THIS IS THE VERDICT: LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, BUT MEN LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT
(John 3:19).

For some reason, it is hard for us to choose Light.  Sometimes, we walk in circles for days or weeks to avoid the Light.  We focus on the other person’s darkness, knowing very well that the darkness that fills our own hearts is far worse. We reason that if we could stay focused on the other person’s darkness, our own darkness could stay hidden just a little longer.  But, darkness is like quicksand—it pulls you in slowly…until you suffocate and drown.

SO LET US PUT ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT
(Romans 13:12).

Precious Child, you need to know that your enemy, the father-of-lies, will try to persuade you to stay in darkness, because from this painful place of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame he can manipulate you…control you…manage you. However, these negative, destructive beliefs will become irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you, wherever you are, whatever you do. Therefore, put aside the deeds of darkness and put on My Armor of Light. This will put ME in control of your heart and life…and drive the darkness out.

BUT IF YOU DO NOT DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND FROM BEFORE YOU, THEN IT SHALL BE THAT THOSE WHOM YOU LET REMAIN SHALL BE IRRITANTS IN YOUR EYES AND THORNS IN YOUR SIDES, AND THEY SHALL HARASS YOU IN THE LAND WHERE YOU DWELL
(Numbers 33:55).

This is how you might put aside your deeds of darkness and put on the Armor of Light: 

Stop playing mind games.  Be honest with yourself by looking at your own heart and calling a spade a spade.  Why are you really so upset?  Is it because you feel betrayed?  Is it because you feel overlooked?  Is it because you feel unloved?  Invite the Lord Jesus into the perturbing perceptions that comprise your darkness, and allow Him to show you His Perspective. His Light will drive your darkness out.

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, thank you that You have come so I may see.  I invite You to shine Your Light into the dark beliefs of abandonment, shame, rejection, and condemnation that dwell in my heart.  Break through the darkness, Lord, and bring me clarity, as I expose these beliefs to you.  Clothe me with Your Armor of Light, so You may be in control of my heart and life.

There is a saying that states, “It is all in the mind.”  Well, this happens to be true. Have you ever noticed that you tend to act out the beliefs that reside in your mind?  If your mind contains negative beliefs, you have negative emotions and destructive actions.  If your mind contains positive beliefs, you have positive emotions and constructive actions.  Your mind is a control center that affects your whole life: how you handle yourself, how you handle other people, and how you handle God.

THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE
(Romans 8:6).

Precious Child, think of a control tower at an airport.  It is the job of the air traffic controller to control the incoming and outgoing planes and tell them where to go.  He gives the planes permission to land and the pilots have to obey.  This ensures life and peace.

In the same way, I have sent My Holy Spirit to be the thoughts-and belief-traffic controller of your mind, giving permission to certain thoughts and beliefs to land, and others, to leave.  I, the Father, of whom are all things, want to be in charge of your life—what you believe, how you feel, and what you do. The result in your life will be Life and Peace.

FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND WE FOR HIM; AND ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE
(1 Corinthians 8:6).

The question is: Will you allow Me to be in charge of your mind through the Spirit of My Son, through whom are all things and through whom you will receive Life and Peace?

THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE SONS OF GOD
(Romans 8:14).

Who is in control of your mind—your own beliefs, or the Father, from whom are all things, and the Spirit of His Son, through whom are all things? Consider praying the following prayer, every morning, giving God’s Spirit authority to exercise restraining and directing influence over your mind and its beliefs.

PRAYER: Lord God, how encouraged I am that You are able to purify me through and through…even my mind.

Lord God, be the belief-controller of my mind.  In the same way an air traffic controller gives permission to planes to take off and land, I authorize Your Spirit to be in control of the beliefs that enter my mind, moment-by-moment.  Give permission to the pure beliefs of Truth to land, and command all negative beliefs to leave, so my life could be filled with Your Life and Peace.

MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Beautiful One, I, the God of Peace, yearn to purify you, through and through, all the way to your emotions.  But you need to know that your emotions do not stand alone; they are governed by what you believe—by what you accept as true or real in your own mind.  Have you noticed how often your emotions become hopeless, fearful, and bitter when you lean on your own understanding…when you depend on your own beliefs…when you rely on your own mind?

AND WE KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD IS COME, AND HATH GIVEN US AN UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM THAT IS TRUE, AND WE ARE IN HIM THAT IS TRUE, EVEN IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD, AND ETERNAL LIFE
(1 John 5:20).

Child, I want you to start living differently, even today. I want you to learn how to deal with your emotions.  Whenever you have an emotion that perturbs you, I want you to find the belief from the father-of-lies that supports that emotion. Know that the father-of-lies is constantly roaming around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour with his negative, destructive beliefs of abandonment, shame, rejection, and condemnation. He likes to plant these in your mind with the hope that you will receive, accept, and believe them.

But, I have sent Jesus, My Son, to bring you understanding, that you may know Him who is the Truth. If you submit the beliefs that support your perturbed emotions to Jesus, He who is the Truth will show you His Perspective. Then, your beliefs will change and your emotions will follow suit. You will receive a spirit of Power, and Love, and of a sound mind…and sound emotions.

FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND
(2 Timothy 1:7).

Do you have a sound mind? If not, how does your mind influence your emotions? Are you willing to receive a sound mind, even today?

Practice, every day, moment-by-moment to submit the perturbing beliefs in your mind to the Lord Jesus. Ask Him to bring His Truth into your mind, daily. Then, you will receive a sound mind…and sound emotions.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You have come to give us a sound mind—an understanding, so we may know You, who are the Truth.  Thank you that we may be in You, who are true, and that we may know the Truth for every negative, destructive belief from the father-of-lies that enters our mind. Enlighten my understanding, daily, O Lord, so I may receive a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, for a sound mind will generate sound emotions.

MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).

A few years ago I realized that my actions—the things I DO in life—were not so bad.  But on the inside—in my THOUGHT life—it was a different story.  That area looked more like a war zone.  Ugly thoughts “I am a failure…I am worthless…I am a victim” ravaged my mind, all the time.  Negative, belittling thoughts were running loose, everywhere, turning my mind into a battle zone.  The worst thing was…I believed everything I thought. But then, the Lord God had a Word with me:

LET THE WICKED FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS: AND LET HIM RETURN UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON
(Isaiah 55:7).

Beautiful Child, I can see that you have no peace in your thought life. I wish to change that. I wish to give you My Peace; but first, I need something from you.

Precious One, I want you to forsake your thoughts and return to Me.  Stop receiving, accepting, and believing the negative, destructive beliefs from the father-of-lies. Do not let these belittling commands from the evil one run loose in your mind, allowing them to influence your mind and injure your heart. Instead, take each thought captive and bring it before Me. If you do, I will have mercy upon you and sanctify you, through and through, spirit, soul, and body, with My Peace.

 AND WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST
(2 Corinthians 10:5).

What do your day-to-day thoughts look like? How do these thoughts influence your life—your emotions and behavior?

I urge you to keep your thoughts from running loose. Start catching each thought that causes you to feel bad, mad, or sad. Then, submit each one to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to exchange it for His Word of Truth to you.  With which thought do you want to start, today?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, today, I catch this thought that has been running loose in my mind, causing feelings of shame, condemnation, rejection, and abandonment in my heart. I submit it to Your Authority to be submissive to the Perfect Father’s Will.  Remove this thought from my mind and replace it with Your Word of Truth for me. Redeem my spirit, soul, and body from the damage this thought has caused in me, so I may be sanctified, through and through, by Your Peace.

BUT HE SAID TO ME, ‘MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.’ THEREFORE I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE GLADLY ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT CHRIST’S POWER MAY REST ON ME.
(2 Corinthians 12:9).

What are your weaknesses? What defense mechanisms do you employ when things go wrong in your life? Do you have the weakness of falling into depression when you feel hopeless?  Do you have the weakness of giving up when you feel disappointed?  Do you have the weakness of fiercely defending yourself when you feel attacked?

Precious Child, did you know that I am with you during your weaknesses? Did you know that the Power of My Son, Jesus, rests on you during your weaknesses? Did you know that it is during your weaknesses that I want to show you My Grace? Beloved, My Grace and Power are perfectly enough for you to overcome the lies of the father-of-lies, who is at work in you during your weaknesses.

NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, TO HIM BE GLORY
(Ephesians 3:20).

My Child, through My Son, I can do immeasurably more in your life than all you can ask or imagine, especially during your weaknesses. However, you need to come to Me. You need to tell Me how you feel and which oppressing beliefs from the father-of-lies are making you weak. Then, you need to listen to My Words for you. Through My Words you will receive My Power to overcome your weakness and to do My Will in your life.

Focus on your heart, and find the weaknesses that live in your character through the lies of the father-of-lies.  Stop hiding your weaknesses. Stop running from them. Stop blaming them on others. Stop trying to fix them.  Instead, claim and name them.

Then, expose these weaknesses to the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask Him to do immeasurably more than what you can do with them—to work His Power in you, so your weaknesses may be overcome.

PRAYER: I praise You, Perfect Father, that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to deal with any weakness I might have.  Lord Jesus, I cannot fix my weaknesses, nor does it help to run from them, or hide them.  They follow me wherever I go.  Therefore, I call them by name and lay them at Your feet. Work Your Power in me, to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine.  Cover my weaknesses with Your Grace, so they might be overcome. To You be Glory!