Thoughts bombard my mind like a barrage of bombs in an all out aerial assault designed to litter the landscape of life with destruction and defeat. It’s a silent war, unseen by others, fought in solitude. You would think I’d know to run for weapons of my own and fire back, but instead I remain idle, for I have forgotten, am somehow temporarily blinded, to an all-important truth.
I have an Enemy.
Unaware the source of this destructive artillery, thinking it mere self-assessment, I let these thoughts linger unanswered. And they multiply.They assail and begin to prevail in that I begin to believe the lies. The thoughts crowd in and crowd out… the truth of who I really am, according to Him who is the Truth. Mistaking fiction for fact, these endless accusations appear accurate based on condemning evidence. However, outward evidence is no barometer by which to measure truth.
To gain victory against this Enemy, this lying character witness with voice disguised as mine, I must raise a resistance. I’ve been pounded yet passive. I must answer this violence with vigilance. These whispered word weapons are doing what words are designed to do…to create an image. But lying words create a false one, distorted as in a carnival mirror. I must not believe this image. It is not the truth but a false representation of what I really look like, of who I really am. Yes, I’ve been looking in the wrong mirror and worse yet, believing what I’ve seen.
So, once again, I return to the accurate mirror of God’s Word and answer this barrage with belief…belief that this one trusted mirror reflects the truth about me, and I determine to believe the image I see.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ… II Corinthians 10:3-5
Linking up with Five Minute Friday for this week’s writing prompt: CROWD
Stopping by from Five Minute Friday. I love the way you thought of crowd as a verb instead of a noun (which is what I did). Thanks for the insights.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I love that you notice parts of speech! 🙂
The post right before me is similar to yours right after me. Bookends. I love how the Lord speaks wisdom. Happy FMF!
Well, isn’t that interesting?? I’ll be visiting her to hear her thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and making the connection. 🙂
And thank you that you did visit – my apologies for the delay. I love the way you write. Added to fave blogs – thanks for coming over so I could find you 🙂
Tania, thanks for your kind words…it means a lot. I so appreciate your love for God’s Word which is evident everywhere on your site. I have a feeling we have a lot in common from some of what I’ve read. I suspect we’ll be in contact again. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by from FMF over on coffeewithjen.com. I lead a bible study right now and just finished my lesson plans for next week. The topic is over coming deception and this speaks right into what I am planning on talking about down to the scripture lesson. Thank you for this post! Will share it with the gals in my group.
What an honor, Jennifer. Ahhh…Bible studies…my favorite. Wish I could be there with you. I guess in a way, I will be. 🙂 Thanks so very much for sharing.
I love the way you’re using alliteration… especially calling them ‘whispered word weapons’. I’ve never fully appreciated that these whispered words are actually only masquerading as mine, and not truly springing from my heart. It is so encouraging to be able to pull that mask away – and take a stand against them. Thanks for your lovely post, Lisa.
What an encouragement your words are to me today, Ruth. The thought that someONE might be helped by something found here blesses me very much. What a privilege to help tear off the enemy’s disguise. Thanks for visiting…truly.
You have beautiful, lyrical writing which is a wonderful contrast to the battle imagery you are using to describe your facing off with the enemy. You have a gift for words and your incorporating the word crowd works so well. I love the crowd in and crowd out, because isn’t that just the way our enemy likes to work.
Thank you for these empowering and powerful words. I discovered your blog through Five Minute Friday and I’m glad I did. You provide a good reminder to employ truth in the face of the enemy’s lies.
One of my favorite passages: To gain victory against this Enemy, this lying character witness with voice disguised as mine, I must raise a resistance. I’ve been pounded yet passive. I must answer this violence with vigilance. (poetic, powerful beauty!)
A thousand thanks, Judith. Your kindness and compliments are heartening to me today. I think it would be fair to say that together we have fulfilled the admonition in Thessalonians to “encourage one another and build up one another”. I needed it today, so thank you from my heart.