DEATH IS WHAT CHASES YOU up and down the corridors of your mind trying to get your full attention.
I am using a metaphor for an unseen spirit we can only evidence by the very real words we can hear between our own two ears.
These words are strung together into sentences, always riddled with fear and usually held together by a short loop that replays until we respond.
When Jesus said he came to set the captives free, how do you suppose he intended to do so?Luke 4:18
I believe Jesus could have said he came to set us free from the words that hold us captive. Words that lead us into the Vicious Cycle of doing the very things we don’t want to do, and not doing the very things we do want to do.
Instead, he warned us about an enemy, Satan, who prowls about like a roaring lion seeking to devour us.
Of course, you aren’t looking over your shoulder for a lion on the prowl, and you may not even believe in the devil; you’re simply looking for a solution to a problem that will set you free.
However, when you’re a prisoner to the negative words, created by negative energy, in your head, you need freedom. Right?
The words you listen to are critical, and while you know you wouldn’t listen to a person who did not have your best interest in mind, you cannot solve any problem without the help of words.
This reality creates a dilemma because ultimately you must trust words spoken to you from somewhere, and worse, you are responsible for the decisions you make and your behavior that follows.
Whose words are you trusting?
Words are critical because without words you cannot act. And even though you do many things subconsciously every day, your brain is constantly speaking to you to do those repetitive and ordinary things.
It is only when you need a solution to a new problem that you become conscious of the words in your head and this is the time you become most vulnerable. 1 Peter 5:8
Until you consider the possibility that your thoughts are contaminated by faulty beliefs and counterfeit strategies—all devised through words—you will remain captive by your best thinking.
The Bible says that Jesus is The Word, and he spent a lot of time telling the church people of his day that they were missing the point about God’s laws, which in my opinion is true for the church today. John 1:1-5, 14
You can be the most righteous person you know and still, as an individual with one life to live, be as miserable as the worst of sinners.
The point Jesus made over and over was that misery is found in the heart, and we are destined for misery until we surrender to God who will give us the words we need to fight Death, the antithesis of Love, and Satan, the archenemy of God’s creation.
Today you cannot literally follow Jesus as his disciples did. Your only choice is to follow his words, but you can trust his words, the same way you can trust the words of any person—through his actions.
If you follow his words, notice that he commands you to not be afraid more times than any other command and then notice how difficult it will be to obey him when you need a solution to a problem.
This is the beginning of the understanding of the very real captivity Jesus spoke about; captivity through words of fear, Satan’s best weapon against you.
Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan.
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.
So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.
But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval.
Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God.
In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.
And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God.
Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-19 (TLB)
Psalm 107:10-16, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, James 1:14-15,Romans 7:18-20, Philipians 4:6
As always, it is my intent and hope that my words may encourage you wherever you are in your journey.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below or go to the group tab above to share your own experience. It only takes a minute of your time to register (and you can be anonymous), and your words may help others.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.–Jesus (Mark 4:23)
