Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The sooner you give up, the better...

What is a flaming arrow?

I'd have to say most of the time (for me) they are bad thoughts. 

Many times when we are sent flaming arrows from the enemy, we turn our backs to them, because they are shameful and hurt our pride.  It seems like a good enough protective stance, after all, if a bear were attacking, this is the position we would naturally fall into. 

However, because we are facing the wrong way, what the enemy says about us begins to seep in. We take on what he says as though it is truth. When you begin believing the lies, you will begin feeling these things: 
    tired,
          overwhelmed,
                         confused,
        guilt & shame,
and lack of time to do what you want to do.

Although it is human nature to think you are protecting yourself by turning your back to the flaming arrows, you are actually just suffering silently.  For a while, your shoulders seem to tolerate the burden. After all, the temptations are ugly, and they stink like garbage.  Nobody would want to know.  But because our backs are facing the wrong direction, the enemy keeps us silent. When we are silent, he has us isolated. Alone. Heavy. And suffering.

God allows it because you're shouldering your own burden, and you haven't realized you can't beat it on your own yet.

This is just a call to turn around!!  NOW!!!

I just want to encourage you to turn around and face the enemy. That way the glory of God can be your rear guard. Call out what you're feeling. Call out the crap. Tell the truth and admit what you've been thinking. Confront the lies and confess what you've been dealing with. Tell God how you feel. What you lack. How needy you are to push through, and how you can't get any better on your own.

When you do this, you are resisting the devil, and he has no choice but to flee.

Take a load off.

Give up.

Give in.