Category: Breaking Down Strongholds

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Control The Inner Words

[5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

As I continue this journey of growth and self-awareness, I found that words aren’t as important as I once held them to be. Let me explain. See, I felt like if I just kept my mouth shut and didn’t speak, then that was enough. But you know what I didn’t take into account? My thoughts. See, our thoughts are direct connector between our words/actions and our hearts. Out of our hearts come all things. So, even though my words were being kept in check, my thoughts weren’t being as regulated.

My thoughts allowed for bitterness, resentment, rejection, anger, depression, and anxiety to not only dwell inside of me, but to grow. Why? Because I allowed the thoughts that I’ve been wronged to continue. Thoughts aren’t just insignificant, as Daddy puts it thoughts are words you say to yourself. And he’s right. We’re quicker to check the words coming out of our mouths, rather than the ones coming into our minds. In fact, the thoughts of mankind was the reason for the flood. Now, I know it’s popular to believe that the flood was because of the angels and women having children and the Nephilim, but the Bible never once says that. In fact, it specifically tells us why the LORD flooded the earth.

[5]  The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. [7] So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”

Genesis 6:5-7 ESV/NIV

It was the thoughts that come out of the heart. It wasn’t the actions. It wasn’t the words. It was the thoughts. Your thoughts are a direct reflection of your heart. Why? Because it’s more honest than your mouth. Our words can be good sounding, but they have no meaning behind them, so they are meaningless.

[8] These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. [9]  They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.

Matthew 15:8-9 NIV

Our thoughts are more of a reflection of who we are than our words, because our words people can hear and judge, so we will filter. Our thoughts, however, aren’t as filtered because we know no one else hears them, but us. But this is a false feeling of security because even though no one else can hear our thoughts, our soul and our spirit hear our thoughts. And those words directly impact them for either good or evil. For either building up or destruction. So, we must take Paul’s words to heart and put them into action because

[37] … in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:37 NIV

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Control The Inner Words.

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Let God Live

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20NIV

Lately, I’ve been trying a new approach at life. I’ve been letting go of me, and welcoming in more of God. In other words, I’ve been putting up more of a fight to allow Christ to live through me, instead of allowing my flesh, feelings, emotions, etc. to dictate my life. Now, this is much easier said than done, but it has been working significantly in my life.

When things would become difficult and overwhelming the screams of “give up” “you can’t do it” “you’ll never succeed” used to blare so loud I could only panic and give up. Or when I was hurt shouts of “you’re never good enough” “no one cares about you” “you’ll never be enough” “no one really loves you” would get so loud depression would begin to sink in. Now, I simply pause.

I take a moment no matter where I’m at. No matter what I’m doing and I just pause. In that pause, I refuse to listen to any voice, and I just pray. I lift up that exact situation and my exact feelings to God and pray for peace. Throughout my day, I sing worship songs to keep me in a state of worship. When I feel anger or resentment begin to try to grab a hold of me I pause, breathe, and remind myself that this life isn’t mine. I was bought by a price. It’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives through me. Therefore, if I have been wronged, Christ will defend me. Christ will vindicate me. My role is to simply forgive and keep going.

This hasn’t been an easy journey to get to a place where I feel genuine joy, even in stressful and overwhelming situations, but it has been a journey that is worth it. Each day, I wake up laying my whole life in the hands of God. I lift up things I’m stressed about before Him, and I leave it there at His feet. When it wants to try to stress me out because it hasn’t happened yet, I tell myself, no, God hasn’t failed me yet, so He won’t fail me now. And I keep moving. Every night, I thank Him for His mercies and His grace. I thank Him for all that He has done for me. Then I lay each and everything weighing me down, and I lay it at His feet. And then I just allow His love and His peace to consume me as I drift off into sleep.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let God Live.

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Forgive A Pawn

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ~ Ephesians 6:11-13CSB

I heard someone say that we can’t live our lives being right because the more right you are, the more miserable you’ll be. Now, on its own out of context, that sounds crazy, but once in context, it’s quite profound. See, he explained that when we focus on the physical person hurting us and causing us pain, we begin to blame that person and bitterness, anger, resentment build up inside of us, Now, not only are we carrying the heavy load of pain, now we’re also carrying around the chains of anger, resentment, rejection, bitterness, etc. All of these things weigh us down and cause us more pain as well as cause us to the cause of someone else’s pain. This can cause a domino effect, which often leads to generational curses. So, what can we do?

This wise man said we had to look past the physical person causing us pain, and see the spiritual being behind it, Satan. Yes, you’re right in saying this person has done this to me and that to me, They’ve treated me like this and treated me like that. Yes, you’re right, but the more right you are the more hold them to that debt) the more pain you’ll feel inside, So, the more right you are, the more miserable you’ll be, So, what do we do?

We look past the physical and into the spiritual. When we do that, we’ll realize something, each and every human soul on this earth is a pawn for one of two kingdoms: Jesus’ kingdom or Satan’s kingdom, Each move we make is influenced by one of the other, If we were to look beyond the physical and into the spiritual, we would see the person causing us the pain is being influenced and ultimately moved by Satan. When we truly understand, believe, and accept this truth, we will be able to forgive the person who has wronged us. This will allow us to heal, take off our heavy oppressive chains, and find peace as we dwell in love.

Dear LORD, You see the hurt in my soul and oppression that keeps me enchained in the past. Please, LORD, open my eyes that I might see and my mind that I might understand the true being behind my pain isn’t the physical person who has hurt me, but Satan, who came down in great wrath and now prowls seeking some to devour. Please heal my heart as I forgive the person who has been used by Satan. Please be with me always guiding my every move so I won’t be devoured by the enemy. In Jesus’ name,
I pray, amen.

Please repeat this declaration after prayer:

I forgive you [insert name here] for [insert wrong doing here]. I release you from this debt and choose to cancel it just as Christ canceled mine. I forgive you. I know and understand you are being used by the enemy, but I no longer will be. I forgive you.

Now this won’t be the last time you battle thoughts about this. The enemy will try to attack your mind with these thoughts until you have fully forgiven the person who has wronged you and completely let go of the hurt.

So, every time Satan tries to remind you of the wrong doing, stop the thought immediately and remind yourself who the true enemy is behind it all, forgiveness and peace may not come overnight, but they will come to those who are faithful.

Peace. Love. Go forth and Forgive A Pawn.

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An Anxious Struggle

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7NIV

Anxiety caused by overwhelming thoughts or feelings is a weird kind of fear. Let’s break it down. In my case, I’ve been getting a paralyzing anxiety from overwhelming tasks that feel impossible to tackle. My heart begins to aggressively beat out of my chest; it feels like I can’t move. Then, the stress begins to cause my body to feel like it’s shutting down, leaving me with no other option but to pause and take a nap, hoping my body will relax a bit. This kind of stress, anxiety, and overwhelming feeling isn’t in God’s plan for my life. So where does it come from?

I’m sure there are deep-rooted issues that I need to work on that are the main source, but let’s look at what I know now. I’m a perfectionist. I want everything done the right way, done at the right time, and the way I expect it to be. Sometimes, my expectations for myself aren’t achievable, and this causes me great stress and anxiety. Sometimes, what I need to get done is so many daunting tasks that I feel stressed, overwhelmed, and paralyzed, unable to even attempt the task.

I suppose at the end of the day, my standard for myself is to be a perfectionist, but because I’m not a perfect person, I fall short every day. Because I fall short every day, this then adds to my stress by planting a seed in my subconscious that I’m not good enough. This then causes me to panic and stress. At least, this is seemingly one issue in the puzzle.

I know this is an issue because every time a mistake, problem, or issue is brought up about me, it causes me great stress, anxiety, and overwhelmness, and then, after a little while of these feelings, depression begins to sink in. It’s this continuous cycle that I’ve been stuck in for years. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been chipping away at it, but until I can truly figure out the source of the issue, I’ll only be able to chop down the tree every time it shoots up.

While we don’t all struggle with anxiety and depression, we all struggle with something that pulls us back continuously. Something that we constantly have to battle and fight to overcome so that we can be free from it. This was never the plan, but it is the reality. So, what can we do? We bring it to God. We chip away at it until we get to the root of the issue.

Dear LORD, search me. Show me the source of my struggle. Show me the source of what is holding me back. Then please, LORD, show me how to uproot that source of my struggle and help me to remove it from my life forever so that nothing can keep me from the life You’ve planned for me. Please wrap me in Your love. Please fill me with Your peace. Please help me to overcome through You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Live For Today And Look For Eternity

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

When you lose people you love, the holidays become bittersweet. It’s almost as if you can’t wait to enjoy the holidays, but as you do, you just want it to end. Almost like it’s too painful or wrong to enjoy the holidays without them. All of those emotions and feelings you’ve been bottling up all year long seem to come crashing down during the holidays, and it’s easy to feel crushed underneath it all. But even in a dark place, there’s still a light at the end of the tunnel.

I’ve noticed a trend in movies and TV shows that when someone dies, those mourning that person will end their conversation with them with, “wherever you are.” What could be a sadder statement? I miss my loved ones dearly. It’s been almost a decade, and there are still those moments when, just for a second, I go to pick up my phone to call them and tell them what just happened, and then it hits me, they’re no longer there.

A lot of pain fills our hearts in the holiday season, but one thing that we have as an ease of the heart is this: we don’t mourn like those without hope because we know that this time without them is just a short time compared to the eternity we will share with them one day. It can be difficult sometimes, but when we focus on today and look to eternity instead of focusing on the past and what could be, we’ll be able to cherish every moment we have with the loved ones we still have with us.

Dear LORD, please ease the pain in the hearts of all who are mourning the loss of loved ones. We know that grief and pain only last for the night, for Your joy comes in the morning. LORD, please let Your sun rise in each and every heart and let Your peace and love surround them always. Please teach each of us to focus on today and to live for the hope of eternity. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Release Them From Their Debt

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~ Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus told us that if we don’t forgive, we will not be forgiven. What a difficult statement to fully grasp and follow. Especially when someone has done you wrong over and over again, yet you must continuously forgive them. This is by no means an easy thing to do, but it is a necessary one. Why? Our very eternity depends on it. That is a frightening thought in the light of eternity. So, let me break it down for you. If you refuse to forgive people, no matter what they have done to you, God will refuse to forgive you, no matter how much you ask.

And let me just add this also. Nothing that has been done against you is worth holding someone up for it and then spending eternity in Hell. Here is another truth, the person who you feel that you are just not able to forgive, well, they themselves may have repented and received forgiveness from God.

And you know what? They will spend eternity with Him while you hold on to your hurts, valid hurts indeed that they may be, but you will still spend eternity in the Lake of Fire because you refuse to honor and forgive them.

That is not me just saying that. That is the giver of life, the Master Who said that. So, for further clarification, or for more info, please see Matthew 6:15. So, the bottom line is this, if Jesus, who is Holy and Just and Righteous, can and did do that for us because He chose to do it, then we have no excuse.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Release Them From Their Debt.

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Take The Wrong

7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! ~ 1 Corinthians 6:7-8

Paul was correcting a prominent, widespread wrong that was being practiced in the church there in Corinth. They were taking each other to court over big things and over little things. Instead of solving personal disputes, they were using a secular court with a secular judge to solve their problems. Paul said, “Look, just the mere fact that there are lawsuits between you people is proof that you have been defeated by your enemy, the adversary.”

Nowadays, we don’t have lawsuits amongst ourselves in today’s church, but what we do have are feelings being hurt, anger and outbursts of anger, pride and jealousy. We have disunity and division. Just the mere fact that we have these things is living proof that we have been defeated by our mortal enemy, the devil. For Jesus said in John 10:10 that ‘the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.’ Therefore, when anger reigns, and quick-temperedness takes center stage, there is proof that the enemy has come in and has stolen your peace, killed your joy, and destroyed your love.

For love is patient and kind, not easily angered, and never keeps a record of wrongs. So then, when arguments and bickering over little things and over big things become prevalent, it is time to take an evaluation of your love, your shalom peace, and your commitment to follow Jesus and His teaching wholeheartedly.

The Scriptures tell us that we are not our own; we are bought at a price. Therefore, we must honor our owner, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, with our bodies, our thoughts, our actions, and our motives. Instead of getting upset and angry and having a big pop-down row, be the bigger person and take the wrong, and in so doing, you will fulfill the law to love one another, which is the greatest law after loving the LORD our God, with all of our heart, and soul, and mind, and with all of our strength.

So, the next time you are offended, or the next time you are taken advantage of, do what Jesus taught and what the Scriptures teach, take the wrong, even if you are in the right, and love the LORD your God and love your brother.

Father, it is easier said than done, but help us to fulfill the law of love. Help us to honor You with all of our heart, soul, and strength. Be first in our lives, in our speech, and in our actions so that we do not offend Your Spirit with our temperament. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

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The Hate of A Lying Tongue

24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. ~ Proverbs 26:24-28

King Solomon wrote, a lying tongue hates its victims. If you hate, you will lie. If you lie, you are harboring hate in your heart. It does not matter who that person is. Whether it is supposed to be a friend or a family member, it does not matter whether it is a stranger or a politician. If that person is lying, he or she is filled with hate. But they will disguise their true feelings. They will pretend to be doing what is best for you and to have your best interest at heart, but they will lead you to a bitter end.

Solomon said, even when he or she speaks to you graciously, don’t believe them because seven abominations are in their heart. They will try to cover their hatred with deception, but God will expose their wickedness. Because God is just and true, He will give those people enough rope to hang themselves.

But as for us, we are to believe God and trust His Word. We must not believe everything that is told to us but measure it against the Word of God and use His Word as our standard. And may the God of truth open our eyes to see and our ears to hear.

Heavenly Father, give us discernment that we will not be fooled or taken advantage of. Be our shield and our protection. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Be That Light

19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should. ~ Ephesians 6:19-20CSB

So many times when we think about Paul, we just think about how great of a hero of the faith he was. We think about all the great miracles, the powerful signs and wonders that followed him, and the marvelous mysteries he revealed, but rarely do we ever think about the weakness of Paul. We almost elevate him as more than a man because we find it almost impossible to see him as struggling the same way we do today. Even though Paul did great things, he was still a man with flesh that he had to crucify daily, and spiritual warfare he had to fight daily.

When Paul struggled, he didn’t keep it to himself. He requested prayer for those things. He didn’t try to battle them alone. He understood the importance of prayer. So, he requested that they pray for his boldness. Imagine that Paul, the greatest Apostle to ever live, has to ask other people to pray for him to speak boldly. That doesn’t seem like the Paul we’re taught about, but it was the actions of the Paul of the Bible.

Paul never once tried to portray himself as perfect or without struggle. He constantly spoke about his weaknesses. He boasted in them. Something he struggled with was speaking boldly, but he didn’t let that stop him. He prayed about it and then asked others to pray about it for him., but he didn’t stop there. Paul, after praying, went out and spoke boldly. He put that prayer request into action.

James explained that prayer without action is useless. Therefore, what did Paul do? He did the very thing that he prayed about. He went out and spoke to the people and didn’t stop until his last breath. Paul didn’t preach because it was easy. Paul preached because that is the call. He understood it was better to speak and face the wrath of the world than to be silent and face the wrath of God.

Paul was a man just like us; the difference was that he was a man of prayer and action. We each have the call to tell others of the Good News of Christ, regardless of backlash, offense, or the wrath of the world. Our main general call is to be the light of the world while Christ is on His throne.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be That Light.

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Don’t Wait Til It’s You

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. ~ Proverbs 29:7

17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. ~ James 4:17

In the show Avatar, there’s a main character by the name of Uncle Iroh. Now, Uncle Iroh was a military hero. He led siege after siege, taking over other tribes for the Fire Nation until he came to one particular city, Ba Sing Se. The siege lasted for 600 days but ended when Iroh lost his son, Lu Ten, in battle. After he lost his son, he no longer saw the necessity of the war, and he brought his men home. The rest of his life he spent trying to help others. We later find out that he lives his life trying to help others because he was unable to help his son.

He never saw a problem with leading the sieges, taking homes or lives, burning down cities until he lost what mattered most to him, his son. He simply bought into the lie that was told to him because he didn’t want to see the truth until the truth directly affected him in a traumatic way. So many of us in the Church are exactly the same way.

We don’t want to open our lives to the truth because we’re benefiting from the lie. Or we’re apathetic because the lie isn’t directly affecting us. But see, that’s how the enemy gets us. He doesn’t directly hit us at first. He allows us to get comfortable. To put our feet up. To turn a blind eye to little things until we’ve completely gone blind, and we don’t even realize it. Then, when we’re completely disarmed, he takes away all security and comfort we once had and suddenly the lie is no longer a big deal, it’s now directly negatively affecting us.

So, how do we combat this? We refuse to listen to apathy’s lullaby and by refusing to turn a blind eye to things, even if they seem minor. When someone else is done wrong, we stand up for them because if it could happen to them, it could happen to us. We can’t wait for the mob to be at our front door before we want to fight back. We need to fight back before they even enter our city. We need to wake up and pay attention to what’s going on in our world before it’s too late to do anything about it.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Wait Til It’s You.

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