SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM
(Genesis 1:27).

What was man like right after God created him?  What was it like to not only be created in the image of God, but to be living in the image of God and acting in the image of God, as well?  It must have been a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

But, something changed. The father-of-lies instilled an OLD MAN in us. This OLD MAN, the body of sin, consists of its own beliefs, its own nature, its own desires, its own emotions, its own will, its own deeds, and its own purpose. The OLD MAN lives in us and through us. He uses our minds as the tool to think his negative, destructive beliefs of abandonment, shame, condemnation, and rejection. He uses our emotions as the catalyst to feel his feelings of disappointment, shame, fear, anxiety, hatred, jealousy, and resentment. He uses our hearts as the vehicle to execute deceitful desires that only benefit him. He uses our personalities as the mechanism through which he lives his nature—the pitiful, pathetic victim-nature, the guilt-ridden, unworthy blame-nature, the negative, lamenting doom-nature, and the fake, alluring show-off nature. He uses our wills as the launcher of his own spiteful, rebellious will. And he uses our bodies as his instruments of unrighteousness—the sinful deeds of the OLD MAN. The image of God in man was forever distorted…maimed…disabled when the OLD MAN body of sin moved in, because when the OLD MAN moved in, God moved out.

 AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH IS RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE IMAGE OF HIM THAT CREATED HIM
(Colossians 3:10).

But then, God sent us a NEW MAN—the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. Not only is He created in God’s image, but He also lives in God’s image and acts in God’s image, as well. And He came to live His Life in us—His Beliefs with His Emotions, His Nature, His Desires, His Will, His Purpose with His Deeds.

THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, THE NEW CREATION HAS COME: THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW IS HERE!
(2 Corinthians 5:17).

Invite the Lord Jesus to replace the old in you with the new. Then, you will finally be able to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I desire for everything in me to become new. I desire a new nature, a new will, new desires, new beliefs, new emotions, and a new purpose with new deeds. I know that the only way to change is to be exchanged—the old for the new. Therefore, come and live Your Life in me, Lord Jesus, in the place of the OLD MAN…and make everything new in me.

BUT WHERE SIN INCREASED, GRACE INCREASED ALL THE MORE
(Romans 5:20).

I bless you to understand that God’s Grace covers your past…because it is MORE.  God’s Grace covers the present…because it is MORE.  God’s Grace covers your future…because it is MORE.

Believe that God’s Grace is MORE than any sinful action anyone has ever committed against you and more than any sinful deed you yourself have ever committed against yourself or anyone else.

FOR SIN SHALL NOT BE YOUR MASTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE
(Romans 6:14).

I bless you to know that, during your present life, right now, God’s Grace abounds MORE.  Do you wrestle with a sinful habit or defense pattern of distraction or destruction?  God’s Grace abounds MORE.  Do you often become angry, fearful, or jealous?  God’s Grace abounds MORE.  Do you struggle with depression, bitterness, anxiety, or guilt? God’s Grace abounds MORE. Do you have a problem with being prideful, boastful, and self-seeking? God’s Grace abounds MORE. Do you control, criticize, or complain? God’s Grace abounds MORE. Are you confused? God’s Grace abounds MORE.

Understand that sin does not stand alone.  It does not happen by itself.  It sits on a pillar of oppressing beliefs suggested by the father-of-lies: beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame.  And these beliefs cause anguish…misery…distress.  Not only does the father-of-lies suggest these beliefs to you, but he also offers the solutions to still the pain these beliefs cause—SIN.

Blessed Child, you need to know that you do not have to run to sinful defense habits of escape to dampen the abandonment in your heart, because there is enough Grace to cover the pain and beliefs of abandonment. You do not have to resort to bitterness to spite your enemy, because My Grace is available to you, even now. You do not have to blame others for the shame in your heart, because My Grace is yours, if you want it. But, in order to experience My Grace, you need to stop fighting the beliefs of abandonment, shame, rejection, and condemnation in your own strength and in your own way. Instead, you need to surrender these negative, destructive beliefs to Me, Jesus Christ, and ask Me to cover you with My Grace. You will find that My Grace is always sufficient.  It is always available.  It is always MORE.

What sin is there in your past, present, or possibly in your future for which you need the Grace of God to abound?

PRAYER: Lord God, I thank you for Your Grace that abounds MORE than my sinful actions and reactions. Thank you that Your Grace abounds MORE than my jealousy, my animosity, and my anxiety. Thank you that Your Grace abounds MORE than any accusatory belief in my heart that makes me feel ashamed. Thank you that Your Grace abounds MORE than my sinful actions of the past, present, and future. I place all of these under Your Grace…to abound for me.

Carl Rogers wrote in his book, Becoming a Person: “I have found it of enormous value when I can permit myself to understand the other person. The way in which I have worded this statement may seem strange to you. Is it necessary to permit oneself to understand another? I think it is. Our first reaction to most of the statements which we hear from other people is an evaluation or judgment, rather than an understanding of it. When someone expresses some feeling, attitude or belief, our tendency is almost immediately to feel “that’s right,” or “that’s stupid,” “that’s abnormal,” “that’s unreasonable,” “that’s incorrect,” “that’s not nice.” Very rarely do we permit ourselves to understand precisely what the meaning of the statement is to the other person.”

This has become one of the most important tools of communication in my relationships: permitting myself to understand someone’s heart, instead of reacting to my own conclusions, instantly. Keeping my own interpretations out of the equation when I have a conversation with another person, I have learned to separate the facts (what really happened) from the conclusions (the person’s heart) and treat them as two separate transactions. What really happened? How does she feel about the incident? Why does she feel that way? What is the negative spiritual picture the father-of-lies painted in her mind? How can I help her to understand her own heart and see the Truth? Unless you care about someone’s heart, first, you will not be able to help her see the facts of the situation. Therefore, treat the PERSON, not the PROBLEM!

IF I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND CAN FATHOM ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE A FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING
(1 Corinthians 13:2).

I love to apply this principle of separating the facts from the conclusions to my own heart, as well. What really happened? How do I feel about the incident? Why do I feel that way? Where is the root of my problem? What is the negative spiritual picture the father-of-lies painted in my mind? How can I receive Truth in my heart, so I may see the facts clearly? But, there are times when I am not able to understand, no matter how many questions I ask myself or anybody else. During these times, I go to the One who has infinite Understanding, the One who is able to separate the facts from the conclusions, the One who always cares about my heart.

GREAT IS OUR LORD, AND OF GREAT POWER: HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE
(Psalm 147:5).

Think back of a specific conversation you had with someone this past week. How might the outcome of the conversation have changed IF you had permitted yourself to UNDERSTAND your conversation partner’s heart, instead of reacting to your own conclusions, instantly? What would it take for you to become willing to separate the facts from the conclusions and UNDERSTAND others during your conversations, instead of using criticism, control, or complaint as your defense mechanisms, before you even know what is going on?

PRAYER: Most High, deposit Your Love in my heart, so I may permit myself to understand others and myself, instead of only reacting to the facts at face value.

BE VERY CAREFUL, THEN, HOW YOU LIVE—NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE, MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL
(Ephesians 5:15-16).

Beloved, be very careful how you live. The days are evil. Do not live your life as an unwise person, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. Be careful that you do not live your life from, and through, and to the father-of-lies, but discipline yourself to live your life through, from, and to My Son, Jesus Christ. The thief came to live his ABANDONED LIFE in you, but My Son came to be the Medium in you, into whom I will deposit MY ABUNDANT LIFE.

FOR FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS. TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER!
(Romans 11:36).

Do you want to make the most of your life? Ask yourself, moment-by-moment, whether who you are is FROM God, and THROUGH God, and TO God. Stop believing everything you think, but take hold of the person you are and ask God to deposit His Abundant Life in you.

Do you want to make the most of a bad situation? Ask yourself, daily, whether what you believe about someone or something is FROM God, and THROUGH God, and TO God.  You can obtain this quality of life by not relying on your own perceptions, interpretations, or conclusions, but by actively asking God for His moment-by-moment Perspective.

Do you want to make the most of your purpose? Then, ask yourself, daily, whether what you do, at a given moment, is FROM God, and THROUGH God, and TO God, because the thief came to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you through his abandoned life, but the Lord Jesus came so you may have God’s abundant Life.

THE THIEF DOES NOT COME EXCEPT TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY. I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY
(John 10:10).

What percentage of your day do you live as an unwise person, entertaining perceptions about yourself and others that are not FROM God, THROUGH God, and TO God?

What percentage of your day do you live as a wise person, making sure that who you are and what you do is FROM God, THROUGH God, and TO God?

How might you make the most of every opportunity, from now on?

PRAYER: Lord God, to You be the glory, forever and ever, for TO You, and FROM You, and THROUGH You are all things…even my life.

SEE, I HAVE REFINED YOU, THOUGH NOT AS SILVER; I HAVE TESTED YOU IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION
(Isaiah 48:10).

I have a certain attitude towards emotional pain that helps me to cope with it.  When I have emotional pain, I deal with it by comparing it with something materialistic—something physical that helps me to identify it.  I become aware of its attributes, its intensity, and its resemblance to something else I know.

Sometimes, I identify my emotional pain as a distortion in my heart.  Other times, it feels like a heavy rock at the bottom of my heart.  Often, it feels like a stabbing knife that is sunk deeply into the tender tissues of my heart.  All of these images help me to identify the darkness that makes me feel so unloved and unlovable, so unaccepted and unacceptable, and so unworthy and unwanted.

After I have identified and named the pain, I invite the Presence and Participation of the Lord Jesus into each of these dark spots in my heart.

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).

Child, when you submit your emotional pain to Me, Jesus, the Son of God, I will remove the rock of hopelessness that sits at the bottom of your heart.  It is I who will pull out the knife of non-acceptance that causes the sharp pain of jealousy in your heart.  I am the One who will erase the distortion that causes you to stumble in confusion. I will do this, because nothing in creation is hidden from My sight…not even the pain that hides in the dark corners of your heart.

Know that each time you lay an image of emotional pain at Mt feet, I will turn My Light on in your heart.  Soon, everywhere in your heart, My Light will shine.  Then, your darkness will disappear, and you will be able to say, “I have been tested and refined in the furnace of affliction.”

BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(1 Corinthians 15:57).

How would you describe the pain in YOUR heart? After you have identified it, is there anything that is hindering you from giving it to God?

PRAYER: God of Glory, how good it is to know that nothing in all creation is hidden from Your sight. How encouraged I am to know that everything is uncovered and laid bare before Your eyes, even the deepest, darkest pain in the most hidden corners of my heart. I invite Your Presence and Participation into the stabbing pain of jealousy that fills me with torment, into the deep dungeons of despair that leaves me hopeless and helpless, and into the perplexing confusion that causes me to stumble around in darkness. May I be refined when I am tested in the furnace of affliction.

BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU
(Matthew 6:33).

In my life, I have discovered that it is so easy to become a representative of the father-of-lies’ kingdom: a spokesperson for his domain of lies…an advocate for his godlessness and wickedness.  I only need to offer him my will. All I need to do is ACCEPT AND ADOPT the thoughts he introduces on a moment-by-moment basis, and SUPPRESS THE TRUTH offered by the God of Truth, in opposition to these.

Precious One, you need to know that when you adopt a thought offered by the father-of-lies, you have MADE A DECISION to invite the father-of-lies to govern your life, at that moment.  You have placed your whole will under the authority of the father-of-lies and his kingdom.  You have MADE A DECISION to offer your spirit, soul, and body to him to kill, steal, and destroy.

MAN IS NOT FULLY CONDITIONED AND DETERMINED BUT RATHER DETERMINES HIMSELF WHETHER HE GIVES IN TO CONDITIONS OR STAND UP TO THEM.  IN OTHER WORDS, MAN IS ULTIMATELY SELF-DETERMINING.  MAN DOES NOT SIMPLY EXIST BUT ALWAYS DECIDES WHAT HIS EXISTENCE WILL BE, WHAT HE WILL BECOME IN THE NEXT MOMENT
(Victor E. Frankl).

On the other hand, when you turn the father-of-lies’ thoughts over to Me, the God of Truth, you have MADE A DECISION to invite Me to govern your life, at that moment. At that instant, you have placed your whole will under the authority of My Kingdom.  You have MADE A DECISION to offer your spirit, soul, and body to Me, the Most High. Because of your decision, My Truth, Love, and Hope will be revealed to you and through you to those around you.

THE WRATH OF GOD IS BEING REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL THE GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS OF MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH BY THEIR WICKEDNESS
(Romans 1:18).

I bless you to become a self-determining being. Don’t let anyone steal from your spirit, soul, and body. YOUR MOMENT-BY-MOMENT DECISIONS MATTER to the father-of-lies, to the God of Truth, to you, and to those around you.

What do you do with your daily thoughts?

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, help me to take my will back and become a self-determining being. Bring me to the place where I will stand up and embrace Your Truth for each situation in my life, instead of giving in to the negative, destructive beliefs of the father-of-lies. May I understand how important my decisions are, each day, each moment, whatever I do, wherever I go.