Rejected

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

Temptations are all about WORDS…and what we DO with these WORDS.

The Two Counsels
September 01

Take Hold of That for which Jesus Took Hold of You

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BUT I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME
(Philippians 3:12).

Has the Lord Jesus taken hold of you?  Have you taken hold of Him?  He bought you salvation from your OLD SELF: from your Bad ME, your Despicable ME, your Victim ME, and your Orphan ME.  Have you taken hold of that?  He came to nail your beliefs “I am bad; I am fatally flawed; I am not wanted; I am forsaken” to the cross, so you may be freed from the effects of these beliefs on your heart.  Have you taken hold of that?

PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! IN HIS GREAT MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD
(1 Peter 1:3).

Recognize that there is a Living Hope available to you, moment-by-moment: a dynamic, effective Living Hope for your despair, a functional, invigorating Living Hope for your fear, a powerful, rejuvenating Living Hope for your depression and grief.  Have you taken hold of that?

JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME
(John 14:6).

Precious One, I, the Lord Jesus, want to show you the way to feel wanted, loved, accepted, and approved, but you need to take hold of Me, so I may lead you there. I, Jesus, want to tell you the Truth about who you are and who I am, but you need to take hold of Me, moment-by-moment, without giving up.  I, Jesus, am offering you My Life, so you may have a life, but you need to take hold of Me, just the way you are.

MAY YOU REALIZE THAT JESUS TOOK HOLD OF YOU

SO THAT YOU MAY TAKE HOLD OF HIM!

Have you taken hold of that for which the Lord Jesus has taken hold of you?

Why don’t you start today? Invite Him into your OLD SELF: into your Bad ME, Despicable ME, Victim ME, and Orphan ME that live in your heart. Embrace the feelings that live there. Expose the beliefs that keep these feelings alive. Ask the Lord Jesus to exchange these OLD SELF characters for His Self. He will give you HIS LIFE, in the place of yours.

PRAYER:  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You have taken hold of me. Today, I take hold of You. I invite You into my heart to become a dynamic, rejuvenating Living Hope for me, moment-by-moment. Lead me to the place where I will know who You are and who I am. Become a new way for me—a Way of Truth and Hope and Life.

Maintain an Awareness

We now have a moment-by-moment choice: to live our daily lives the way we always have, under the reign of the OLD MAN, or to allow the Lord Jesus to live His NEW MAN Life is us.

The Two Counsels
August 31

Your Decisions Matter

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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.

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
August 30

Ambassadors for Christ

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WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
(2 Corinthians 5:20).

It is so easy to be a representative of my own kingdom…a spokesperson of my own domain…an advocate of my own possessions.

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

I bless you to become an ambassador for Christ—
a representative of your Perfect Father’s Kingdom.

May your body become available to Christ, through which someone may experience
the Dwelling Place of Jesus.

May your hands become available to Christ, through which someone may experience
the Kindness of Jesus.

May your mouth become available to Christ, through which someone may experience
the Gentleness of Jesus.

May your feet become available to Christ, through which someone may experience
the Presence of Jesus.

THY KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM,
AND THY DOMINION ENDURETH THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS
(Psalm 145:13).

May your mind and heart be available to Christ, through which you may experience
Jesus as the Truth, the Way, and the Life.

May your will and desires be available to Christ, through which you may experience
the Obedience of Jesus towards His Father.

God’s Kingdom lasts forever!

Of whom are you an ambassador: your Self or the Lord Jesus? In other words, who lives in you and through you: your Self or the Lord Jesus?

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, establish Your Self in my mind, my heart, my will, my desires, my nature, and my whole body, so I may become Your ambassador in everything I think, say and do…and in everything I am.

Maintain an Awareness

Woe to us, the rebellious children, when we take counsel from the father-of-lies, and when we cover ourselves with coverings that are not from God. We will add sin to sin.

The Two Counsels
August 25

Be Silent When You Are Dishonored

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WHEN HE WAS ACCUSED BY THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS, HE GAVE NO ANSWER. THEN PILATE ASKED HIM, ‘DON’T YOU HEAR THE TESTIMONY THEY ARE BRINGING AGAINST YOU?’ BUT JESUS MADE NO REPLY, NOT EVEN TO A SINGLE CHARGE—TO THE GREAT AMAZEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR
(Matthew 27:12-14).

Have you ever been accused…incriminated…denounced?  Have you ever been treated with disrespect, dishonor, and disgrace?  Jesus has…and He made no reply!

HE WAS OPPRESSED, AND HE WAS AFFLICTED, YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH
(Isaiah 53:7).

Jesus was afflicted, yet He said no word.  He was oppressed, yet He was silent.

FATHER, IF YOU ARE WILLING, TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME; YET NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE DONE
(Luke 22:42).

When Jesus was accused, oppressed, and afflicted, He did not defend Himself in anger.  He did not argue and try to prove Himself valid.  The only thing that was important to Jesus was to do the Will of the Perfect Father. Therefore, He remained silent.

GOD SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS
(Galatians 4:6).

I remember one time when I felt disrespected and dishonored by someone and vehemently reacted, in offense.  As a result, I was unavailable to God to use me to reach this person’s heart, later.  All that mattered to me at the time was “to take this cup from me.”  I did not care about the Father’s Will.  However, another time, when I felt dishonored, I kept silent and offered the pain of being disrespected, to God.  A month later, God used me to bring His Good News to the same person who had disgraced me, before. This time, I allowed the Father’s Will to be done in my life.

I bless you to know that God sent the Spirit of His Son, who kept quiet when He was accused, into your heart.  May you allow Jesus to respond through you with silence when someone accuses and disrespects you, so that the Will of the Perfect Father may be done through you.

How do you respond to disrespect: do you react vehemently…or do you keep silent?

Why do you respond this way?

PRAYER:  Sovereign God, come and live Your Life in me, Your Love in me, Your Light in me, Your Faith in me, and Your Power in me, so Your Will may be done in and through 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

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Accused Bitter Rejected

August 23

When You Surrender, God Will Accept

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I live a life of surrender—surrendering every thought that enters my mind and every feeling that enters my heart to God.  I do this every day of my life…no exceptions—thoughts of fear, doubt, disappointment, guilt, shame, rejection, and abandonment.

THAT YOU MAY STAND PERFECT AND COMPLETE IN ALL THE WILL OF GOD
(Colossians 4:12).

Sometimes, when I try to yield something or someone to God, the father-of-lies would tell me that I am not surrendering in a way that is acceptable to God—that God would not accept my surrender, unless I do it perfectly.

Today, I want you to know that there is no wrong way to surrender anything or anyone to God.  He will accept and guard what you have entrusted Him, even if you do not submit someone or something to Him in a perfect way. He understands your heart. He knows what you are trying to do, even if you don’t. He will fill in the gaps for you—the thoughts you forgot to mention, the words you neglected to say, and the feelings you did not even know you had.

THEREFORE, BROTHERS, SINCE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY OPENED FOR US THROUGH THE CURTAIN, THAT IS, HIS BODY, AND SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH A SINCERE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH
(Hebrews 10:19-22).

I bless you to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of the Lord Jesus.  Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance that He accepts what you entrust Him, even when it feels so unreal and unacceptable.  Enter boldly into the Presence of the Most High with a heart fully trusting Him, for He has never forsaken those who seek Him.

THOSE WHO KNOW YOUR NAME WILL TRUST IN YOU, FOR YOU, LORD, HAVE NEVER FORSAKEN THOSE WHO SEEK YOU
(Psalm 9:10).

Do you sometimes struggle to find the right words, the right feelings, and the right thoughts to surrender to God?

Get as close to your feelings, words, and thoughts as you can. Then, lay these down at the feet of the Lord Jesus, in full assurance of faith.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I lay my feelings, thoughts, and words down at Your feet. Redeem them, my Lord, and show me Your Truth. Fill in the parts that I missed. You know what I need.

Maintain an Awareness

We do not understand what is going on within us and we are too afraid to find out. We are too afraid to live…and even more afraid to die.

The Two Counsels
August 18

Let Light Shine out of Darkness

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BUT IF YOUR EYE IS BAD, YOUR WHOLE BODY WILL BE FULL OF DARKNESS. IF THEREFORE THE LIGHT THAT IS IN YOU IS DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS!
(Matthew 6:23).

Is the light that is in you darkness? How great must your darkness be, then! I know how this darkness feels. It used to live in my mind and my heart, too, in the form of the OLD MAN—the set of oppressing beliefs “I am guilty!”  I learned that this darkness could not be improved. It had to be replaced…with the NEW MAN, Jesus Christ. When He knocked the OLD MAN in my heart off its throne and took its place, the darkness in me was replaced with the Light that shone from the Person of the Lord Jesus, the NEW MAN. Any darkness that tried to come into me, after that, was overcome by the Light in me.

THEREFORE TAKE HEED THAT THE LIGHT WHICH IS IN YOU IS NOT DARKNESS
(Luke 11:35).

Beloved, if you live from the dark core of guilt, everything in you and everything around you will be covered in darkness, too. When you live in the set of negative, destructive beliefs of the OLD MAN: “I am guilty!” your eye will be bad, too. Since the light that is shining from you is guilt, you will see everything and everyone through the lenses of condemnation, abandonment, rejection, and shame.

If your eye is contaminated with speckles of abandonment and rejection, you will look at everything through the lenses of feeling alone, unprotected, and overlooked.  If your eye is polluted with blotches of condemnation, you will experience everything and everybody through the lenses of feeling doomed, wronged, and incriminated.  If your eye is smeared with streaks of shame, you will view everything and everyone through the lenses of shortcoming and impropriety.

FOR GOD, WHO SAID, ‘LET LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS’ MADE HIS LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS TO GIVE US THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF CHRIST
(2 Corinthians 4:6).

But, there is Hope. There is Light. My name is Jesus Christ. I will knock the OLD MAN of guilt that lives in your heart off its throne, and take its place as the NEW MAN…if you invite Me in. When I live in your heart, the light that is in you is My Light. It is the Light of a Person. My Presence will shine on everything in you and everything around you. You will feel like a new person with a new eye. Instead of seeing condemnation, abandonment, shame, and rejection, you will see and experience My Hope, My Love, and My Truth in you and around you.

If the light that is in you is Light, how blessed you are. You have submitted the dark core of guilt in you to the Lord Jesus…to be replaced with His Person and His Light.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, come into my heart as a Person and replace the guilt that is in me with Your Light, so I may live in Your Light and experience Your Hope, Your Love, and Your Truth.

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
August 17

God Loves to Reward Us

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ANYONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM
(Hebrews 11:6).

The Perfect Father loves to reward us—to reward us with His Presence.  I have come face to face with His Truth when I felt lost.  I have experienced His Wisdom when I felt confused.  I have tasted His Love when I felt forsaken.  I have drunk from His streams of Living Water when I felt pushed aside.  I have received His abundant Life when I felt depressed.  I have witnessed His Light in my darkness.  I have seen His transforming Power in my weakness. But, I had to invite Him into my heart with all its feelings and beliefs, first, before I was able to see, hear, and experience His rewards. I had to lift my eyes up to the Hills.

‘BECAUSE HE LOVES ME,’ SAYS THE LORD, ‘I WILL RESCUE HIM; I WILL PROTECT HIM, FOR HE ACKNOWLEDGES MY NAME.  HE WILL CALL UPON ME, AND I WILL ANSWER HIM; I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE, I WILL DELIVER HIM AND HONOR HIM.  WITH LONG LIFE WILL I SATISFY HIM AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION’
(Psalm 91:14-16).

Precious One, I, the Most High, want to be your God. I want to reveal My Presence to you when you are in trouble.  I want to deliver you when you feel hopeless, helpless, and powerless.  I want to honor you.  I want to rescue you from the darkness that came to destroy you. I want to protect you from evil.  I want to talk to you. But, you need to call upon Me.  You need to invite Me into YOUR heart with all its feelings and beliefs, first, in order to see, hear, and experience the rewards I have for you. You need to lift your eyes up to the Hills.

 IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
(Romans 8:31).

Believe that all these rewards and many more await you…if you lift your eyes up to the Hills.

I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS—FROM WHENCE COMES MY HELP? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR FOOT TO BE MOVED
(Psalm 121:1-3).

What do you need from God: Wisdom, Righteousness, Love, Hope, Truth, Comfort, Power, Life, or Light?

Lift your eyes up to the Hills. Invite God’s Presence and Participation into your sadness, your despair, your loss, and your trouble. He will come into your heart and perform a miracle. He will conquer the evil that is trying to destroy you. He will reward you with His Presence.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I lift my eyes up to the Hills—to You who made Heaven, and earth…and me. I invite You into my heart with all its feelings and beliefs. Come and rescue me. Come and protect me. Come and deliver 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
August 11

The Meaning of Temptation

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Be reminded that sin is not something mysterious…something unexplainable…something unknowable.  Sin is not just something that happens to you.  Sin is explainable.  Sin has a purpose.  Sin is the father-of-lies’ solutions to escape the heartache his painful beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame cause in your heart. 

Know that the father-of-lies is constantly tempting you to adopt his solutions of distraction and destruction to ease your heartache.  The father-of-lies is continually enticing you to do what is wrong.  The father-of-lies is incessantly luring you into harmful habits and patterns that point you away from God’s solutions.

BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM
(James 1:12).

I bless you to stand firm when the father-of-lies invites you to adopt his sinful solutions for your heartache.  Understand that his answers to your heartache cause harm…ruin…loss, because his solutions are counterfeit.  In fact, his sinful solutions are only enticements to keep you away from experiencing God’s saving solutions of Life.

NO TEMPTATION HAS SEIZED YOU EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MAN. AND GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT
(1 Corinthians 10:13).

Capture that the temptations from the enemy are explainable.  Celebrate that the enticements of the father-of-lies are surmountable.  Be encouraged that the allurements of the evil one are endurable. Realize that Jesus stands ready with the real solution to your heartache of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame…if you would only turn to Him for the answer.  He will redeem you from the grip of the terrible and bless you with the crown of His Life.

I WILL DELIVER YOU FROM THE HAND OF THE WICKED, AND I WILL REDEEM YOU FROM THE GRIP OF THE TERRIBLE
(Jeremiah 15:21).

How do YOU deal with temptations—when the father-of-lies lures you to adopt his sinful solutions of distraction and destruction to ease your heartache of abandonment, shame, rejection, and condemnation?

What would it take for you to turn to the Lord Jesus, so He may redeem you from the grip of the terrible and show you His solutions of Life?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, bring me to the place where I will endure temptation and wait for Your solutions, instead of following the father-of-lies into his solutions of distraction and destruction.

Maintain an Awareness

Since the beginning of our lives, the OLD MAN beliefs of abandonment, shame, condemnation, and rejection have been firmly planted in our minds and hearts by the father-of-lies.

The Two Counsels
August 10

The Meaning of Sin

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HE WHO SINS IS OF THE DEVIL, FOR THE DEVIL HAS SINNED FROM THE BEGINNING
(1 John 3:8).

For the longest time of my life, I never knew the meaning of sin.  Sin seemed to be something mysterious…something unexplainable…SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.  I was aware that I felt wrong inside and did wrong deeds, but I never really understood WHY.

Then, I came to understand that sin is explainable—THAT SINFUL DEEDS SERVE A PURPOSE.  Sin is the father-of-lies’ solutions to escape heartache. It is what we do when we hurt inside, so we might feel better.

You see, sin does not stand alone.  It does not happen by itself.  It sits on a pillar of beliefs suggested by the father-of-lies.  These beliefs hurt.  They suggest that you have been abandoned by certain people and by God.  They propose that you are unacceptable to certain people and to God.  They offer the belief that you are nothing but a being of shame to certain people and to God.

However, the father-of-lies is craftier than that.  Not only does he suggest the beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame to you, but also the solutions to the heartache these cause—SIN.  After he introduces the hurtful beliefs to your mind, he offers solutions of distraction and destruction—SIN.  After the father-of-lies plants his painful beliefs in your heart, he entices you to do what is wrong to dull the pain—SIN.

FOR THIS PURPOSE THE SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL
(1 John 3:8).

I bless you to know that Jesus, the Son of God, was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the father-of-lies.  Jesus came to offer a different solution to escape the heartache of the father-of-lies’ painful belief—HIS SELF.  Instead of turning to solutions of distraction and destruction to ease your heartache, you can turn to Jesus and ask Him to take away the pain in your heart.  Instead of turning to SIN as a solution to the father-of-lies’ beliefs, you can accept Jesus’ solutions of Truth, Hope, and Love for your beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame.

Which sinful habits and patterns have you adopted through-out your life, in order to escape the pain in your heart? Take a moment and find out why you have adopted these sinful patterns in your life. To which negative, destructive beliefs from the father-of-lies are you reacting? What are you going to do about this?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I invite You to be manifested in my heart, so You may destroy the works of the father-of-lies—the beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame that are causing me to sin.

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