Guilty

October 10

The Guilt of Experiencing Pain

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Sin does not stand alone.  It does not happen by itself.  It sits on a pillar of beliefs, suggested by the father-of-lies: beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame.  Understand that these beliefs cause anguish: anger, animosity, jealousy, fear, disappointment, confusion, guilt, and despair.  Know that these painful emotions are interconnected with the disheartening beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame. You do not experience one without the other. They are both part of the OLD MAN, the body of sin that came to live its life in each of us.

 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).

I used to feel very guilty whenever I experienced painful emotions in my heart.  I always thought these painful emotions of anger, animosity, jealousy, fear, disappointment, and despair rendered me bad; therefore, I concluded that I had to flee from them as soon as possible.  I did not know that these painful emotions were merely an indication that a negative, destructive OLD MAN belief, planted in my heart by the father-of-lies, was being triggered. What a revelation it was when I realized it was not the PAIN in my heart, but my REACTION to it, that rendered me sinful.

THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES
(Romans 6:12).

Blessed One, be patient when your heart is aching. Do not react to your pain. Do not hide from it, run away from it, or blame it on someone else. If you do, this will cause sin to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Instead, cry out to Me, Jesus, your Savior. Find the negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs that are associated with these painful emotions in your heart. Then, ask Me to crucify these beliefs for you. I will answer you by setting you free.

IN MY ANGUISH I CRIED TO THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERED BY SETTING ME FREE
(Psalm 118:5).

What will you do with the current pain in your heart: will you react to it sinfully…or will you submit it to the Lord Jesus?

Did you know that your painful emotions are not really a result of your circumstances, but a result of the negative beliefs, instilled in your mind by the father-of-lies? Your pain serves as a temptation to obey the father-of-lies…or as an opportunity to surrender to God. Which one will it be for you?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that You came to set me free from the OLD MAN, the body of sin that came to reign in me through its negative, destructive beliefs and its associated emotions. Call me to You whenever I feel like reacting to these painful emotions, Lord Jesus. Crucify the OLD MAN in me, so the body of sin in me might be destroyed.

Maintain an Awareness

How much of our misbehavior sprouts from trying to PROVE that we are acceptable, worthy, loved, and wanted, because the OLD MAN character, conveniently formed in us by the father-of-lies, christened us unacceptable, unworthy, unloved, and unwanted?

The Two Counsels
October 09

The New Is Here

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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.

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
October 06

Grace Abounds More

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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.

Maintain an Awareness

And after we have sucked others empty and they have nothing more to give, we turn to distraction and destruction to ease the excruciating pain that oozes from our hearts…because we still believe we do not matter.

The Two Counsels
October 01

Treat the Person, NOT the Problem

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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.

Maintain an Awareness

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

The Two Counsels
September 28

Judge Nothing before the Time

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THEREFORE JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, UNTIL THE LORD COME, WHO BOTH WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS, AND WILL MAKE MANIFEST THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS: AND THEN SHALL EVERY MAN HAVE PRAISE OF GOD
(1 Corinthians 4:5).

How often have I judged something or someone at face value, just to find out later that things were not at all what they seemed.  I remember one incident where I deemed a certain person strong, confident, and victorious.  I found out later that this person was actually very weak and deeply unhappy.  Things were not what they seemed.

 I CARE VERY LITTLE IF I AM JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY HUMAN COURT; INDEED, I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF
(1 Corinthians 4:3).

Child, you need to know that things are not what they seem.  In fact, what you perceive as the truth might be the exact opposite of what I, the Most High, consider as Truth. You might perceive yourself as guilty and bad, but why don’t you ask Me for My Opinion? When I make manifest the counsel of your heart, My Viewpoint might surprise you. You might consider yourself low, lost, and last, but why don’t you receive My Input? When I bring to light the hidden things of darkness, My Perception might blow your mind. You might have concluded, over time, that you have nobody who cares about you, but why don’t you allow Me to give you My Perspective? My Impression about your situation might amaze you and persuade you to judge nothing before the time.

BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, ‘DO NOT CONSIDER HIS APPEARANCE OR HIS HEIGHT, FOR I HAVE REJECTED HIM. THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS MAN LOOKS AT.  MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART’
(1 Samuel 16:7).

The father-of-lies will paint a negative, destructive picture of a certain person in your mind to set you up against that person. This picture will instill fear, hatred, and jealousy in you. This will cause harm to you and the person involved. But, if you bring this picture to the Lord Jesus, He will show you His Perspective, for the Lord does not look at the things we look at. We look at the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart.

So, the next time you want to judge something or someone, including yourself…DON’T!  Things are not what they seem. Only God knows the Truth. Ask him for His Opinion.

Whom have you judged at face value, recently? What has your conclusion been?

Are you willing to submit this conclusion to God and ask Him for His Perspective? If you do, it will change your attitude about the person you judged.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make known the counsels of the heart, because I desire to live by Your Truth.

Maintain an Awareness

The defense mechanism of blaming has been with us since the beginning of time.

The Two Counsels
September 27

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

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THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE. THEREFORE, WHEN YOUR EYE IS GOOD, YOUR WHOLE BODY ALSO IS FULL OF LIGHT. BUT WHEN YOUR EYE IS BAD, YOUR BODY ALSO IS FULL OF DARKNESS
(Luke 11:34).

A lie comes into our minds in the form of a picture—a spiritual picture. This picture is painted by the father-of-lies. After he has painted one of his pictures in our minds, he uses it to control us. He controls us, from the outside, through a spiritual mind picture, on the inside. The Bible calls this DECEPTION. When we look at these spiritual mind pictures, in detail, we find out that each one tells a story. These stories are false. They are made up of lies. If we live according to these spiritual pictures the father-of-lies painted in our minds, we become his slaves. We think the thoughts he wants us to think, do the deeds he wants us to do, and become the person he wants us to be.

LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER
(Psalm 19:14).

Beloved Child, I want you to know, today, that I, the Most High, DID something about these spiritual mind pictures and the false stories they tell. I sent you the TRUTH. His name is Jesus. Did you know that My Son, Jesus, can do something that nobody else can do…not even you? Jesus can walk into your mind picture and exchange it for a different one. The father-of-lies’ pictures will tell you that you are alone, that you do not have what it takes, that you are the bad guy, and that you are not wanted. If you invite Jesus, who is the Truth, into your mind picture, He will remove it and put His own Picture in its place. He will use this new Picture to tell you how HE feels about you. This new spiritual Picture will set you free. It will show you, in your own mind, that you are NOT alone, that you DO have what it takes, that you are NOT bad, and that you ARE wanted. But, in order for this exchange to take place, you need to invite the Truth into the spiritual mind pictures that the father-of-lies has painted, first.

FOR HIS EYES ARE ON THE WAYS OF MAN, AND HE SEES ALL HIS STEPS. THERE IS NO DARKNESS NOR SHADOW OF DEATH WHERE THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY MAY HIDE THEMSELVES
(Job 34:21-22).

What do you do with the spiritual mind pictures that live in your mind? Do you believe and obey the stories they tell? How does this affect your life? Would you like to change? Then, you need to start living according to different spiritual mind pictures, called the Truth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I invite You into the spiritual pictures that live in my mind. Come and replace them with Your own Picture—the Truth.

Maintain an Awareness

When you pray and lay your problem before God, give Him the freedom to answer you in any way He wants to, according to His great Mercy and Grace. Push your own preconceived answers aside. Then, HIS Answer will enter your mind and heart.

The Two Counsels
September 10

FROM God, and THROUGH God, and TO God

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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.

Maintain an Awareness

Discipline, the training to enter God’s Holiness, cannot be exercised AFTER we have already entered a route of escape to resort to a sinful solution.

The Two Counsels
September 07

Name the Pain

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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.

Maintain an Awareness

God wants you to desire a purpose from Him, because He has a purpose that He has been saving just for you.

The Two Counsels
September 05

A New Befitting Heart

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

Realize that there is an OLD MAN living his life inside each one of us: an agglomeration of negative, destructive beliefs, instilled in our minds by the father-of-lies.  These OLD MAN beliefs of abandonment, failure, and defilement grouped together to form a Deserted ME, a Defiled ME, a Deprived ME, and a Defeated ME in each of us, since childhood.

KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE; FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE
(Proverbs 4:23).

Understand that the father-of-lies shaped these OLD MAN personalities in you for a reason.  Through the Deserted ME, Defiled ME, Deprived ME, and Defeated ME, he placed in you an ally through which he can control you from the inside out, breaking your heart with belittling beliefs: “You are inept; You are improper; You are offensive.”  He knows that your heart is the wellspring of life—whatever it believes will make or break you.

I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN YOU; I WILL REMOVE FROM YOU YOUR HEART OF STONE AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH
(Ezekiel 36:26).

I bless you to believe that the Lord Jesus came to remove your OLD MAN personalities, with their heart-breaking beliefs, to give you a new heart with new beliefs. He came to dwell in your heart, by faith, for He knows that out of your heart flow the issues of life.

THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH
(Ephesians 3:17).

How have the OLD MAN personalities of the Deserted ME, Defiled ME, Deprived ME, and Defeated ME broken your heart?

Do you want to stop living your life under the influence of these OLD MAN personalities? Then, find the beliefs that are keeping these characters alive in your heart and submit them to the Lord Jesus. He will give you a new heart with new beliefs.

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of my salvation. I praise You for what You have done to save me from the OLD MAN personalities of the Orphan ME, Bad ME, Victim ME, and Despicable ME that broke my heart. I realize that my heart is the wellspring of my life, Lord God. Therefore, I submit the accusatory beliefs from the father-of-lies that have torn my heart to pieces, to You. Create in me a new heart with new beliefs, my God, so You may dwell in my heart by faith.

Maintain an Awareness

How much of our misbehavior sprouts from trying to PROVE that we are acceptable, worthy, loved, and wanted, because the OLD MAN character, conveniently formed in us by the father-of-lies, christened us unacceptable, unworthy, unloved, and unwanted?

The Two Counsels
September 04

The Two Fathers

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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).

I urge you to be careful how you live.  Make the most of every opportunity.  Know that the father-of-lies wishes to feed you his bad counsel, during every opportunity, so you may serve him.  Do not live as unwise…but as wise.

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

Understand that the father-of-lies uses every opportunity to get you to live FROM him, and THROUGH him, and TO him.  He came to take the place of God in your life, to live in your own Self-nature, from his own counsel.

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).

Realize that nothing good lives in your sinful Self-nature, because it lives under the authority of the wrong counsel. It does not submit to God’s Counsel. Instead, it has its mind set to live FROM the father-of-lies, THROUGH the father-of-lies, and TO the father-of-lies.

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
(Romans 8:5).

I bless you to understand that the Perfect Father sent His Son, Jesus, to make a new Nature available to you—the Nature of the Spirit of God, who lives according to God’s Counsel.  Therefore, those living in accordance with the Nature of the Spirit of God have their minds set on what the Spirit desires: to live FOR the Lord Jesus, THROUGH the Lord Jesus, and TO the Lord Jesus.  They give honor to the Perfect Father, and the father-of-lies has no hold on them.

From and to and through whom do you live: the Perfect Father…or the father-of-lies? How can you tell?

PRAYER:  Perfect Father, I desire to live my life from You, and to You, and through You; therefore, help me to set my mind on what Your Spirit desires from me, and not what my own Self-nature desires. May I choose, moment-by-moment, to listen to the Counsel of Your Spirit, so I may live my life wisely, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

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