Part 6 (1/2)

If we want to see G.o.d's perfect will proven in our lives, we can- but we have to have our minds transformed.

Does your life need to be transformed? Start by being willing to think right thoughts, and you'll see the change in yourself-and so will others around you.

CHAPTER 24.

The Devil Lies The devil lies. In fact, the devil doesn't know how to speak the truth.

”There is no truth in him,” Jesus said.

You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the l.u.s.ts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false (John 8:44).

Most Christians know everything the devil says is false-and yet they still listen to his evil words. Sometimes the lies seem to just pop into our minds for no apparent reason; sometimes Satan even speaks to us through other people. He puts something critical or hurtful into their minds about us, and they speak it out for us to hear. If we listen and accept what we hear, our enemy rejoices. If we listen long enough to the deceptive information we have taken in, we will find ourselves facing serious problems. Instead of listening and absorbing the untruths and satanic deceptions, you can look at what Jesus did and follow His example. After fasting for forty days in the wilderness, Satan tempted Him three times. Each time He defeated the devil by declaring, ”It is written,” and quoting the Word of G.o.d. No wonder the devil fled from Him (see Matthew 4:111). Learn the truth of G.o.d's Word, and every time Satan lies to you, quote a scripture back to him. Learn to talk back to the devil!

Too many people don't know how to use the Word to defeat Satan's lies. Many people-even Christians-don't seem to realize they can refuse to listen to that voice. Too many people don't realize the devil attacks their minds with negative or wrong thoughts. It's his nature to lie; he is out to enslave everyone.

I encourage people to realize they are not alone in their spiritual battles-they are not the only ones whose minds are under attack. Satan comes against everyone. His goal is to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus came so we could have life and enjoy it abundantly (see John 10:10). By becoming more conscious of the spiritual weapons the Lord has made available to us and learning how to use them, we can gain victory. We can break the strongholds the devil has built in our minds. The Bible tells us when we know the truth, it will free us from Satan's strongholds (see John 8:32).

Too many people don't realize the devil attacks their minds with negative or wrong thoughts. It's his nature to lie; he is out to enslave everyone.

Mary ill.u.s.trates someone who believed Satan's lies for years. She was mistreated by her father, and by the time she was a teen, she didn't trust men. It's no wonder she and her husband faced many conflicts in their marriage. For years, Satan whispered to her that all men were alike and wanted to hurt women and take advantage of them.

As Mary read the Bible and prayed more effectively, she learned it was the devil who was pus.h.i.+ng her around. Now she knows she can be free. As Mary develops in her relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d, she is equipping herself to win the battle for her mind. She's learning more about G.o.d and more about how to pray effectively.

”Jesus has become my friend,” Mary said. She knew Him as her Savior and wors.h.i.+ped Him as G.o.d, but this friends.h.i.+p was a new revelation to her. One day she read Hebrews 2:18 in a totally new light. It says of Jesus, ”Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able . . . to run to the cry of (a.s.sist, relieve) those who are being tempted.”

That pa.s.sage came alive to Mary because she saw Jesus not only as G.o.d, but as her friend-One Who knows what it is to be tempted and Who knows what it is to suffer. ”I knew He died on the cross, but I had not thought of all the pain He went through for me. To realize that He understands my pain and problems was a new thought to me.”

Mary also says that when negative, mean, or ugly thoughts come into her head, she is learning to stop those thoughts. ”Jesus wouldn't talk that way. Jesus wouldn't be critical and judgmental, so that's the devil fighting for my mind.”

Mary hasn't won all the battles, but she has learned to fight the great deceiver. Every time she wins one battle, the next one becomes easier.

CHAPTER 25.

Think About What You Are Thinking About Some people are very unhappy, and they've been that way so long they no longer realize there is another option. I can well remember being like that. I blamed my unhappiness on the way others behaved. I thought my husband and children caused me the most unhappiness. If they would change and just be a little more sensitive to my needs, I knew I would feel better. If they would help around the house more, volunteer to run errands, or just ask how I was doing, I knew I would be happy. Of course, I never said anything to them. If they were sensitive and caring, I thought, they would be able to see how they could help me and make my life easier.

I did pray about it, and I often told G.o.d how much happier I would be if they cooperated more, but they didn't change.

One day, G.o.d revealed something to me-but it wasn't what I wanted to know. He impressed me with the words, Think about what you are thinking about. I had no idea what G.o.d meant. In fact, the words didn't make sense. How could I think about what I was thinking about?

My mind raced from one thought to another, and I realized the truth: My thoughts centered on myself and my needs. I thought that if they-the other people in my life-changed, I would be happy. I reluctantly admitted that even if they changed, I would find something else to be unhappy about. I was just unhappy and didn't need any particular reason. It was first one thing and then another.

As I pondered my condition, I thought of Philippians 4:8, where Paul presents a list of the kinds of things needing our focus. If G.o.d did not want me to think about the things I was thinking about, I first needed to know what I should think about. I soon realized I had a lot to learn. Although I had been attending church for years, I could not remember anyone ever telling me how important my thoughts were to G.o.d and to my quality of life.