Warning: This will happen right after you get Godly inspiration
Last week we talked about human motivation vs Godly inspiration.
I would be remiss if I didn't warn you what will happen immediately after you get that God-inspired vision for your life.
Doesn’t matter what it is.
Maybe you want to:
Get out of debt or start saving.
Have better communication with your spouse or child.
Get healthier.
Follow a schedule.
Right after you decide that, all heck will break loose in the area you want to improve.
The dishwasher will die and you’ll have a massive car repair in the same week.
Your spouse will come home in a bad mood and before you know it you’ve just said some horrible things you wish you could take back.
You’ve committed to not eating any sugar this week and your coworker gifts you all your favorite treats!
You committed to working out every weekday morning this week and on Monday, your kid wakes up and starts puking everywhere. Or you were going to go for a walk for exercise but it’s pouring rain when you didn’t even see it in the forecast.
Then your brain is going to go spiraling with thoughts like:
This will never work.
It’s impossible.
I can’t.
Was never going to happen anyway.
It’s too big to accomplish.
The enemy is going to thwart your beginning efforts because he knows that it’s easier to get you to quit before you get some progress or momentum. Once you get full steam, you will be impossible to stop!! So he throws a wrench into your plans before you get out of the station.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
Remember this:
Resistance will always follow decision.
So what are we going to do?
Normalize it! Expect it.
It’s PART of it!! The thief is going to show up.
Know that and be on your guard.
2 Corinthians 2:11
in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Coming at you when your progress and faith are just starting to grow is one of his schemes. This world is corrupted and Satan is the corrupter!
So what are we going to do?
2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan trying to wreck your plans is actually an opportunity to:
➡️double down on faith. (God I KNOW you have a way through this!!)
➡️ increase your knowledge (Ah, I see what’s happening here, this is how I will do this differently next time!)
➡️exercise self-control (ok, my spouse has obviously had a hard day, I’m going to give him some space and not make his grumpiness mean anything about me)
➡️persevere (I can’t go for a walk but I can do some body weight exercises in the living room.)
➡️grow in godliness (I don’t understand this God but Your will, not mine. I know Your timing is perfect)
➡️mutual affection (how can I take my eyes off myself right now and help someone else?)
➡️love (God, use this situation to make me more like your Son)
I’m telling you right now that I don't always get this right. But when I do recognize the schemes of the devil it changes my perspective immediately and I absolutely refuse to let him win.
I WIN because in Christ I am more than a conqueror!!
Recognizing it and gaining wisdom for the next round he throws at you is the win.
Here’s the whole equation:
Decision + resistance = new, increased strength and wisdom that makes you more like Christ
What wrenches have been thrown your way lately when you made plans? Hit reply and let me know so I can pray for you. Know that I am cheering you on at all times! And that with God’s help, I know you can recognize and defeat the devil’s schemes!
In passionate purpose,
Dorothy