Abandoned

July 30

A Hardened Heart Causes Ignorance

Posted by

0

SO I TELL YOU THIS, AND INSIST ON IT IN THE LORD, THAT YOU MUST NO LONGER LIVE AS THE GENTILES DO, IN THE FUTILITY OF THEIR THINKING. THEY ARE DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND SEPARATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM DUE TO THE HARDENING OF THEIR HEARTS
(Ephesians 4:17-18).

Notice that a hardened heart causes a vicious circle. A hardened heart causes ignorance—the lack of understanding. This darkened understanding causes one to be separated from the Life of God, leaving a person to his own futile thoughts, which eventually lead to evil desires.

AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN, DO NOT CONFORM TO THE EVIL DESIRES YOU HAD WHEN YOU LIVED IN IGNORANCE
(1 Peter 1:14).

Understand that a hardened heart causes a lack of knowing God’s Truth, a lack of experiencing God’s Hope, and a lack of perceiving God’s Love—SEPARATION FROM THE LIFE OF GOD. Once you feel separated from God’s Truth, Hope, and Love, the lies from the father-of-lies seem like the truth. At this point, you are unable to separate right from wrong, evil from good, and God from the father-of-lies. Since your understanding is darkened, you start thinking futile thoughts: thoughts that serve the father-of-lies…thoughts that kill, steal, and destroy…thoughts that disobey God. And if you conform to these futile thoughts, they lead to sin and death.

IN THE PAST GOD OVERLOOKED SUCH IGNORANCE, BUT NOW HE COMMANDS ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TO REPENT
(Acts 17:30).

NOTICE THAT GOD DOES NOT OVERLOOK IGNORANCE!

Repent from your hardened heart—living in the ignorance of your own understanding and the futility of your own thinking.

Then, you will no longer be separated from the Life of God.  The lies of the father-of-lies will be exposed.  Your hopelessness and despair will be exchanged for God’s Hope.  Your animosity will be exchanged for God’s Love. And you will LIVE!

What has hardened your heart? Why are you holding onto your hardened heart? What will it take for you to surrender the oppressing beliefs from the father-of-lies that are causing your hardened heart, to God, and be changed…or rather, exchanged?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I repent of my hardened heart, because I want to stop conforming to the evil desires that this hardened heart of mine is causing.

Maintain an Awareness

Thus, the OLD MAN became the origin of sin that causes the effect of sin in each of us. The OLD MAN is where it all started and where it all ends…unless we are delivered from it.

The Two Counsels
July 28

The Reason for Immaturity

Posted by

0

THEY CLAIM TO KNOW GOD, BUT BY THEIR ACTIONS THEY DENY HIM. THEY ARE DETESTABLE, DISOBEDIENT AND UNFIT FOR DOING ANYTHING GOOD
(Titus 1:16).

Do you claim to know God, yet, deny Him by your actions?  Do you often behave in childish ways, being detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good?

Understand that an adult could still display the character of a child and be disrespectful and immature if his or her childhood misinterpretations of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame have not been addressed and replaced, yet.

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).

Recognize that when an adult acts like a six-year-old, he feels again like the little six-year-old he used to be when the misinterpretations of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame formed in his mind, the first time.  He becomes the little six-year-old again, experiencing the same childhood fear, loneliness, and guilt.

AND I WILL ASK THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COUNSELOR TO BE WITH YOU FOREVER— THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. THE WORLD CANNOT ACCEPT HIM, BECAUSE IT NEITHER SEES HIM NOR KNOWS HIM.  BUT YOU KNOW HIM, FOR HE LIVES WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU
(John 14:16-17).

Precious One, I, your Everlasting Father, have brought you a Solution for your immature behavior.  His name is the Counselor—the Spirit of Truth.

When the little six-year-old in you relives the memory that is bringing her so much pain and confusion, prompt her to offer the memory, with its painful feelings and interpretations, to the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth.

 When the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, sets you free from the negative, destructive interpretations of shame, condemnation, rejection, and abandonment that live in that memory, you will experience relief. Then, you will put childish ways behind you and start acting your age.  You will know Me and honor Me with your actions and reactions.  You will become fit for doing good.  You will become an adult.

What childhood misinterpretations of abandonment, shame, rejection, and condemnation still cause you to act like a six-year-old? What are you going to do about your immaturity?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I long to be an adult and act like an adult. Help me to put childish ways behind me, so I may stop denying You by my actions.

Maintain an Awareness

So, yes, the deepest urge in human nature seems to be the desire to be important–to matter. But, it is not the PRINCIPLE of wanting to be important that is wrong; instead, it is the way we adapt or the means we adopt to meet this most urgent desire of our hearts.

The Two Counsels
July 27

To Die to Sin

Posted by

0

HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS
(1 Peter 2:24-25).

Take note that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree, so WE might die to our sins. The Lord Jesus nailed the body of sin—the cause of our sinful actions and reactions—to the cross to remove the origin of sin, so we might have the opportunity to live for Righteousness.

WHAT SHALL WE SAY, THEN? SHALL WE GO ON SINNING SO THAT GRACE MAY INCREASE? BY NO MEANS! WE DIED TO SIN; HOW CAN WE LIVE IN IT ANY LONGER?
(Romans 6:1-2).

I have died to many sins.  I have died to willfulness, withdrawal, and pushing people away.  I have died to blaming, hating, and condemning others.  I have died to gossiping.  I have died to boasting.

FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM SO THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN
(Romans 6:6).

I have died to these sinful actions and reactions, because I have had no need to live in them any longer.  You see, my old Self—the abandoned Orphan Me, the shameful Despicable Me, the condemned Bad Me, and the rejected Victim Me—was crucified with Jesus, so that it might lose its power over me.

Therefore, since my condemnation turned to acceptance, I did not have to hate anymore in order to take revenge. Since my shame turned to worthiness, I did not have to gossip and boast anymore in order to gain respect from others.  Since my abandonment turned to belonging, I did not have to withdraw anymore in order to protect myself. Because the Lord Jesus took care of the old Self—the body of sin—I did not have to serve it anymore through sinful actions and reactions.

IN THE SAME WAY, COUNT YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS
(Romans 6:11).

Let your old Self, the body of sin, be crucified with Jesus. Then you, too will have the opportunity to live your life for Righteousness, since sinful actions and reactions will serve no purpose to you anymore.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I long to live my life for Righteousness. Therefore, I invite You to nail my old Self to the cross, so I would stop serving the body of sin through sinful actions and reactions.

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 26

Embrace…Expose…Be Exchanged

Posted by

0

HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS
(1 Peter 2:24-25).

“He Himself bore our sins, so that we might die to sins…”  These two actions are closely related.

Have you ever tried to get rid of a sinful action: the perpetual gossiping, the excessive boasting, and the continual pouting?  I have!  It did not work, until I found out that I could not die to sin without having Jesus bearing that sin.  Although Jesus already bore my sins on the cross a long time ago, I discovered that I had to personally invite Him to bear my sinful actions, along with the underlying beliefs that cause them, if I wanted to get rid of them.

EMBRACE YOUR SINS: Embrace means to accept something, readily.  First, instead of hiding from it or blaming it on others, take responsibility for your sinful actions. Study them closely. Why are you gossiping?  Why are you boasting?  Why are you pouting? What underlying belief from the father-of-lies is causing each of these sinful actions? Do you gossip because you feel unworthy?  Do you boast because you feel insignificant?  Do you pout because you feel forsaken?

EXPOSE YOUR SINS: Expose means to deprive from shelter and submit to a particular action or influence.  Whenever you want to get rid of sin, expose the sinful action and the underlying belief that causes it, to Jesus…to bear it for you.

EXCHANGE YOUR SINS: Exchanging is the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another.  By bearing your sin, Jesus does something with it. He takes the underlying belief that causes your sinful action, and exchanges it for His Truth. This deed of replacement, on the inside, eradicates your sinful action, on the outside.  You do not have to gossip anymore, because the belief “I am worthless” has been replaced with the belief “I am OK.” You do not have to boast anymore, because the belief “I am insignificant” has been exchanged for the belief “I measure up.” You do not have to pout anymore, because the belief “I have been forsaken” has been replaced with the belief “God knows me and is taking care of me.” This exchange happens in your heart the moment the Lord Jesus reveals His Truth to you through divine interaction.

GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
(2 Corinthians 5:21).

How might your life change if you were to make EMBRACE, EXPOSE, and BE EXCHANGED part of your lifestyle?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I return to You as the Overseer of my soul. Today, I allow You to bear the negative, destructive beliefs from the father-of-lies that are causing my sinful actions and reactions. Thank you that You became sin for me, so that through embracing, exposing, and being exchanged, I might become the Righteousness of God.

Maintain an Awareness

Blaming others and blaming yourself will not get rid of the accusatory pain in your heart.

The Two Counsels

Beliefs/Emotions associated with this blessing.
Click on any box below to access more blessings that pertain to the topic in the box.

Abandoned Jealous Worthless

July 20

Do Not Depend on Your Many Warriors

Posted by

0

BUT YOU HAVE PLANTED WICKEDNESS, YOU HAVE REAPED EVIL, YOU HAVE EATEN THE FRUIT OF DECEPTION. BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEPENDED ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH AND ON YOUR MANY WARRIORS, THE ROAR OF BATTLE WILL RISE AGAINST YOUR PEOPLE, SO THAT ALL YOUR FORTRESSES WILL BE DEVASTATED
(Hosea 10:13-14).

I have many warriors, because I have eaten the fruit of deception. I have believed negative, destructive beliefs that are not true about my Self, God, and others.  I have one warrior who fights to the bitter end to defend me, whenever I believe that I am not loved.  This warrior will attack, blame, and drive anybody away who makes me feel unloved.

I have another warrior who is very good at hiding me in the dark dungeons of depression or behind a mask, whenever I believe that I am not worthy or special.

Yet, another warrior is a bit of a coward.  It scoops me up and runs to the safety of distraction and destruction, whenever I feel condemned, not daring to come close to the battlefield.  It lets me watch from a distance, while I lean on my own misunderstandings.

BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT; GET WISDOM, DISCIPLINE AND UNDERSTANDING
(Proverbs 23:23).

Grasp that if you depend on your own defense mechanisms to fight the negative, destructive beliefs of the father-of-lies, the roar of battle will rise against you, causing you to plant wickedness and reap evil, every time. This will make you miserable.

Change your ways.  Dismiss your warriors.  Instead of hiding, get God’s Wisdom for the belief that you are not loved. Instead of running away, discipline your Self to get Understanding from the Lord Jesus for your unworthiness and shame. Instead of defending your Self, buy the Lord’s Truth and do not sell it.

WE KNOW ALSO THAT THE SON OF GOD HAS COME AND HAS GIVEN US UNDERSTANDING
(1 John 5:20).

What will it take for you to dismiss your many warriors and depend on God to give you Understanding, so you may get rid of your misunderstandings?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, how many times have I depended on my many warriors to save me from feeling ashamed, condemned, and abandoned, instead of depending on You. Forgive me, my Lord, for making the wrong choices. Bring me to the place where I will lay down my many warriors—where I will buy the Truth and not sell it. Then, exchange my Self for Your Self, who is filled with Wisdom, Discipline, and Understanding.

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
July 19

Saved to Be Holy

Posted by

0

WHO HAS SAVED US AND CALLED US TO A HOLY LIFE—NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE BUT BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE.  THIS GRACE WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME
(2 Timothy 1:9).

One of the things that turned my life inside-out was the realization that God did not just barely save me, in a meager manner. He saved me enough to be holy.

Throughout my life, I had the idea that God saved me just enough to go to Heaven. I believed Holiness was something extra…and holiness was up to me.  I believed that if I wanted to be holy, I had to muster together all my strength to better my own Self—to rid my Self of condemnation, shame, rejection, and abandonment, which caused me to complain, control, and criticize.

However, big was my surprise when God showed me, one day, that my holiness did not depend on me, but on His Grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus. This has always been part of the package of Salvation, even before the beginning of time—to stop sinful actions and reactions from controlling our behavior, through His Grace.

THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE AMONG US: HE SENT HIS ONE AND ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM
(1 John 4:9).

Beloved Child, do you know what to do with My Grace? Understand that I, your Savior, want you to come UNDER My Grace, moment-by-moment, whenever you feel rejected, ashamed, condemned, or abandoned. Instead of submitting to the beliefs of shame that cause you to complain, come and live UNDER My Grace, which will release you from disgrace. Instead of surrendering to beliefs of rejection that cause you to criticize, come and hide UNDER My Grace, which will deliver you from feeling unwanted and unworthy. Instead of bowing down to the beliefs of abandonment that cause you to control, step UNDER My Grace, which will discharge you from loneliness and dismay. Then, sinful actions and reactions will no longer control your behavior.

“FOR SIN SHALL NO LONGER BE YOUR MASTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE”
(Romans 6:14).

How might your life change if you stopped striving to better your Self, but allowed God to bring you under His Grace?

PRAYER: Thank you, Perfect Father, for Your Gift of Grace, through Jesus Christ. Call me, daily, to come under Your Grace, instead of living from my own strength. Help me to remember to live under Your Grace whenever I feel rejected, condemned, ashamed, or abandoned. Then, sinful actions and reactions will no longer control my behavior.

Maintain an Awareness

Our relationship with God is not just one-sided—us praying to God. When we pray, God also needs to talk to us…and He WANTS to.

The Two Counsels
July 18

To Be Exchanged

Posted by

0

I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME
(Galatians 2:20).

I bless you to know that there is a part of you that needs to be crucified with Christ.  There is a part of you that needs to be exchanged for the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave His Self for you to live His Life inside you, by His Faith.

KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN
(Romans 6:6).

Understand that there is an OLD MAN living his life inside you: an agglomeration of negative, destructive beliefs, instilled in your mind by the father-of-lies.  This collection of OLD MAN beliefs carries a painful, negative message of failure, defilement, and unworthiness.

Realize that this set of OLD MAN beliefs functions as the root or source of bad behavior in you.  This set of accusatory beliefs “You are bad…You do not count…You are a disgrace” causes painful emotions of unworthiness, hopelessness, and shame.  When you feel unworthy, you envy…you strife…you fail.  When you feel ashamed, you become angry…you become unkind…you become selfish.  When you feel hopeless, you argue…you give up…you become depressed.  Thus, the body of OLD MAN beliefs in you is the father-of-lies’ ally to control your mind, your emotions, and your behavior from the inside out.

AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND; AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS
(Ephesians 4:23-24).

The Lord Jesus Christ came to crucify the body of OLD MAN beliefs in you, so that the source or the root of sin in you might be destroyed.  And in the OLD MAN’s place, He gave His Self to come and live in you, by His Faith.

May you allow the body of OLD MAN beliefs in you to be eliminated, so that the Lord Jesus Christ might live His Life in you, instead, by His Faith.

How do you think your life will change if you lived your life by the Faith of the Lord Jesus, instead of living from the negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs of the father-of-lies?

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You nailed the OLD MAN to the cross, so that this body of sin might be destroyed and You might live Your Life in me, by Your Faith.

Maintain an Awareness

We have all eaten from the fruit of deception—believing and accepting negative, destructive beliefs about ourselves, God, and others that are not true.

The Two Counsels
July 14

Nothing Is Hidden in God’s Sight

Posted by

0

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

Blaming others and blaming yourself will not get rid of the accusatory pain in your heart.

The Two Counsels
July 09

Will You Lay Down Your Life of Over-indulgence?

Posted by

0

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

Blaming others and blaming yourself will not get rid of the accusatory pain in your heart.

The Two Counsels
July 05

Will You Lay Down Your Life for Me?

Posted by

0

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

There is someone who came to bring Heaven to earth, into your troubled heart, into your dark mind, into your dead spirit, into your disease-ridden body, and into your broken life. His name is Jesus Christ, the Perfect Father’s Son.

The Two Counsels