If the devil were to do an all out attack on you, what area of your life would he go after?
This question is not theoretical question. I mean at the start of the Gospels, in Matthew 4:1-11, it shares how Jesus was tested for 40 days! My teammate, Logan, asked me this question about 3 weeks ago which has lead me to new found freedom.
It’s easier to see people struggle with external sin, and come alongside to help them, to call them into greatness. But what about internal sin? What about the spiritual battle that is happening between your ears? This is the battle I was engaged in throughout March. Not only being fed lies, but listening to them.
“Eric, you aren’t good enough.”
“Eric, this team has enough spiritual battles, don’t bring one more to the table.”
“Eric, why bother, they aren’t going to listen to you anyways.”
“Eric, they don’t care, withdraw and play it safe.”
I know when the devil comes after me, he is going to pull at my natural introvert tendencies. The main objective to get me to pull out from the community, internally separate me from the group, and lead me down a path of I do not need the group. The scary part is it is sudden, and hard for others to pick up on. It’s easy to explain away why I didn’t participate, why I didn’t add to the conversation, and “fake” sitting around a table. Because it is possible to be somewhere physically but be mentally and spiritually checked out.
Freedom wasn’t found just because Logan posed a question and I took it seriously. Freedom came a couple weeks later while at Leadership Development Weekend in Riga with the entire squad. It came when I choose not to answer, “Eric, what are your strengths and weaknesses?” (A squad mate asked me this following a Self-Awareness teaching) Rather I decided to repeat Logan’s question and go deep with how I have let those lies impact my March. A squad mate could instantly relate and a bond was instantly formed. The lies came crashing down and truth was not just spoke but felt.
Once light was shined on internal darkness – fruit can grow!
The process of overcoming can commence! After the weekend I continued in this new found freedom and shared the struggle with my teammates! Yes, it was a humbling conversation, but after experiencing the joy that I experience over the weekend, I knew it would continue.
The struggle still exists to some degree but I now feel a strong conviction once it happens. To approach my teammates afterwards, expose the lie, and actually engage them like they originally desired. To be loved through the process. To enjoy the freedom! To continue to take on sin with intention.
Everything was settled at the crossover 2,000 years ago. The question is are you willing to continually to lay things down at the foot of the cross? To strain ahead to become more Christ like so that you can love God and love people better!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
Be Bold in sharing your struggles with people that love you.
Be Intentional in the process of walking in freedom.
