In my past three post, we looked at two steps for taking every thought captive.  Today, let’s look at step three: Reject the Lie.

 Once I had a door-to-door vacuum salesman come to my house. To my detriment, I let him in. Before I could convince him I did not need a new vacuum cleaner, he had his demonstration trash sprinkled all over my foyer floor. Almost two hours later, I finally got him to leave.

What was my first mistake? You know it! My first mistake was to let him cross the threshold of my doorway and enter my house. Once he was in, it was difficult to get him out. It is the same way with our thoughts. Once we entertain a thought, once we allow the “salesman” to scatter his “trash” in our minds, it is hard to dismiss it or push it back out again. The place of easiest victory is at the threshold; don’t even let the trash in the door. It has been said, “Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind.”  I think victory is possible once the thought has passed over the threshold, but it sure will save us a lot of heartache and pain if we begin to recognize Satan’s lies and reject them from the start.

Let’s go back to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and dig a little deeper by discovering the rich meaning of some of the key words in the original Greek language of the New Testament.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.

 This verse tells us that through Christ, we have the power to demolish strongholds. What is a stronghold? The Greek word for stronghold is echo, meaning, “to hold fast.” A derivation of that same word, echuroma means “a stronghold, fortification, fortress.” Bible teacher, Beth Moore, describes them as “anything in our lives that we hold on to that ends up holding us.” They are formed when thoughts or habit patterns “echo” time and time again in our minds. They are negative thoughts that are burned into our minds through repetition (such as verbal abuse) or a one-time traumatic incident (such as a rape). These thought patterns have the potential to grab hold of a mind and rule a life.  Many strongholds are built brick-by-brick for protection, but inevitably they become prisons. Beth goes on to say, “No matter what the stronghold may be, they all have one thing in common: Satan is fueling the mental tank with deception to keep the stronghold running.”

The word demolish implies a kind of destruction requiring tremendous power – divine power.  One reason many Christians have remained in a yoke of slavery to past sins and lies of the enemy is because they swat at strongholds like they are mosquitoes instead of blasting them with the truth like they are concrete fortresses formed by years of construction.

We cannot destroy demonic strongholds on our own strength even on our best days.  The Holy Spirit can destroy strongholds with His power even on our worst days. The power of the Holy Spirit is the Greek word dunamous, which is where we get the word dynamite. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

The verse goes on to describe another area that needs to be destroyed.“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.”  I don’t know about you, but on a few occasions, (OK, on more occasions than I can count) I have argued with God and against the knowledge of God. Guess what? God always wins.

The Greek word for arguments is logismos, meaning “a reckoning, calculation, consideration, reflection.” A calculated thought might be a conclusion that you are a failure, after you have failed at something. That seems logical. It all adds up. Upon reflection, it seems highly probable. However, that’s not what the Truth says. It is against the knowledge of God. Regardless of your calculations, God says you are a saint who has been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, a child of God, and a co-heir with Christ. You are not a failure and you need to reject the lie. When the thought comes into your head, simply say, “I reject that thought. It is a lie of the enemy and not the truth of God. I failed in this instance, but I am not a failure.”

So far we’ve looked at three steps to taking every thought captive:

Step One:  Recognize the Enemy’s True Identity

Step Two: Recognize Satan’s Lies

Step Three:  Reject the Lies

Join me next time as we look at the final step to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Let’s Pray
Dear Father, I’ll admit that I toy with thoughts that I know are not true. I feel sorry for myself, entertain thoughts of rejection, and sometimes even feel like nobody loves me.  Those are lies. All of them. Right now, I commit to reject the lies of the enemy as soon as the thought comes into my head. Thank you for the truth that sets us free from feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength – and that’s the truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Now It’s Your Turn
I want you to write down five lies that you tend to believe about yourself and leave some space between them. Now, I want you to write down a truth from the Bible for each one that lets you know it is a lie.

Let me get you started.

Lie: I can’t do anything right.

Truth: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Lie: Nobody ever prays for me.

Truth: Jesus said: “I pray for …those you have given me. John 17:9

I’d love to hear your truth to replace a lie. It might be just what one of my readers needs to hear.Click on comment and share the truth thata corresponds to the lie you have believed.

Want More?

This series of lessons is taken from my book,
Becoming Spiritually Beautiful – Seeing Yourself from God’s Perspective. However, the lessons had such a great impact, she wrote a follow-up book, I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves that goes into much greater detail on how to overcome the lies of the enemy. If this is an area where you struggle, I’m Not Good Enough is the book for you. You can find both on her website. This resource will help you change that stinkin’ thinkin’ and see yourself as God sees you!

My neighbor, Michael, was a stand-in for Samuel, the nine-year-old son of Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) in the movie The Patriot. For months, Michael wore his hair long with extensions, donned Italian knickers and knee-high stockings and acted the part of an American colonial boy. He traveled to rural South Carolina where part of the movie was filmed and received an education in the production of the silver screen. Michael saw how producers and makeup artists made something appear as though it were real when it wasn’t.

The movie was rated R for violent content, but his parents let nine-year-old Michael watch it upon release. It was a bloody realistic reenactment of the horrors of the Revolutionary War. However, during the guts and gore, little Michael didn’t even bat an eye. Why? He knew it wasn’t real.

During one scene, Mel Gibson pummeled a British soldier and landed a hatchet square in the middle of his bloody forehead. I covered my eyes. Michael watched nonplussed. His comment?

“That guy walked around the set with that hatchet in his head for three days. We even ate lunch together and he had that hatchet with fake blood glued to his face. It isn’t real.”

Michael knew what was true and it removed all fear. That’s the power of the truth.   Yesterday we looked at step one to taking every thought captive. Today let’s look at step two:

Step One: Realize the Enemy’s True Identity

Step Two: Recognize Satan’s Lies

In 2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul says, “For we are not unaware of his (Satan’s) schemes.” So let’s take a few moments and look at his battle plan.

If  Satan came to you in a little red suit with a pitchfork and announced himself as the devil, you wouldn’t believe a word he said. But he is cunning and disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). When he deceived Eve, he even quoted Scripture – albeit twisted and distorted. He has a collection of old tapes from your past and pushes rewind and play, rewind and play. Oh yes, he knows just which buttons to push. He also uses personal pronouns like “I” instead of “you.” The thoughts sound something like this: “I am a failure. I am a loser. I can’t do anything right. I am ugly.” The thoughts sound like you, feel like you, and before you know it, you think it is you. He did this all throughout Scripture and he still does it today. (See 1 Chronicles 21:1 as an example.)

Satan knows exactly which lies to whisper in your ear. He has watched you over the years and is well acquainted with your insecurities, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. Do you tend to get discouraged? He will plant seeds of discouragement in your mind. Do you tend to feel rejection and loneliness? He will put ideas that you are rejected in your mind. But are they true? No they are not. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You are loved and chosen by God. That is the truth.

Here’s a simple exercise.  If you aren’t sure if a thought is of the enemy, attach, “In Jesus Name,” to the end of it. For example: “I can’t stand that woman, in Jesus’ Name.”  “I don’t love my husband, in Jesus’ Name.”  “I am a loser, in Jesus Name.”  Just doesn’t fit, does it? That is not a fail-safe method for detecting the truth versus a lie, but it is a quick litmus test that takes us in the right direction.

Step two in taking every thought captive is Recognizing Satan’s Lies.

Join me next time as we look at step three to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Help me to recognize Satan’s lies. I know the only way to recognize a lie is to know the truth. I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict me when I am believing a lie and that He will help me see Your truth.  In Jesus’ Name,  Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Think of some of the negative thoughts that have run through your mind this week. Now attach “in Jesus’ Name” to the end of that thought. What does that reveal?

What are some lies that you have believed about who you are? For example: I am a loser. I can’t do anything right. I am used goods. I can never be forgiven. I am too far gone.

Friend, each one of those statements is a lie of the enemy. Now, who does God say that you are? Not sure? Take a look at the list found on my Free Resource page. 

 Want More?
This series of lessons were originally written in my  book,

Becoming Spiritually Beautiful – Seeing Yourself from God’s Perspective. However, these particular lessons had such a great impact, I wrote a follow-up book, I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselvesthat goes into much greater detail on how to overcome the lies of the enemy. If this is an area where you struggle, I’m Not Good Enough is the book for you. You can find both on my website at www.sharonjaynes.com.

In my last post, we looked at 2 Corinthians 10:5 and the idea of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We compared it to roping a calf in a lassoing contest. Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind; right as the calf comes bursting through the door. Let’s look at four simple steps for taking every thought captive and lassoing those runaway thoughts.

STEP ONE
Realize the Enemy’s True Identity
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, after I got my son off to school and my husband off to work, I took a long walk through my neighborhood. The sky was crystal clear blue with a gentle breeze. It was a gorgeous cool North Carolina fall day with just a hint of color on the leaves. There was nothing special on my schedule – just the ordinary. However, one hour later, because of a horrendous terrorist attack on our country in New York City and Washington, DC, by evil personified, the day turned into anything but ordinary. I watched in horror as the television played and replayed the airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

Amazingly, we never saw it coming. As I thought about that, God reminded me: That’s how the enemy always attacks. When you least expect it.

Let’s think about another monumental day in our country’s history. On December 31, 1999, the country and the world braced for the potentially disastrous effects of Y2K. Families and businesses alike prepared for months for what might occur as the clock ticked past 11:59 PM and into the new millennium. We held our breaths, clasped our hands and braced ourselves. Yes, we were ready. What happened? Nothing. The new millennium came without incident.

Oh dear friends, do you see the correlation? There is an enemy who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). His name is Satan. He desires to destroy us just as sure as the hijackers drove those airplanes into, and toppled, the twin towers in New York City.

Satan has other names – the devil, the accuser of the brethren, a liar, the father of lies, and the deceiver. A deceiver is someone who presents a lie in such a way, it sounds like the truth. He can make you believe something is not true when it is and make you believe something is true when it isn’t. He speaks in your own voice. The thoughts feel like you, because they are the old you that he has memorized so well. He’s not very creative, but he is very effective and he uses the same methods with us he’s used since the beginning of time.

The first step to changing the way we think is to recognize the enemy’s true identity. It’s not your mother; it’s not your father; it’s not the person who abused you as a child. The real enemy is Satan himself and he uses your past hurts and failures as cannon fodder to wound you. If you don’t have sufficient ammo in your past, he concocts some of his own.

In my next three posts, we’ll continuing look at the steps for taking every thought captive.

Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I know that I cannot win a battle if I do not know who I am fighting. Help me to recognize the enemy’s true identity. Spiritual warfare is very real. Today, I put on the armor of God and stand firm against the powers of the enemy. I am more than a conqueror through the power of Jesus Christ.
In His Name I pray and stand, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Can you think of a time when you blamed someone for a difficulty in your life when it might have been an attack of the enemy?

Go back and read John 10:10. What does the enemy desire to do?

What is he called in John 8:44?

Why do you think it is important to know who the real enemy is in order to win the battle? Click on “comment” to share your answer.

Want More?
Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind. If you would like to learn more about how to take every thought captive, my book,  I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves, is the perfect resource. This will help you change that stinkin’ thinkin’ and replace the lies with the truth. While you’re there, download a free sample chapter and watch the introductory video.

Several years ago, my family went on an excursion out West. We flew to Nevada, rented a car, and then proceeded to log in 2500 miles in ten days. One of our stops was Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Cowboy Country.

 On Saturday night, we attended the local rodeo. There we sat, three city slickers among whoopin’ hollerin’ locals. The cowboys’ skills entertained and amazed those of us who thought a Bronco was a 4-wheel drive. Cowboys, young and old, rode bucking broncos, raced around barrels, and conquered angry bulls. But the most thrilling event was the lassoing contest.

We all sat on the edge of our seats as the cowboy waited, poised in his saddle, anticipating the calf’s release from the chute. The corral door swung open and the calf burst from the gate. The cowboy exploded through a second door with lasso in hand, and pursued the bucking, twisting, galloping animal. He lassoed the calf’s neck, threw him to the ground, quickly wrapped the rope around his legs, tied them securely in place, and immediately jumped up and raised his arms in victory. As the victor stood receiving his applause, his trained steed took three steps backward to secure the rope in place.

The timer continued to run for a few seconds to make sure the calf was indeed captive.  Then the cowboy’s time was posted on the scoreboard. Time and time again, cowhands lassoed little calves, secured their captives, and raised their hands in victory. Only a few times did a calf escape the rope and make his way out the door on the other end of the corral.

I’ll admit that I was feeling a bit sorry for the little calves, even though they were released as soon as the time was logged. The first time one escaped the lasso, I applauded wildly.  Angry onlookers let me know with a glare that cheering for the calf was not acceptable.  As I continued to watch the contest, the Lord prodded my mind and told me to look and learn. Suddenly it hit me. This event was a perfect picture of what Paul described in today’s truth.

Those calves reminded me of wild and wooly thoughts that burst forth from the stable of my mind at times: negative, rebellious, fearful, angry, worrisome, jealous, degrading thoughts that are untamed and unruly, bucking, jumping and running wild across pleasant plains. And when my thoughts are ungodly, my reaction should be like the cowboy’s: ride up hot on the thought’s heels, lasso it with the truth, tie it up securely, and throw it in the dust. My response should be just like the cowboy’s trusty trained horse who, automatically, because of practice, takes three steps backward to make sure the deceptive thought “ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

Trained because of practice. Taking every thought captive. Yes siree. Let’s lasso those thoughts little sister, tie ‘em up, and throw em’ back in the dust where they came from in the first place. Then we can raise our arms in victory with all the heavenly hosts applauding in victory. And believe me, the faster we do it, the better.

 In my next four blog posts, we’ll look at four simple steps for taking every thought captive. My prayer is that you’ll put these steps into practice in your own life and light up the scoreboard with victory in lassoing those runaway thoughts.

Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes my thoughts run wild. I believe things are true when they aren’t and don’t believe things are true when they are. Help me to take every thought captive that is not of You. Fill me with Your Truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn?
When is the last time you had a runaway thought that was not godly?

At what point did you realize the thought was not of God?

Look up Philippians 4:8 and meditate on this litmus test for our thoughts.

Pick one of the guidelines from Philippians 4:8 and tell me which one you are going to focus on today.

Want More?
Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind. If you would like to learn more about how to take every thought captive, mybook, I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves, is the perfect resource. This will help you change that stinkin’ thinkin’ and start believing God’s truth. Check it out on the bookstore page, and while you’re there, download a free sample chapter or watch the introductory video.

Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we thought it would. This was certainly the case for a teenage boy named David who was anointed the next King of Israel.

While King Saul was still on his throne, God chose David to be his successor. This didn’t sit too well with the King and he made every attempt to kill David before the crown could be placed on his handsome head. The young David, who earlier had bravely charged the Philistine giant, Goliath, now ran for his life. The one place Saul didn’t think David would hide was among the Philistines whom he had previously shamed. So that is exactly where David hid…the briar patch, so to speak.

By this time, David had a six hundred man army gathered round him. Each man brought his wife and children to live in the camp. The rag tag team of outcasts became David’s kingdom for a time.

One day while David and his men were off fighting a battle, another group of people, the Amalakites, invaded their camp and took all their wives and children captive. When David and his men returned home, they found empty beds, smoldering fires, and the haunting absence of familiar voices.

The men wept until they had no more tears or energy for recourse. Rather than devise a rescue plan, they turned their anger on their leader and threatened to stone him. Hurting people often hurt people and they were looking for someone to blame.

Can you imagine how David must have felt? His previous employer was trying to kill him (he had worked in Saul’s palace), his best friends had turned against him, and his wife and children had been taken captive or possibly killed. Where was he to turn? How could he encourage his men when he had nothing left to give?

There was only one place to turn…to God.

“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). Friend, sometimes to God is the only place we have to go. Isn’t it a shame that we wait until God is our last resort rather than our first line of defense? Yes, God has called us to live in community with other believers, but sometimes I believe He wants us all to Himself.

Moses was alone with God when he talked to God in the burning bush. Hagar was alone with God when he spoke to her and gave her water in the desert. Elijah was alone with God when God revealed Himself in the still small voice. Hannah was alone with God when she poured out her heart in prayer for a child. Jesus often went away by himself to commune with His Father. Where do we go when we hit rock bottom? When we’re feeling empty? When we’ve lost hope?

Go to God. Strengthen yourself in the Lord your God. It worked for David and He will work for you. David later wrote, “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure,” (Psalm 18:32 NIV).

Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, Please give me the strength I need to meet each challenge I will face today. Thank You that You promise never to leave me or forsake me. No matter how alone I may feel, or how many turn against me, I know that You are always there. You are always for me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Let’s Chat
What is your favorite way to get alone with God? Where do you go? What do you do?

Want More?
Today’s blog was adapted from my book, The Power of a Woman’s Words. Some of the most important words we will ever say are the ones we say in prayer. If you would like to learn more about how to use God’s incredible gift to you…words…then check out this book. You have the ability to speak life into those around you! You have the ability to change the course of someone’s life.

When Steven was about seven-years-old, we went snow skiing. For hours I instructed him in how to stand up, ski down, and get up once he fell. Steven fell down, and fell down, and fell down. He was not getting the hang of it at all. What’s the problem, I wondered. Then I found out. It was me.

“Mom,” Steven cried, “If you just quit telling me what to do, I think I could get it.”

“Fine!” I said as I skied away in frustration. “Go ahead and do it your way!”

And you know what? He did. Thirty minutes later Steven was cruising down the slopes with ease. See I was the problem. My continual instruction was hindering Steven from working the maneuvers out on his own. The day started out being a skiing lesson for Steven, but ended up being a parenting lesson for me.

Sometimes the most powerful words are the ones we withhold. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to be silent and a time to speak,” Ecclesiates 3:1,7 . A wise woman learns the difference.

In the Bible, Esther is a wonderful example of a very wise woman who knew that timing was crucial. After much prayer, fasting and deliberation, she went before the King to make a petition for her people. It was an important request as the entire Hebrew nation was at stake. Rather than grovel at the King’s feet in dismay, she very calmly invited him to dinner. When the King attended the soirée the following evening, once again he invited Esther to make her request. Once again, she invited him to dinner the following evening.

At the second dinner party, the King offered yet a third opportunity for Esther to make her request. Finally, Esther revealed the evil Haman’s plot to annihilate the entire Hebrew nation, which included her life as well. It is an amazing story and I encourage you to read the book of Esther for yourself. But here’s a lesson among the drama. Esther had a very important request for the King. And yet, it was all about timing. Sure, she could have made the request the first time she approached the King and he extended the golden scepter in approval. Yes, she could have made her request at the first dinner party when he offered her anything she desired, “up to half his kingdom.” But there was something in Esther’s spirit that caused her to wait. The time wasn’t quite right.

Even though the Bible doesn’t tell us directly, I believe that Esther was listening to God. I believe the Holy Spirit was telling her to wait. Because she asked herself the question, to speak or not to speak, and then spoke when the time was right, the entire Hebrew nation was saved. That is the power of a woman’s words offered at the right time.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to be silent and a time to speak,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7).

Let’s Pray
Lord, sometimes I talk too much. Help me know when to speak and when to keep silent. And Lord, give me the self-control and courage to do both.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Here is a fun verse to ponder. Job said, “I put my hand over my mouth.” Give it a try. I bet your hand is a perfect fit!

Think of a time that you did not speak, and later, you were so glad you didn’t.

Part of not speaking too quickly is learning how to listen. If you’d like a list of ways to become a better listener, visit my website and click on the Free Living Life Resources for a List of 30 Hints to Becoming a Good Listener.

Want More?
Today’s blog/devotion was taken from The Power of a Woman’s Words. Check it out on the bookstore page. You can even download a free chapter and watch a quick video.

 Two Blogs ago,  I wrote about my little neighbor who had a tendency to walk into our house whenever he wanted to. After teaching him to knock first, if no one answered, he’d walk in anyway. It was a fun story. If you missed it, you can read it on my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com. Look for parts 1 and 2. I want to visit this one more time.

So what do we do when we knock on God’s door and we don’t hear an answer right away? We looked at various options, but one thing is for certain, silence from God cannot be interpreted as a “yes.” “Well, God didn’t tell me ‘no,’ so I went on ahead.” That’s not going to work. It could be that God is waiting for us to obey what He already HAS told us, before He gives further direction.

Let me share a story about a time when God was silent in my life. After my sophomore year in college, I decided to take a break and work for a year or so. After the first year, I felt an urge to go back to college, but my prayer for direction was met with silence. So I continued in my job.

When the next spring came around, my desire to return to school resurfaced. The confusion about what to do and where to go resurfaced as well.

I went to visit a man who had been a spiritual mentor to me during my teenage years. I told him about my confusion about college. Mr. Thorp decided that we should read some scripture about prayer before we prayed for God’s direction.

First he turned to Matthew 6:8-15.

For your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: `Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Then he turned to Matthew 18:19.

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Each time Mr. Thorp turned to a passage about God answering prayer, there was one about forgiveness either before or after it.

“Sharon,” he said, “I sense that God is telling you that you have unforgiveness toward your father. Is that true?”

I wanted to say, “Wait a minute. I came here to ask for prayer about my future, not about my past.” But God was showing me that unforgiveness in my past was blocking His work in my future.

I had a very tumultuous childhood. My father had become a Christian when I was twenty, but I had yet to forgive him for all the pain he had caused. I knew God had instructed me to forgive, but I had not obeyed.

So that night, I forgave my father for everything he had ever done. Really. When I did, God set me free, and my life moved to a new and deeper level with Him. (That is what God really wants from us most of all.)

Interestingly, the next day, the cloud of confusion lifted. I knew exactly what to do. I applied to college, was accepted a few months later, resigned from my job, and began classes in the fall. I met my husband four weeks later, and soon became his wife.

I am not saying that obedience in one area will make you’ll strike it rich, find the man of your dreams, or live happily ever after. However, I do believe that sometimes God’s silence is due to the fact that He is waiting for us to obey what we do know before He gives us more direction.  .

So go ahead and knock! Ask! Pray! But make sure that you are doing what you do know has told you to do first.

Let me  pray for us.
Dear Lord, I pray that You will show me any areas of my life where I have not obeyed or am not obeying You. I’ll admit, there are some areas You don’t even need to tell me about. I know I haven’t obeyed. There are things in my life that You’ve told me to let go of and I’ve held onto them. There are people that You have told me to reach out to whom I’ve ignored. There are steps of faith that You’ve called me to take and I’ve hung back. Show me, Lord. And give me the courage to live in obedience to what I DO KNOW, before asking for direction in areas that I DON”T.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Some of you are mad at me right now. I don’t blame you. This is a hard lesson. Philip didn’t like it and honestly, sometimes I don’t like I either. But I love you too much to tickle your ears with fluff rather than give you meat to chew.

So here we go: Is there any area of your life where you know that you are living in disobedience to God. Are you willing to make a change? If so, click on the comment box and write “yes.” Let the typing of that 1 little word begin the journey of obeying what you know to do.

Want more?
To learn more about living fully and free in Christ, see my book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful. While you’re there, check out all the free resources of the Free Resource page.

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” (Luke 6:38 NIV).

A sign was posted on a telephone pole by the grocery store: LOST DOG with three legs, blind in left eye, missing right ear, tail broken and recently castrated. Answers to the name of “Lucky!”

Perhaps as you’ve had times in your life when you’ve felt about that lucky! You’ve wondered how you can help someone else or encourage someone else when you feel so empty.

There was a woman in the Bible who knows just how you feel. She also felt that she had nothing left to give, but God showed her how to get filled up. The story is found in 1 Kings Chapter 17.

Elijah was a good prophet who gave some bad news to a king named Ahab: “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” God knew that news would not go over very well with the King, so He told Elijah to flee eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine east of the Jordan. For several months, Elijah drank from the brook and ate bread and meat delivered by ravens that God miraculously provided. (Talk about fast food!) Only Kings could afford to eat meat every day, and God provided the very best for his servant.

Sometime later, the brook dried up. Now if God could supply meat and bread every day, He could have easily provided water. But God had a different idea. He sent Elijah to Zarepath to a Gentile widow who needed a miracle in her life.

Elijah did as the LORD said and traveled to this widow’s home. But he didn’t find a woman with abundance ready to provide sustenance. No, what he found was a widow who had given up on life and felt as though she had nothing left to give. When he arrived, she was stooping to the ground picking up sticks and placing them in a bundle.

“Excuse me,” Elijah called, “could you please bring me a cup of water?”

As she turned to get the traveler a cup to quench his thirst, he continued. “Oh, and can you bring me a piece of bread?”

With this request, I imagine the woman sarcastically grumbled. And would you like a lamb chop to go along with it?

“I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug,” she said. “I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it – and die” (1 Kings 17:12).

Now that was a discouraged woman! But Elijah had good news for her.

“Don’t be afraid,” Elijah said. “Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’”

She went away and did what Elijah had told her.

Can’t you just see this woman taking the last bit of flour and oil to make Elijah a meal? What difference does it make? I’m going to die anyway? So what if it’s one day early?

She took the last bit of flour and oil, made and delivered Elijah a little cake, and returned home. As she goes to wash the dirty dishes, she picks up the jar and the jug and her senses are jostled! The jar is full of flour and the jug is to the brim with oil. She was an empty woman, but as she took what little she had to offer encouragement to another, God filled her up.

Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” (Luke 6:38). When you give to others, reach out to others, pour into the lives of others, God is standing by ready to fill you up.

So if you are feeling empty today, here’s a suggestion: give to someone else. Encourage a co-worker. Help a struggling friend. Minister to a homeless person. Open the door for a stranger.

What happened to the woman from Zarephath? “For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:16).

Let’s Pray
LORD, I feel pretty empty today. But I’m going to get my focus off of myself and onto someone else. Show me someone who needs a helping hand or an encouraging word today. Help me to use a big measuring cup as I pour out Your love on others today.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
I encourage you to go back and read 1 Kings 17 today. It is a great story!

Then make a list of 5 ways you can bless someone else today.

I’d love to hear how God filled you up after you poured out. Leave a comment and tell me what happened!

Last week I told you about my little neighbor, Philip, who had a tendency to walk in our house whenever he wanted. I told him that he couldn’t walk right in, but had to knock first. So the next day he knocked, and then when I didn’t answer the door, he walked right in.

“Philip,” I scolded, “I thought I told you to knock.”

“I did,” he said, “But you didn’t come. So I came on in.”

Mercy! We looked at how quickly we knock (ask God for direction in prayer), but how reluctant we are to wait for the answer before plowing ahead. Let’s look at that again today.

Many problems and messes in our lives come from not waiting on God’s answer before we move forward and forge ahead with our own desires without hearing clear direction from God.

Silence from God does not mean “go ahead, do what you want to do.” God not saying “no” cannot be interpreted as God saying “yes.”  I’m not sure if that sentence is even grammatically correct, but it is scripturally accurate.

“God didn’t stop me from buying that house, so I did it.”  “God didn’t stop me from marrying that man, so I did it.” “God didn’t stop me from sleeping with that boy, so I did it.” Oh my. “I knocked and you didn’t answer, so I came on in.”

If you aren’t hearing from God in a particular area of your life, here are a few questions to consider.

• Are you obeying what He already has told you to do?
• Are you living your life according to the principles He already has mapped out for you?
• Are you asking for direction in one area of your life, and yet knowingly disobeying Him in another?

Perhaps God is waiting for you to do something He already has told you to do, before He tells you the next thing or gives you further direction.

Now let’s go back to Philip. He knocked and I didn’t come to the door. So what should he have done? Knock again? Sat by the door and waited for me to come? Come back another day? Ring the doorbell a hundred times until I got tired of hearing it and opened the door? There are many other options, but walking through the door was not one of them. Are you tracking with me here?

I put my arms around this lump of love and tried to explain. “Philip, I just don’t want you to get hurt. You might walk into someone’s home and scare them? They might think you are a robber? It could be very dangerous. You have to knock and then wait for someone to open the door and invite you in.”

“OK,” he moaned with a singsongy huff of frustration.

I’m not sure he really understood, but after that day, Philip restrained his urge to walk into our house whenever he wanted.

I’m going to visit this topic one more time, but let me give you a few days to chew on this post. Next time I’ll share about a time when I knocked, but was met with God’s silence.

Let me pray for us:  LORD, I’m knocking. Help me to wait until you answer to move ahead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Here’s some thoughts to ponder:
What do you tend to do when you don’t know what to do?

What do you tend to do when you don’t hear God’s answer or direction right away?

Look up the following passage and note how long Moses waited until God spoke to him on the mountain. Exodus 24:15-18

What happened in the valley below when the people got tired of waiting for God to give them direction through Moses? Exodus 32

Have you been knocking and waiting for God to answer? Tell me what I can be praying about for you today. I may not be able to respond with an email to each one, but I can promise to pray for you.

Want More?
Trusting God. It is something we all need to do. And when life doesn’t turn out the way we had hoped, we need to trust that God has a better plan in mind. If you’d like to learn more about trusting God, check out our new GiG book by the same title…Trusting God.  You can find it on my bookstore page. While you’re there, download a free chapter and watch an intro video!

Little feet. I heard them clomping across the linoleum kitchen floor and padding up the carpeted stairs…and I knew they were not my son’s. I poked my head out of my sewing room and there he stood. Three-and-a-half feet of pure mischief – my neighbor Philip.

“Philip,” I scolded, “you can’t just walk in our house like that.”

“Why not?” he asked with balled fists on his determined hips.

“Because this isn’t your house. You have to knock on the door first.”

“OK,” he said. “But is Steven home?”

Philip lived across the street from us in a bustling family of 7 homeschooled kids and 2 dogs. He  was a stocky fellow with close cropped blond hair and a gruff voice that belonged more on a seasoned smoker than a four-year-old kid.  He often wandered over to our house to ask my son, Steven, to come out and play. Steven was eight years older than Philip, but occasionally “shot hoops” with his pint-sized admirer.

I adored Philip, but he had to learn not to walk into other people’s houses at will. We had our little chat about knocking first, and then I sent him on his way.

The next day, I was working in my sewing room again when I heard a small but determined knock at the backdoor. I was in the middle of a seam and didn’t answer it. I knew who it was. Ah, I thought. He learned his lesson well.

No sooner had that thought entered my mind, I heard the door open and close, followed by the familiar squeak of little-boy tennis shoes moving through the kitchen and up the stairs.

“Philip,” I called, “I thought I told you to knock.”

“I did,” he yelled back. “You didn’t come so I came on in.”

Philip and I had another chat.

Thinking back on this incident with my tow-headed, pint-sized friend reminds me of how some people approach prayer. They knock. It seems we don’t have a problem with that part. It is what comes after the knock that trips us up.

God tells us to pray. He tells us to knock. ^“Ask, and it will be given to you;” Jesus said. “Seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened,” (Matthew 7:7-8 NASB). But what comes after the knock?

God also tells us to wait for Him to answer the door…to answer the prayer… before moving forward. Unfortunately, many don’t want to wait. If God doesn’t answer right way, many take His silence as a “yes,” and plow right on ahead.

“Lord, should I date this man?” “Lord, should I marry this man?” “Lord, should I buy this house?” “Lord, should I look for another job?”  Knock. Knock.

If God doesn’t answer the door right away, is that license to open the door, walk right through it and do what we want? Absolutely not.

David wrote: “Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed,” (Psalm 25:3). Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You,” (Psalm 25:21 NASB). Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD,” (Psalm 27:14 NIV).

We’ll look more at this subject of next time, but you’ll just have to waitJ

Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I wait patiently for You. Please show me any area of my life where I have not obeyed You fully. Then give me the courage and strength to do so.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Have you ever prayed about a decision, not waited on God for the answer, and plowed ahead even though you felt unrest in your spirit?

What were the results?

Have you ever prayed about a decision, waited on God for the answer, and moved forward in total peace?

What were the results?

Regardless of the results of obedience, you can be assured that obedience always pleases God. He is more concerned with the process than the product.

Hey, don’t forget to leave a comment in the comment block!

Want More?
Do you want to be a woman who listens to God? If you’d like to learn how to tune your ears to the timbre of God’s still small voice, then check out my book,   Becoming a Woman who Listens to God.