Replacing the Lies of the Enemy

Emotions are tied to our thought life. Have you ever stepped back and listened to your thoughts? Have you been surprised by them and wondered where they were coming from? In his book ‚Wild at Heart,‛ John Eldredge wrote, ‚We are being lied to all the time. Yet, we never stop to say, ‘Wait a minute who else is speaking here? Where are these ideas coming from? Where are these feelings coming from?‛

Satan is at war with God’s children.  He is a crafty one and a deceiver and, he knows if he were to show up as a dark, scary figure, with a pitchfork, we would immediately flee, sensing danger. So, instead, he uses our fears, hurts, and insecurities to influence us through our thought life. He knows that if he can control our minds, he can control our behavior and, what is his most used weapon to do so? Lies! When we believe Satan’s lies, rather than God’s truth, it leads to faulty ways of thinking and wrong behaviors that enslave our souls. The only defense we have to protect our minds from being lost in the darkness of lies, is the truth: the inerrant Word of God.

God’s word gives a detailed combat strategy for defeating the enemy. We are to pull down strongholds (rooted lies) and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Simply put, we must replace Satan’s lies with God’s truth. If your thoughts are telling you that you are not good enough that you are unworthy that you are ugly that you will always live in fear that you will never heal or that you will always live in bondage, stop for one moment and ask yourself, ‛Whose voice am I hearing? Who is it that is telling me that?‛

God’s word tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and His sheep hear His voice and His voice protects them from the thief who wants to destroy them. Our beloved Savior would never harm His sheep by speaking such lies. If you hear that you will never amount to anything, that’s a lie from the enemy choose, instead, to listen to your Shepherd who says, ‘For I know the thoughts I have towards you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to bring you a future and a hope‛ (Jeremiah 29:11). The enemy is a liar and cannot stand against God’s truth.

Think On These Things

It can be challenging in our humanity to rid ourselves of the clutter in our thoughts. Complex situations and struggles can evoke powerful emotions within us that can be difficult to cope with. 

To achieve His promised peace, it takes an active, conscious effort to partner with God in the valleys - to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ - to think, practice and dwell on truth, and that which is holy and pleasing unto Him...

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

Give Your Burdens to the Lord

Father,

My heart is heavy. I feel like I have to carry the burden alone. Words like overwhelmed, distraught, exhausted seem to describe where I am. I am not sure how to let you carry my heavy load, so please show me how. Take it from me. Let me rest and be refreshed so that my heart won't be so heavy in the morning.

In Jesus name. Amen.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His  voice." Deuteronomy 4:30

"For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle In the secret place of His tent He will hide me He will lift me up on a rock." Psalm 27:5

"In the day of my trouble, I shall call upon You, For You will answer me." Psalm 86:7

"When he calls to me, I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will rescue him and honor him." Psalm 91:15

"In my distress, I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears." Psalm 18:6

"About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.… "Acts 16:25

"When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand." Psalm 37:24

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation." Psalm 68:19

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

#burdenbearer #castyourcaresonhim #swordofthespirit #dailydevotional #dailybread #bible #truth #thebalmofgileadministries #hurtingheartsrestored #beautyforashes #daughteroftheking

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

Absolutely nothing can separate you from God’s love.

No matter where you are, where you have been, what you have done or what's been done to you. No matter the trial, circumstances, past or present sins, failures or hurts, you are covered in His grace. You are loved!

You are not unwanted. You are chosen. You were to die for. You are not alone! You are His!

-Don't let the enemy lie to you. None of those things define you. You belong to Jesus. You are a child of the living God - precious, cherished and adored!

Let the Balm of Gilead heal your heart so you can walk in victory anchored in the truth of who you are in Him.

I Will Heal You of Your Wounds

Brokenness is a heart condition. Jesus is the remedy...and His cure guarantees eternal life!

When we invite in The Great Physician to perform His spiritual surgery, we receive a heart healing that includes redemption, restoration, rest and peace...beside the still waters of everlasting love.

Won't you cry out to The Balm of Gilead? That He may bind and heal your wounded heart? -

Psalm 30:2

O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

Psalm 107:20

He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 103:3

Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

Matthew 9:12

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”

1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead,

Is there no physician there?

Why then is there no recovery

For the health of the daughter of my people?

Isaiah 53:5

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

From Guilt to Grace

When we find our identity in Christ, we need to fully embrace God's marvelous grace and let go of the guilt and shame accumulated in our wanderings.

In His family, we are able to achieve a whole, healed identity...an enriched life blessed with freedom, peace, and joy. With our salvation, we have an opportunity for an abundant and fruitful life, which results from receiving His unconditional love.

Let us cling to this picture of His acceptance and forgiveness; His desire and capacity to save the lost and hurting! Let us rejoice that He deems us worthy!

And may we envelop ourselves in His mercy and grace, given freely by The Living God to His precious children in Christ.

1 Timothy 1:14-15

And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. .

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Luke 15:20

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Matthew 18:11

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

The Greatest Gift

May we forever be clothed in grace and mercy; love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable.

May we honor our Heavenly Father by abiding in the ultimate expression of His righteousness and the greatest gift of all...

John 13:34

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.

Romans 13:8

Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

Galatians 5:14

The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

True Love

As humans in a fallen world, it is inevitable that we will all face some form of rejection, abandonment, temptation and persecution in our lives.

.

But, we can take heart that God took human form as Jesus Christ and was also rejected, abandoned and persecuted. He suffered in ways far beyond what any of us will ever face or can possibly comprehend. He completely knows and understands our pain and suffering. After all, the burden of sin...OF ALL MANKIND...rested on our unblemished Christ Jesus...alone.

.

Yet, He loved and sacrificed...He showed mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion, regardless of the tumultuous circumstances He faced.

.

To put on the attitude of Christ is to respond in love to those who persecute and spitefully use us...to forgive and pray for them, in spite of the struggle.

.

A Godly response...one rooted in His Truth and Grace casts Light into the darkness...soothes the sting...removes the strongholds...binds up our wounds...and heals us with His Truth and Eternal Love.

.

Luke 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

.

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

.

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

.

Proverbs 25:21

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

.

Luke 6:28

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

.

John 13:34

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.

.

Romans 12:14

Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

.

Acts 7:60

Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Discerning True Needs

It can be so difficult at times to discern what our true needs are. The enemy expertly exploits human emotions. He utilizes shackles of fear, doubt, and insecurity to produce a false sense of need and a skewed perception of joy. Temptations are often disguised as legitimate needs, as Satan understands that human beings desire rapid results and easy solutions. Thus, one enters a cycle of seeking pleasure in people, places, and things that offer only a false sense of fulfillment. The end result is despair and emptiness, as only a personal relationship with Jesus leads to true joy, peace, and eternal security.

How comforting it is to know that applying Scripture enables us to thwart temptation! There is power in the Name of Jesus and He is the Good Portion! By seeking Jesus and aligning our emotions with God’s Truth, we gain eternal perspective and partner with an unparalleled, unmatched, all-powerful, omniscient resource; YAHWEH is His Name!

Father God, 

Thank You today and every day for Your spiritual and emotional provision and protection. Lead us, LORD, to follow the example of Your precious Son when faced with temptation and the lies of the enemy. In The Name of Jesus, we take every stray thought captive to the obedience of Christ! LORD, we seek and serve only You; remind us always of the power in Jesus’ Name! Lead us to patience and pursuits of the Spirit; give us eyes and ears that discern only Your Truth, Father, and bless us with Your everlasting peace and joy. LORD, strengthen our hearts’ resolve and guide our minds to things above as we walk with You. We praise You for the promise of Eternity and the glorious riches made possible through the priceless, precious Blood of Your beloved Son, and we give You all the glory!

In The Name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

John 6:48

“I am the bread of life.” John 4:14

“But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life." Lamentations 3:24

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him."

Joy Comes in the Morning

Take heart brethren, for no matter what temporary trials are troubling your heart today, it is in no comparison to the glorious paradise that awaits those who are in him.

Keep the faith...fight the good fight...give it to our Abba God...and readily receive His grace. For, His mercies are unending and everlasting! He will refresh, restore and strengthen you, according to His promises.

Be confident and unashamed, boldly approaching The Throne of Grace. And may incomprehensible, everlasting joy be yours every morning...forevermore!

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Colossians 3:4

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

1 Peter 4:13

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Titus 2:13

...while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...

1 John 2:28

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:2

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

My love, fortress & strength

 .

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for the promise of Your refuge and the covering of Your comfort...for the promise of Your balm on the broken hearted and crushed in spirit.

Lord, we claim the victory that we are never alone, never orphans...that You have prepared a way for us to dwell with You eternally...and we pray for Your guidance and protection in our temporary dwelling place.

Lord, we praise You that You are always near, and we call upon You in truth for healing in our hearts...in our homes...in our communities...in our world.

Lead us by still waters and bless us with strength and endurance; keep us on Your ordained and anointed path of light and love...and we praise You that because of Your plan, we have purpose !

Jesus, we need You every minute of every day! We pray for Your Kingdom...for You to remove all sorrow and wipe the tears from our eyes...for the day when every knee bows to You, Almighty Father God! For You are worthy!

Thank You, Lord, for deliverance and for making Your home in our hearts. Cleanse and purify us, according to Your will.

In The Name of Jesus Christ, our precious Savior, we praise You and pray these things,

Amen.

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 145:18

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 73:28

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

James 4:8(a)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. .

Romans 14:11

It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God."

.

Revelations 21:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.

What’s Bigger?

WHAT'S BIGGER?

Your problems or your God?

What's bigger? A relationship that parted ways or the God who parted the Red Sea?

What's bigger? The people that are cursing you and throwing stones at you or the God who slayed a giant with a single pebble?

What's bigger? The fiery trial you are in or the God who when called on scorched His enemies with blazing flames from Heaven?

His word is full of revelation of His greatness and majesty. When we have the ability to see Him in His fullness, everything else seems to fade away. When you call on the magnified, glorified King of Kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega...then everything else looks a whole lot smaller. Magnify Him, let Him exalt Himself on High in your life, let Him display His power and glory and move you to Awe! Through the revelation of His character in His word and the manifestation of His presence and power in your life!

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,

The power and the glory,

The victory and the majesty;

For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours"- 1 Chronicles 29:11 .

Go ahead...call on Him... "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know"-Jeremiah 33:3

.

#powerofgod #butgod #strength #bible #livingword #wordofgod #dailydevotional #freedominchrist #emotionalhealing #godsword #dailydevotional #shereadstruth 

#thebalmofgileadminstries #biblicalcounseling

Releasing Fear and Anxiety

 Father God,

My anxiety often causes spiraling thoughts and sleepiness nights.

Help me to remember that there is only one true comfort and that is YOU.

Help me to remember that you are always with me.

Help me to remember that you will never leave me or forsake me.

Help me to remember that when I realize that my anxiety and fear are covered by YOU…what else is there for me to fear?

Help me to replace those things which make my anxiety worse with thoughts that correct my thinking and eliminate worry, anxiety, and fear so that I can confidently declare as it says in Psalm 51:3 – “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

In Jesus, Name, Amen 

You Don’t Grieve Alone

Weeping. It’s a strong response to the deepest emotions of the heart.

It is usually associated with great sorrow. Weeping is a part of penetrating grief.

As Jesus stood by the tomb of Lazarus… “Jesus wept.” Here is the incarnate God of the universe responding to deep sorrow.

It is clear that God incarnate is filled with compassion and care for His own. The tears of God. 

Can you fine a pagan god who weeps? They are typically poised as conquering heroes. Weeping would indicate weakness.

But God is love. He is touched…and cares to the point of weeping.

Are you in a place of great sorrow? Is weeping a part of this moment for you?

Just one thing – you do not weep alone.

Richard Dresselhaus 

Praying Through Anxiety

Anxiety disguises itself. It may appear as a twitch or a pain. It causes headaches. It’s tightness in the chest or an uncontrollable shakiness in the legs. It is a fear that’s unnecessary and yet, like a puppy freed from its leash, anxiety is impossible to control once it takes over your mind.

We are commanded in scripture to trade worry for prayer. Start today. Every time an unwanted thought intrudes, block it with a prayer. Even speaking the name of Jesus in such moments has great power. Jesus does not want you to be weighed down and burdened by worry. He asks you to release your cares to Him and let Him take care of you.

Day by day, hour by hour, even moment by moment, learn to trust Him more. He will always come through, and in the end, you will see that the worry did not change things – but prayers did!

Lord,

No one knows the secret fears that I carry around in my heart. No one but You. May I lay down fear and pick up confidence instead. You are my confidence and peace.

In Jesus, Name, Amen!