Thoughts for StS

2/7/07

I arrived at the men's group last night late and they were already well into discussion. After I arrived we called StS to see how things were going for him. During the phone call I was praying for focus and struggling against the strong urges of my flesh or picker to throw out advice without waiting for the Spirit first. I was studying my motives and not particularly happy with what I was finding. So I kept quiet and prayed inwardly and waited to see what God would do. I have found that waiting for God's timing always seems to result in better outcomes.

I observed that Satan is targeting StS very intensely along with his family right at the most critical time in their son's life at the age of twelve. Craig Hill has pointed out that this is very common because Satan intends to steal any blessing that might and should be passed to the children from their father at the age when they need it the most. Our culture has not only completely forgotten the rite of passage to adulthood that many other cultures still observe, but Satan has succeeded in ripping the father completely out of so many families particularly at this very point in time in their children's lives. Thereby, instead of a specific blessing being imparted to the child empowering them for success a curse is cast over their life that they must struggle under for years to come if not remediated.

I also sense that God may be using this situation for StS to create an internal hunger for Himself that is so necessary for us to move into deeper dependence on Him. We go through so much of our lives in easy cooperation with so many of our hidden false gods, sources of support and satisfaction that are so acceptable and approved by our friends and religious people. We have no idea of the extent of our dependence on these gods until tension and conflict rise to an intensity that draws our attention to alert us that all is not right. Even then it is so difficult to admit or recognize our cherished idols after they seemingly have served us so well for so many years. And even then, only the Holy Spirit can safely convict us of these arrangements without driving us into over-defensiveness or hopeless condemnation.

So often it is easy for me to see what I believe are the problems of those around me and desire to point them out so they can see and correct them. You can easily see where this is going. All I have to do is remember how well that works with me when others try it on me. But when the Spirit convicts me of the things that are preventing me from experiencing the deeper, richer intimacy that is God's desire for me to come close to Him and also my growing desire, it gives a completely different perspective on letting go of my idols. I need to see more clearly the contrast between the shallow and temporary satisfaction or pleasure offered by these false sources and the lavish, extravagant riches of favor, grace, freedom and power that my Creator is eagerly waiting to flood into my life.

I would like to strongly recommend to StS the full set of Munchies by Jim Wilder. This is an invaluable source of wisdom that has been a blessing to those of us who are listening to them. They come in MP3 format which makes them even easier to take with and listen to anywhere. He covers a wide range of things that are extremely practical and yet very profound. God has gifted him with wisdom and I am so glad he is sharing it with us. I believe that it would make a great contribution to the capacity of StS to perceive what is really going on in his current struggle for perspective.

I see an intense thrust of the enemy of souls to cast a veil of deception that is not unlike the spells used in heathen countries to control people and distort their view of reality. I believe we are all subjected to various intensities of magical-like powers endeavoring to deceive us and prevent us from living in freedom. But there are times when the spell is greatly intensified, when the enemy specifically targets an individual or family and all sorts of strange events and behaviors are displayed. This is when it is most dangerous to follow human wisdom and counsel. It is when we need a strong infusion of divine insights, revelations and frequent immersions in the conscious presence of God. The intensity of the struggle is directly proportional to the value of the things at stake. We are up against the greatest thief in the history of the universe. He hates our souls and our families because they are so valuable to God. But we have available to us the far-surpassing resources of protection and means of exposure to unveil his schemes if we will learn to live in the true reality of heaven's atmosphere.

I am praying for StS and his family that God will have permission to intercept the attacks, preempt the illusionary thoughts and urges with revelations of what is true reality, and flood light into what is now shadows and confusion. I would encourage you, StS, to practice the praise and worship strategy to disable the powers arrayed against you, to fill your mind with contemplations of what God is really like and call to memory the words that God has spoken to reveal Himself to us. Do not give an inch to any thoughts of failure or alternative plans. Launch yourself into the battle for your soul and align all your resources with God's will. Release all dependence on anything that interferes with total trust in God's love and test God's faithfulness. Remember, God is passionately on your side to infuse life, abundant life into your heart and your family.

Every struggle produces strength unless we don't resist. The muscles we use to resist become stronger. If we resist God by trusting our own plans and wisdom, then those ways of thinking become stronger. If we submit to God and resist the Devil, then those character muscles are strengthened. When we practice focusing on the truth about God we release that very power into our experience. Notice all the incredible stories of victory in the Bible and how many of them were preceded by rehearsals of God's wonders from the past. God is eager to reveal His power again but needs our permission through the agency of our faith in His faithfulness.