The Enemy's Biggest Lie
I keep having this recurring thought that I've got to share. Especially as we approach our Baptism by the Bay. In my experience. most people who get baptized have something they want to leave under the water! And some people are able to bury stuff forever. But for most of us, sin finds a way of resurrecting it's ugly head. And that gets us so discouraged.
Here is what the enemy wants you to believe: if you slip up once you might as well throw in the towel. It's a lie. I think we let small failures turn into big failures because we get so discouraged. What we need to do is a little damage control via confession. Ok, I messed up. But I'm still doing better than I was. And I'm not going to let this failure keep me down. And then we need to bury the sin again! Instead of viewing the slip up as your defeat, defeat the enemy again via repentance!
I think I'm trying to offer encouragment to those who are discouraged. The grace of God has a way of turning what could be final failures into single failures! Don't buy into the enemy's lie! Don't throw in the towel.
Here is what the enemy wants you to believe: if you slip up once you might as well throw in the towel. It's a lie. I think we let small failures turn into big failures because we get so discouraged. What we need to do is a little damage control via confession. Ok, I messed up. But I'm still doing better than I was. And I'm not going to let this failure keep me down. And then we need to bury the sin again! Instead of viewing the slip up as your defeat, defeat the enemy again via repentance!
I think I'm trying to offer encouragment to those who are discouraged. The grace of God has a way of turning what could be final failures into single failures! Don't buy into the enemy's lie! Don't throw in the towel.
9 Comments:
Great thoughts. I just filled in for our pastor a week or so ago and spoke on this exact thought.
We get so caught up in our mistakes that we give up and lose all our courage for being a witness.
deceived podcast
I love the direction God is going right now - here at Capital Christian Center in Idaho we are experiencing a new understanding of the unconditional love of God. In our own staff and personal prayer we are finding healing in confession to one another, and God is breaking these areas of past sin and failure and is providing complete restoration. The word for us is to declare these areas "dead". When an area of past sin or a stonghold has been revealed, healed, and declared dead, the enemy no longer has a foothold in a door or a button to push. To God be the glory!
This was timely for my family. Just today I got an email that a family member trying to quit drinking has had a failure; glad I was able to share these thoughts.
What a great picture of baptism. Every time we fail, we can put it back under the water! Kudos :)
#1… please… please post video highlights of Baptism by the Bay (maybe set to cool music again as the last one was). I think I may be slightly addicted to that previous Baptism by the Bay video but it is such an encouraging testimony and a phenomenal reminder of what is so symbolic and beautiful about giving your life to Christ.
#2… No doubt on “The Enemy’s Biggest Lie.” I was there. Used to get so defeated when I would slip but then I began to think of it in the sense of being better today than I was yesterday. Poor example but I started to think of Christ as my gardener (rather than a carpenter). Even though He was helping me rid my garden of the weeds that were blocking out the light, it didn’t mean that the occasional weed wouldn’t sprout back up. What I eventually found though was that it was much easier to deal with one occasional weed versus a garden choked to death by an infestation.
Love the message in the blog. I know beyond any doubt that although my mistake brought hurt and pain, God has turned it around and made me a better and stronger and more Godly man. Thank God for second chances!
I was blessed to have the opportunity to be baptized at the NCC Easter vigil this past April. As a little preperation for the event, I bought myself a brand new fluffy purple towel. I actually use that towel as a reminder of the wonderful new life I have chosen for myself. I dont throw in the towel, but sometimes I do have to wipe the tears with it. ;)
Life is an amazing thing. God gives us a chance every new day.
Just thought I would share.
tx mark i needed that. tx bl
CONFIRMING THE BRETHREN
What you're saying is my experience of the Sacrament of Reconcilliation (often called "Confession") in the Catholic Church. There's a Latin phrase (can't remember it now), that simply means "start again." The fact that it's in Latin goes to show that this truth you're speaking, not only of confession, but of beginning again is time-tested. Thanks for sharing that and confirming something I've been blessed to see in my walk as well.
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