The Same Scheme, But Greater Strategy
Last week my therapist was challenging me with my thought life. I just told her how my gifts are making room for me, and she asked how I felt about that. I was honest of course because you do know in order for therapy to be effective you have to be honest about your stuff. It is not meant to be used just as a venting session. Someone needed to hear that, but anyway. I spoke on being afraid. We went deeper to the root thought which was “What if I fail?” She challenged me to switch that thought to “What if I succeed?” Good stuff right? She studied me. She said “what are you thinking about that strategy I just gave you”. I said “Laziness has been on me.” If you don’t know, that is indeed a spirit.
“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
I told her I have not been applying my tools. I have not been putting in the work to switch my thoughts and renew my mind. Renewing the mind is a daily thing! In January God told me I have to fight differently this year. My old strategy no longer suits me because we all know when we go to a new level there will be new devils. However, Satan’s goal and the thing’s he goes after will always be the same, but our strategy to fight Him does not. In war it would be pretty stupid to go into battle with the same strategy you did the last one. Your opponents will conquer you every time because they know how you are fighting. They will always have one up on you because they studied and familiarized themselves with your strategy. That is what the devil does with us. He has been studying you and I. He wants us to give in to His schemes, give up on ourselves and God, lose hope, fall into the patterns of this world, compromise, stay in sin, stay the same way inwardly, and deny Christ! I don’t know about you but your girl isn’t giving him any form of victory!
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
I had to sit with God and talk to Him about what needed to increase, change, or start in my life to make sure I stay grounded in this season I am in. I want you to do the same. We can not continue to stay the same and expect victory to always be our portion. We have to do the work. We have to want to be a woman or man after God’s own heart. We have to desire and be willing to change inwardly. Holiness is work. It is also a process, but you have to start somewhere for the process to begin. Today I want to share what God gave me to do to fight differently.
My strategy for the rest of 2024!
Wake up an hour early to spend time with God.
Get on a fitness regimen. God told me and my spiritual mother that He is building up my endurance in this season.
Attend Bible Study every week.
Get involved within my church!
Have access to God’s word in my classroom. My scripture flashcards will not be enough.
Be disciplined with planning for my weeks on Sunday. Be intentional about stewarding my time well.
Making sure I tithe for the remainder of the year!
Every morning anoint my head, hands, feet, mouth, tongue, and ears before I leave the house.
Continue in therapy!
There are certain things I want to go further in detail with, but not today. Your strategy will look different from mine. God requires different things from us as we are all in different seasons. I am praying for you. If you know that laziness is something you are struggling with, I renounce and command the spirit of laziness to come off of you now. I pray against the spirit of procrastination, fear, doubt, unbelief, and perfectionism in the name of Jesus. May you be loosen from any stronghold that has you stagnant in this season. I pray for strength to be your portion. May every scheme and attack of the enemy be reversed in Jesus name, amen. I love you. Let me know if you get a new strategy. We can hold each other accountable! Enjoy your weekend!
