I want to challenge you’re thinking today, so buckle your seat belt.
I’ve heard it said—both inside and outside of church—that if you’re going through hard times, it’s because you’re doing something for God that the devil doesn’t like. I agree, but have reservations with this.
I’ve also heard that we give the devil credit too often. And I wholeheartedly agree with that.
How often are our difficulties simply the effect of our own poor choices?
It’s easier to blame someone else for our troubles rather than take personal responsibility. But when we do that, we are giving them power over us!
I’m not passing judgment on anyone. I’ve been in this boat myself.
Take a deep breath and continue reading!
Don’t Expect the Problem
James 4:7 tells us to “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” But James first says, “submit to God.” That means willingly placing yourself under the authority of God.
I most certainly want the devil to know that I’m not going to let him bowl me over, but I don’t start each day expecting bad things to happen.
What we expect, we look for. Which means, we will see the bad we expect rather than the good we want. In the words of my personal development coach, David Neagle, “Don’t expect what you don’t want.”
If we focus on problems, we see only problems and not the solutions.
Are you expecting things you don’t want? You might be doing it without even realizing it. I was, until my coach made me aware of it. I can’t begin to list all the wrong thinking I’ve tossed to the curb in the last year. It hasn’t been easy, and it took conscious awareness of my thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5) daily.
Expect What You Want
I don’t get up every day with “I’m going to slay the devil today” mindset because then I’d be looking for problems to come my way. Instead, I focus on the good I want in my life and do what God has given me to do for that day.
When a problem arises, I remind myself of the truth:
- God is with me and has the solution (Isa. 41:10).
- I can do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13).
- I am more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37).
- With God all things are possible (Matt. 19:36).
- Nothing is impossible to those who believe (Mark 9:34).
- I resist the devil and command him to be gone, claiming the specific verses that might apply, such as 1 Pet. 2:24 for healing, or 2 Cor. 9:8 God generously provides all I need.
If you blame someone (the devil or people) for your problems, you are functioning from a victim mindset, stripping yourself of your God-given power, and handing that power to those you blame.
God created you in His image, and if you are a born-again Christian, you have the Holy Spirit and all His power residing within you. Read the Bible and learn what it says about you, so you can function from that truth.
Another book I recommend is The Power of TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic). (affiliate link)
This won’t happen over night, but it won’t happen at all if you don’t decide to make some changes.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 NKJV).
Excellent message, Deb! Thank you for sharing this!
Glad you liked it, Deb. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of expecting bad things to happen. I’ve been there. And what goes along with it is people saying, “I must be doing something right.” But if they don’t know what they’re doing right, how can they possibly know in what direction to continue? It can be a vicious circle.