Day 2- Well Laid Plans

"For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents), but against the despotism's, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere." Ephesians 6: 12

"(Satan) begins by bombarding our minds with cleverly devised patterns of irritation, dissatisfaction, nagging thoughts, doubts, fears, and reasoning's.  He moves slowly and cautiously (after all, well-laid plans take time)." (Meyers, pg. 5)

"All Satan needs is an opening- an opportunity to inject unholy, self-centered thoughts into our heads. If we don't kick them back out, they stay inside. And he can continue his evil, destructive plan." (pg. 6)

⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 (NIV)

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, in your name, I cry out for victory. Enable me to bring every thought into obedience. Help me not to allow Satan's words to stay in my mind and steal victory. Amen

***************My Thoughts*****************

20ish years ago, I'm in middle school.

I'm that small redheaded girl that people like to pick on who has no self esteem, just fake pride.

My language, my thoughts, my actions to my sister, to my parents... was terrible.

I was mouthy.  I cussed like a sailor away from adults because I thought it made me look cooler than what I knew I was.

I hated who I was, if I even knew who that person was.

I'm not sure what eventually led me to want to change my thoughts and my words, in hindsight, I guess it doesn't matter.  But I do remember deciding that every time I said a bad word out loud or in my head, I was to ask God for forgiveness.

Lame, huh?  I mean, it's just words, what could be so bad about them?  For me, however, it was more than just words, it was an entire thought process of judging and condemning and hating that the words drew from.

At first, it was very difficult to do.  However, the more I did it, the easier asking for immediate forgiveness got easier.

God was forgiving me.  I know He was because when I asked, the thought process that was associated with that word quickly became a prayer for whoever or whatever it entailed.  Even if I didn't like the person, I found myself praying for them.  Wondering what has happened in their life to make them say or do such an action.

God changed me through me choosing to change my thought process.

What's funny about this, is that even though I'm in my mid 30's, I still feel like a young kid when a bad word slips out... like I am not allowed to say such things.

And you know what?

I don't think I am.

And every time I say or think something bad like that, I automatically revert back to the "Please forgive me, God"  (OK.... maybe not EVERY time.... after all, I am human and sin is my nature.)