By: Carole L. Haines
9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life and have it abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10:9-11 NASB)
Our Spiritual enemy, satan, wants to wreak havoc on our lives. He is determined to STEAL our joy, KILL our hopes, and DESTROY our calling. Even as I was writing this post, I didn’t recognize his tactic at first and was derailed by the accuser of the brethren. I have been struggling all my life with self-condemnation, always pointing out my weaknesses and the strengths of others.
As I was driving by a church many years ago, I noticed the Scripture quote, “Love your enemy as yourself.” It was written on the marquee. I mumbled to God, “I am my worst enemy!” I sensed His gentle answer, “I know, and I want you to love your enemy.” I was startled by that response from God. Thus began my journey of speaking the truth in love, first to myself, and then to others. satan loves to get us into the mode of self-condemnation. But God’s word tells us how to have victory when we feel like our own worst enemies.
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)
We are all journeying with Jesus on our own freedom roads, which lead out of the lies of the enemy and into the view God has of us.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2)
The hatred, loathing and condemnation are part of the law of sin and death. These run contrary to God’s truth about us.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:16a-17)
The first step in this journey out of self-condemnation is seeing ourselves as new creations. We must apply God’s love to ourselves before we can see clearly to love others. When we condemn ourselves, we secretly compete with one another in order to try to feel better. This will never lead God’s pure love. Let’s not cooperate with the enemy by allowing him to STEAL our joy, KILL our hopes, DESTROY our calling. Let us speak the truth in love to one another, beginning with ourselves. We need to build each other up.
When King David was at one of his lowest points, with even all of his men against him, he encouraged himself in the Lord.
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
(1 Samuel 30:6 KJV
So, let’s learn from David’s example and encourage ourselves in the Lord our God. And then we will be strengthened and inspired to love one another, cheering each other on in our journeys with Jesus.
Have a Blessed Day.
hisshadowings.com 