They would show up when you least expect them; therefore, you need to strain your eyes while you are driving…looking for moose.  Never could you relax and take your eyes off the road for a single moment. 

I KNOW THAT NOTHING GOOD LIVES IN ME, THAT IS, IN MY SINFUL NATURE.  FOR I HAVE THE DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD, BUT I CANNOT CARRY IT OUT. FOR WHAT I DO IS NOT THE GOOD I WANT TO DO; NO, THE EVIL I DO NOT WANT TO DO—THIS I KEEP ON DOING
(Romans 7:18-19).

The moose in Newfoundland remind me of Self.  Self is always around.  Self is a real threat to me.  I have had many collisions with Self, this last year…many of which were fatal.  Never can I relax and forget about Self, because even when I have the desire to do good, Self would get in the way.  It would show up when I least expect it, full of anger, malice, and jealousy.  The evil I do not want to do, Self would keep on doing, all the time.

THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES. THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE; THE SINFUL MIND IS HOSTILE TO GOD. IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD’S LAW, NOR CAN IT DO SO. THOSE CONTROLLED BY THE SINFUL NATURE CANNOT PLEASE GOD
(Romans 8:5-8).

I have good news!  Self does not have to be in control of you.  There is another—THE SPIRIT OF GOD—who is able to take control of Self and give you Life and Peace. But, you have an obligation: to stop setting your mind on what Self desires; but instead, submit Self to God’s Authority.

What has your experience been with your Self? How has your Self influenced your heart, your purpose, and your actions?

Did you know that you could surrender your Self to the Lord Jesus, moment-by-moment, so He could disable it and enable you to live from His Spirit, instead?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I am tired of my Self controlling my heart, my purpose, and my actions. I want to be free from Self and its anger, malice, and jealousy.  I want to be free from Self, so I may live from Your Spirit of Life and Peace. Therefore, I surrender my Self to You, my Lord. Redeem me from Self, so I may carry out the good I want to do.

Maintain an Awareness

Be certain that your Father DOES answer your prayers, but His Answer might be different from the one you are expecting.  It might be radical… revolutionary…extreme.  His Answer might not fit your purpose, but it will fit God’s Purpose for you.

The Two Counsels

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Angry Bitter Jealous

July 11

Lay Down Your Life of Depression

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Understand that Self, who lives in us, is self-contained.  It depends on its own understanding as its only resource. This renders us susceptible to depression—a period spent in dejection and hopelessness—because of the negative, destructive beliefs that live in our own self-contained understanding.

THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

There was a time when I suffered from depression, spending three days at a time in dejection and hopelessness.  My period of depression would be marked by sadness, inactivity, excessive sleeping, and suicidal thoughts. What’s more, I always thought depression was something that “happened” to me from the outside, until I discovered that depression always manifested after a negative, destructive thought had entered my mind and I had willfully decided to accept that thought as the truth.

HOW FOOLISH!  WHAT YOU SOW DOES NOT COME TO LIFE UNLESS IT DIES
(1 Corinthians 15:36).

 One day, the Lord Jesus asked me, “Will you lay down your understanding for Mine?  Will you deliberately lay down your self-contained Self for Me? Will you let Me exchange the negative, destructive beliefs in your mind that are causing your depression, for My Counsel?”

YOU HOLD ME BY MY RIGHT HAND. YOU WILL GUIDE ME WITH YOUR COUNSEL, AND AFTERWARD RECEIVE ME TO GLORY
(Psalm 73:23-24).

I bless you to grasp that your depression will not lift, until you are willing to let the negative, destructive thoughts that are feeding it die.  When you become willing to stop having fellowship with the dark thoughts of the father-of-lies, but instead, have these exchanged for God’s Counsel, your depression will lift from your mind and heart…and leave.

What oppressing thoughts have been causing you to spend periods of your precious time in dejection and hopelessness?

Did you know that you have a choice: to spend your time in dejection and hopelessness, or to submit these thoughts to the Lord Jesus…and live?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I am willing to lay down my life of depression for You. Show me the oppressing thoughts from the father-of-lies that are driving me to dejection and hopelessness, so I may submit them to You. Help me to understand that depression is not something that is happening to me from the outside, but a deliberate act on my side to willfully accept the oppressing beliefs from the father-of-lies as my only truth.

Maintain an Awareness

Understand that HOPE needs to come to you through your heart. Therefore, you need to CONNECT with your heart and find the places of sorrow, despair, fear, disappointment, bitterness, and anger that reside there.

The Two Counsels

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Hopeless Sad Worthless

July 10

Will You Lay Down Your Life of Anger and Rage?

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THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

I bless you to lay down your life of dealing with your pain through a defense mechanism of anger and rage.

GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. ‘I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP’
(John 10:11).

Lay down your life of always becoming enraged at yourself and those around you.  Know that anger serves as a cover—an outer layer placed over a much deeper emotion, caused by the oppressing OLD MAN beliefs in your mind. If you peel it off, you might discover an Orphan ME filled with abandonment, a Bad ME filled with condemnation, a Victim ME filled with rejection, or a Lesser ME filled with unworthiness and shame.

THAT YE PUT OFF…THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS
(Ephesians 4:22).

Give up your exasperation.  Instead, dig a little deeper and find the little Orphan ME in you who feels so lonely and left-out. Search for the blamed Bad ME who feels so unaccepted and unacceptable. Discover the lowly Lesser ME who feels so abased and insignificant. Find the unloved Victim ME who is burdened with rejection. Then, offer these disabled personalities to God to be replaced with a Redeemed ME—someone who feels worthy, loved, and acceptable.

LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US
(Hebrews 12:1).

Let go of your bad temper.  Do not hold onto it as something praiseworthy.  If you sow to live in anger, you will reap destruction.  But if you sow to live from the Spirit, from the Spirit you will throw off the sin that so easily entangles to receive Belonging, Acceptance, and Worth.

Has your bad temper become your sinful defense pattern with which you handle life and its disappointments?

If you put your anger and rage aside, what or who would you find underneath? Did you know that you could surrender these underlying OLD MAN characters and their beliefs to the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to exchange these for a Redeemed ME?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I submit my anger to You. I know I cannot get rid of it by myself; therefore, I ask that You show me what is keeping it alive in me. Show me the beliefs from the father-of-lies that are causing me to feel hurt on the inside and angry on the outside, so I may throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

Maintain an Awareness

Sin is not something mysterious…something unexplainable…something that happens to you. Sin does not stand alone. It does not happen by itself. Sinful solutions have a source—the source of the OLD MAN.

The Two Counsels

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Angry

July 09

Will You Lay Down Your Life of Over-indulgence?

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THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

How do you deal with the emotional pain in your heart—the pain that sits on top of the negative, destructive beliefs that you are not good enough…that you are doomed and damned…that you are a disappointment?

Do you deal with your pain through the defense mechanism of over-indulgence—turning to excessiveness of some sorts, rather than Jesus, to ease your pain?  Know for certain that if you sow overdo and overuse, you will reap DESTRUCTION, but if you sow to surrender your pain to the Spirit, from the Spirit you will reap LIFE and PEACE.

THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE
(Galatians 6:8).

I bless you to give up seeking relief from your pain through over-indulgence of any kind.  Instead, allow yourself to pause before you indulge, and EMBRACE the pain that instigates you to overdo.  Identify the hurt.  Find the beliefs the father-of-lies has planted in your mind: the thoughts that persuade you to run to FOOD to eliminate the heartache, to run to DRINK to shut out the hurt, and to run to DRUGS to squash the anguish.  Then, EXPOSE these interpretations to the Lord Jesus in EXCHANGE for His free-setting Truth.  He knows you. He will tell you who you really are. Then, the Peace of God will rule in your heart, through His Spirit, allowing you to be thankful for who you are and what you have.

AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY; AND BE THANKFUL
(Colossians 3:15).

 Are you aware of the reason of your over-indulgence—negative, destructive beliefs instilled in your mind by the father-of-lies? Do you know what these beliefs are telling you?

What will it take for you to stop turning to someone or something other than the Lord Jesus to still the pain in your heart?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, teach me to EMBRACE the emotional pain in my heart, instead of running away to excessiveness of all kinds. Help me to find and EXPOSE the underlying beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame in my heart. Then, EXCHANGE these perturbing perceptions for Your Truth, my Lord, for without Your work of EXCHANGE in my heart, there will be no CHANGE in me—there will be no LIFE and no PEACE.

Maintain an Awareness

If the way we meet the desire to be important is not through a deep, meaningful relationship with the Desire of All Nations, then wanting to be important becomes a race with no finish line.

The Two Counsels
July 08

Will You Lay Down Your Life of Forsaking the Task?

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THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

Do you deal with your pain through the defense mechanism of running away from a task, not following through, forsaking the job? Do you easily give up…abandon hope…throw in the towel?

BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS SONS, GOD SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS, THE SPIRIT WHO CALLS OUT, ‘ABBA, FATHER’
(Galatians 4:6).

Know that God made His Spirit available to live in your heart, so He may supply you with everything you need for life and godliness.  You are not forsaken to deal with the task-at-hand on your own. His Presence in you supplies all the Love, Hope, and Truth that you need for any job God has given you. You are connected to the Source who never gives up.

THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE
(Galatians 6:8).

I urge you to give up your task-forsaking behavior.  Instead, allow yourself to feel the pain that instigates you to give up.  Find the belief the father-of-lies has planted into your mind—the thinking that is trying to persuade you to desert your task.  Then surrender this emotion and underlying conclusion to the Lord Jesus to be replaced with His free setting Truth.

HOWEVER, I CONSIDER MY LIFE WORTH NOTHING TO ME, IF ONLY I MAY FINISH THE RACE AND COMPLETE THE TASK THE LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN ME
(Acts 20:24).

May you lay down your life-pattern of giving up…abandoning hope…throwing in the towel, so you might complete the tasks the Lord Jesus has given you. If you sow relinquishment of your task, you will reap destruction.  But if you sow to live from the Source who never gives up, from this Spirit you will reap self-control.

Why do you give up so easily? What do you believe would happen if you persevered, in order to finish the task the Lord Jesus has given you?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I want to finish the task You have given me to do, but I can’t. Therefore, I invite Your Presence and Participation into my sinful defense pattern of giving up: abandoning Your Hope…leaving Your Love…forfeiting Your Truth. Redeem me from this behavior, my Lord, and the underlying beliefs from the father-of-lies that keep this behavior alive. Bring me to the place where I would consider my life worth nothing, unless I completed the task You have given me for my life.

Maintain an Awareness

The truth is if we do not follow God in our thoughts, we will not follow Him in our actions, either, and then we will end up with the wrong purpose.

The Two Counsels

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Hopeless

July 07

Will You Lay Down Your Life of Mind-reading?

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THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

Have you adopted the sinful defense mechanism of mind-reading? Do you always assume you know what others are thinking?  Do you read between the lines?  Are you always gathering information to prove your presupposed point?  Do you like to surmise, basing your ideas on scanty evidence?

THE MAN WHO LOVES HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, WHILE THE MAN WHO HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETERNAL LIFE
(John 12:25).

Grasp that the father-of-lies, the master of deception, will take advantage of your willful mind-reading, each time.  He will use your rebellion as an opportunity to drag misinterpretations into your mind, inserting more than is there, causing you to see yourself and others in a false light.

If you sow to please your sinful nature through obstinate mind-reading, you will reap destruction, but if you sow to deliberately and entirely submit your will to the Spirit, from the Spirit you will reap Truth. This Truth will set you free, will bring you Joy, and will give you Hope.

THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE
(Galatians 6:8).

 I bless you to consider letting go of your rebellious mind-reading. Stop holding onto it as something precious. Don’t assume you know what others are thinking.  Don’t read between the lines.  Stop gathering information to prove your presupposed point.  Quit surmising.  Stop guessing. Instead, focus on finishing the race YOU have to run, and to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given YOU.

HOWEVER, I CONSIDER MY LIFE WORTH NOTHING TO ME, IF ONLY I MAY FINISH THE RACE AND COMPLETE THE TASK THE LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN ME
(Acts 20:24).

Why do you mind-read? What good has ever come of it? On the other hand, how has your mind-reading hurt you and others?

What will it take for you to stop guessing what others are thinking of you by arriving at your conclusions through your own understanding?

PRAYER: Lord God, I repent of my mind-reading. I am sorry, my Lord. I wish to change, but I know I can do nothing by myself. Work Your Grace and Mercy in my heart, so I would change and give up reading others’ minds. May my mind belong to You only and may everything it thinks only honor You.

Maintain an Awareness

Each time we hear from God, we are changed…or rather EXCHANGED, for the Words He speaks are Spirit and are Life.

The Two Counsels
July 06

The Man Who Loves His Life Will Lose It

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Self—the sinful nature in us—seems to act as its own person who runs its own life in us.  Self has its own will, its own esteem, and its own defense mechanism of criticism, complaint, and control.  The only one Self cares about is itself.  It always makes sure it comes out at the top, even if it has to step on others to accomplish this.

THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE
(Galatians 6:8).

Capture that you cannot please Self AND the Spirit.  If you allow Self to sow criticism, complaint, and control, you will reap destruction, but if you submit to the control of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will reap Life.

AND HE DIED FOR ALL, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE SHOULD LIVE NO LONGER FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM WHO DIED FOR THEM AND ROSE AGAIN
(2 Corinthians 5:15).

I bless you to consider letting go of your faultfinding, not holding onto it as something praiseworthy—a means to bring someone down, so Self may raise itself up.  May you become someone who allows the Holy Spirit to live His Life in you and through you, so you may understand others’ weaknesses through His Peace, His Power, and His Patience.

THE MAN WHO LOVES HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, WHILE THE MAN WHO HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETERNAL LIFE
(John 12:25).

I bless you to lose your defense mechanism of disapproval, disagreement, and disaccord—the controlling actions of complaint that serve to please Self.  Know that criticism, control, and complaint are poor methods of dealing with someone’s heart, for faultfinding does not portray the heart of your Perfect Father. The only thing these methods of Self-defense accomplish is steal your joy and the joy of your friends.

THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

Whom do you live to please, Self…or the Spirit? Know that you are not able to lay Self down in your own strength. But, if you are willing, you can ask the Holy Spirit to come and exchange your Self for His Self.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, bring me to the place where I will stop trying to please my Self-nature, but will be determined to allow Your Spirit to live in me and through me. Establish Your Holy Spirit in me, so I would stop criticizing, complaining, and controlling, but instead, understand the hearts of the people you have put in my life.

Maintain an Awareness

The father-of-lies opposes God’s Counsel by telling us the exact opposite of what God says. His deception provides the pink slippery world in our minds that do not make sense.

The Two Counsels

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Bitter

July 05

Will You Lay Down Your Life for Me?

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I was having a discussion with someone the other day about the anti-Christ.  We were wondering who the anti-Christ was, and from where he would come.  Is it a person?  Is it a force?  Is it already here or is it still to come?

Then I thought to myself, I don’t know who the anti-Christ really is, but I know that I have an anti-Christ already living inside of me.  It is very powerful.  It is very selfish.  And it is very anti Christ.  Its name is Self.

BUT EVERY SPIRIT THAT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS IS NOT FROM GOD. THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD IS COMING AND EVEN NOW IS ALREADY IN THE WORLD
(1 John 4:3).

Self is its own entity that runs its own life in me.  Self has its own will, its own desires, its own ambitions, its own defense, its own esteem, and its own righteousness.  Self does not acknowledge or obey Jesus as Lord.  In fact, Self serves as an agent for the father-of-lies to rival Jesus Christ as Lord. Self is anti Christ.

THEN JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, ‘IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME, HE MUST DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR ME WILL FIND IT’
(Matthew 16:24-25).

I bless you to understand that the Lord Jesus is the Anti-Self.  He has His own Righteousness He would like to establish in your life.  He has His own Will for your life.  He has His own Defense against the father-of-lies.

THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’
(John 13:38).

Are you satisfied with the way Self rules your life?

If you are not happy with what Self has done with your life, consider appointing the Lord Jesus as ruler of your life. Then, you will not need your Self-esteem, your Self-righteousness, and your Self defense mechanisms, because you will have Christ.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I invite You to reign in my heart, my thoughts, and the purpose of my life. Disable my Self-righteousness to plant YOUR Righteousness in me. Disqualify my Self-esteem to create YOUR Worthiness in my heart. Disengage my Self-defense to bring about Your Truth, Hope, and Love in my being. Bring me to the place where I will deny the anti-Christ in me, so Your Anti-Self might be formed in me.

Maintain an Awareness

Know that you cannot be a friend of the Light and be a friend of darkness, at the same time. Darkness and Light do not mix. They are incompatible. You are either in the dark, or in the light.

The Two Counsels