Be Not Bedraggled

That depreciating disparager is a thief and has come “only to steal and kill and destroy (Jn.10:10).” His goal is to steal away a word, a hope, a dream or a vision that God has given. He would love for you to think it has been canceled or, at the very least, that you will have to settle for something less. You end up bedraggled, talking like, “It’s not going to be what I originally expected it would be but ‘many are the trials of the righteous’ and I’m just glad to know the Lord.” The detractor spirit finds many an ear willing to listen, willing to believe and willing to act on the altered information.

The thief will get us preoccupied with other people’s views of our relationship with God or their opinion of the likelihood of God’s promise coming to pass in us. He wants us totally dismayed with the time period between promise and fulfillment. Such a spirit readily points out failed relationships and failed attempts “to be a part of” so it appears that there is now a “blemish” on our calling. His memory works overtime reminding us of failed or unheeded opportunities. Hence, the implication of our being unworthy or unreliable as participants in any divine purpose.

If the detractor cannot knock you completely out of the race, he wants the wind and confidence knocked out of you so that your performance is hindered. It would be somewhat like a high performance racecar driver pulling in for a pit stop and saying, “Don’t put much gas in the tank and don’t put on any new tires because I don’t deserve it the way I’ve been driving.” Cf.”For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ (2Co.1:20).” Never stop saying “Amen” to what God has said.

(This is the third excerpt in a series about “Don’t Settle For Anything Less” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs.”)