4 THINGS:
Notice how the devil gives the exact opposite of what God gives us? (He’s not that original)
Let’s break these down:
Correction Vs. Shame
1.) Correction: God shows us correction when we do wrong. He’s like our mom and dad! (He is our Father after all.) He wants us to do good! Not shame us from our mistakes.
1a.) Shame: The devil wants us the feel shame. He wants us to be embarrassed, not feel good enough, not grow, and/or feel like a burden. He wants us to live in those feelings so that we Run and hide. So that we don’t grow and turn into who it is that God created us to be, our purpose in life!
Peace Vs. Anxiety/Fear
2.) Peace: This can be a tricky one to live in peace. The world is chaotic around us, but in the midst of all the noise, if we just lean in to God, he will bring us peace.
2a.) Anxiety/Fear: I think the majority of us live in this far more than we should. neither of these are from God. But guess what, I get it! I have to make the choice daily to give it God. Sometimes I can feel my heart starting to race and I don’t even know why I’m anxious!
You see, if you live in your anxiety rather than giving it to God, the enemy has a hold of you! If you want to apply to a new job, but get anxiety and think you’re not qualified – you could miss out on a job called you for. If you are to anxious to go to the mall, concerts, fairs, etc.. with loved ones because of all the headlines we see about shootings – you could miss out on good quality time with friends and family and people who lift you up!
Did you know: The bible talks has 365 variations of “do not be afraid”! 365 times the bible has a topic about fear! That’s how much he knows we struggle with it and how much he loves us, He tells us to give Him our fears.
Psalm 55:22 ERV “Give your worries to the Lord, and he will care for you. He will never let those who are good be defeated.”
Clarity Vs. Confusion
3.) Clarity: The easiest way I can put this (from my own experience) is “everything just falls into place”. I know when it’s time to move on from a job, if a potential job isn’t where I should be, if I need to move, if a relationship (could be for some of you a boyfriend or girlfriend, or a friendship).
Of course everything does takes some effort on our part. But if you’re riddled with a constant anger, sadness, feeling unsettled, like nothing is every working out no matter how much effort you put into it.. My friend.. that is:
3a.) Confusion: let’s taking dating as our example: Ignoring the red flags when dating someone. You make excuse after excuse, but eventually it all falls apart. Dating someone and you wonder if they even like you. Maybe they ignore you, but then they are really sweet and love bombing you because they want one thing.. to get you into bed… Friends, that is not a person sent to you from God.
When I was in my “dating era” I called my friend because I was so anxious. One sentence I was saying he was the best thing ever, and the next sentence well I don’t know, X Y and Z that he did wasn’t so great… oh but then he did this amazing thing! Ya’ll I was a MESS! Her and her husband listened, and her husband said “you’re living out the movie: He’s just not that into you.”
Ummmmm. come again?? OUCH!
But, he was right…Once God gave me the man who was going to be my husband (this July marks 4 years ya’ll!) I had absolutely no question if he was into me! He made absolute sure that I knew where I stood as his girlfriend and the feelings he had for me.
Conscience Vs. Temptation
4.) Conscience: You know that “gut feeling” that “Jiminy Cricket” conscience that tells us not to do something? Yeah, That’s God. Listen to that feeling, that whisper from Him. He knows best and wants to protect us.
If you don’t agree with that feeling, pray! Ask God why it wouldn’t be okay to do whatever he’s telling you to not do. Maybe he’ll even reveal something you didn’t think of, why it was a bad idea. Maybe that exact action wouldn’t have been bad, but what it would lead to next would be.
4a.) Temptation: “The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.” (By google definition)
I would say, that right there just explained itself why it’s 100% not from God.
Everybody haws experienced temptation. Satan even tempted Jesus! That’s crazy!
He always comes at our weakest moments too so it’s even harder to stay on the right path.
It could be something as simple as knowing you shouldn’t eat another cookie, but you really want to!
Or it could be something more sinister like reaching for the drugs or alcohol. Maybe it’s an attractive person at work you know you shouldn’t talk to – but it’s harmless, right? Then you start texting that coworker but say to yourself your spouse will “overreact” if they knew.. So you start hiding your texts.. But it’s harmless, right?
See how none of that is from God?
If you see yourself caught up in temptation, STOP. PRAY. And go read the bible! We know and hear God’s voice and direction when we are reading his Word. It is the ultimate “guide book” for LIFE.
And I promise you, if you just give Him a chance…