As many of you know by now, I am a Board Certified Pastoral
Counselor through the Board of Christian and Professional Pastoral Counselors,
completing a dual Doctorate: Doctorate of Ministry and Biblical Counseling. My
purpose in writing this Blog is to sound the alarm helping you to become aware
of the devils wiles.
The devil seeks who he can steal from, kill or destroy. He
does not come in to your life so that you will recognize him easily but often
comes as a subtle thought planted to lead you astray. The enemy deceives people so that they
actually believe the lies he plants... thinking they have truths when in
reality they are believing thoughts that are sent to misguide them and
hurt others in life. The Bible says that the serpent/devil is more subtle
than all the other creatures in the garden. God's Word also says we are to be as wise as
serpents but gentle as doves, not pushovers by the enemy but aware of his
deceptions.
The following story sadly is true, with names being withheld
and some facts changed, to protect the identity of the parties. Recently, I had
the opportunity to come to know a young woman with two children, who felt
she was being abused by her husband. After a few years of marriage to him, she
left him stating domestic violence/abuse. As a Pastoral Counselor versed in
Domestic Violence issues, verbal abuse etc I listened to her story
intently. I realized after talking with the husband and other close family
members and friends who knew each person well, that she was deceived. In fact,
she had committed adultery time after time using her perceived issues within herself
to justify her violation of her marital commitment and then abandonment of
the family.
The facts are that she had experienced some abusive violence
in her home as a child. She then
transferred these feelings of abuse to her husband, believing that he was
abusive like her family member had been when he was not, but quite the opposite.
He graciously forgave her marital infidelities and her abandonment of himself
and his children. He admitted that he was angry and hurt over her infidelities but
chose to stay in the marriage praying for God to do a work in his wife's heart and
soul.
The devil chooses those he can manipulate to destroy others.
He will use
misguided people with wounds to do his work. How do we not only defend ourselves against
such attacks but be on the offensive for those who are unaware of the devil's
schemes?
The Bible says that we are to put on the whole Armor of God,
to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee. God has also given us all authority over all
the power of the enemy. But what does that mean? The Armor of God is Jesus Christ, His
atonement that bought us victory.
Submitting ourselves to God means to surrender who we are, lining up our
lives with His Word, His promises... in other words, loving Him with all our
heart, soul, mind and strength.
When Jesus left, He did not leave us as orphans but sent the
Holy Spirit to guide us in to all truth.
As we yield ourselves to God's Word, keeping Him as our priority He says
that He will direct our paths. He will never
leave nor forsake us, nor will He leave us alone to fight the enemy by ourselves,
but has made us more than conquerors.
The next time you hear "gossip" or negativity
about someone, be sure to see the truth through God's Word, not passing on the
information but praying for the parties involved. As for yourself, stay close
to Jesus, seek him with your whole heart, trust Him, stay in fellowship with a
body of believers who are centered in God's Word, stay in His Word for Him to
reveal truths to any wounds you may have and learn to recognize the enemies
lies as he tries to plant them in you.
As for the woman with the issues, she is still living in
deception, refusing to hear truths, seeks out only those who will agree with
her about the lies she believes, has hardened her heart, continues to spread
lies about her former husband and is a self proclaimed domestic violence
spokesperson. This is so sad, as she
will lead many others astray through her deception, while she will not experience
Christ's healing for herself. As for the
husband, he is living a productive life centered in Christ and has
received healing through godly counseling.
What you do with this story is up to you... but the truth is
that you must guard your heart and your mind.
Choose who and what you listen to.
Accept the devils evil thoughts or choose Christ's abundant life. In all things pray, give grace and yes,
love.
In Christ,
Pastor Sandy
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