EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE HAS A SPIRITUAL IMPLICATION ON OUR LIVES.
EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS EITHER DRAWING US CLOSER TO JESUS OR PULLING US FURTHER FROM HIM.
6 TACTICS OF THE ENEMY:
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DESTRUCTION – THE ENEMY SEEKS TO DESTROY LIVES THROUGH SIN, ADDICTION, FEAR, AND HOPELESSNESS.
OVERCOMING IT: PRACTICE A HEART OF GRATITUDE
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PRACTICAL STEP: CREATE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL TO WRITE 1-3 THINGS YOU’RE THANKFUL FOR EACH DAY. START EVERY PRAYER WITH THANKS TO GOD.
EACH OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES US WITH A CHANCE TO TRUST IN GOD.
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DISTRACTION: THE ENEMY USES BUSYNESS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND WORRIES TO PULL OUR FOCUS AWAY FROM GOD.
OVERCOMING IT: PRIORITIZE GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST
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PRACTICAL STEP: SET BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR TECHNOLOGY, USE THE DO NOT DISTURB. GO OLD SCHOOL AND JUST USE A PHYSICAL BIBLE SO YOUR PHONE CAN’T DISTRACT. GET ACCOUNTABILITY, TO KEEP YOU FROM INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT, DO BIBLE STUDIES WITH FRIENDS.
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DECEPTION: THE ENEMY DISTORTS TRUTH, LEADING PEOPLE INTO FALSE BELIEFS AND SIN DISGUISED AS “GOOD.”
“SATAN LOVES TO KEEP US DOING SOMETHING GOOD, SO WE CAN AVOID DOING THE THING THAT’S THE BEST.”
OVERCOMING IT: KNOW AND STAND ON THE WORD OF GOD
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PRACTICAL STEP: JOURNAL YOUR THOUGHTS FOR ONE DAY AND THEN MATCH THEM TO THE WORD OF GOD. YOU CAN EVEN SPLIT THEM BETWEEN NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE THOUGHTS.
4. DISUNITY: THE ENEMY SOWS DISCORD IN FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND RELATIONSHIPS TO WEAKEN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
OVERCOMING IT: PURSUE PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
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PRACTICAL STEP: CHOOSE FORGIVENESS OVER OFFENSE (COLOSSIANS 3:13). ENGAGE IN OPEN, LOVING COMMUNICATION. PRAY FOR UNITY IN YOUR HOME AND CHURCH. REJECT GOSSIP AND DIVISION. BE QUICK TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN A CHRISTLIKE WAY (MATTHEW 18:15-17).
5. DESENSITIZATION: THE ENEMY NORMALIZES SIN, MAKING US NUMB TO ITS DANGERS AND THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
OVERCOMING IT: GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND
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PRACTICAL STEP: BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU WATCH, LISTEN TO, AND ENGAGE WITH. SET BOUNDARIES ON MEDIA AND INFLUENCES THAT PROMOTE SIN. CONFESS AND REPENT REGULARLY TO KEEP YOUR HEART SENSITIVE TO GOD’S SPIRIT.
WHAT YOU FEED GROWS(MEANING YOU ARE ENSLAVED TO IT) SO CHOOSE YOUR CONTENT WISELY.
6. DECONSTRUCTION: THE ENEMY ATTACKS FAITH BY PLANTING DOUBT ABOUT GOD’S WORD, LEADING MANY TO REJECT BIBLICAL TRUTH.
29% OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS DON’T BELIEVE IN A LITERAL HELL, AND 12% AREN’T SURE.
OVERCOMING IT: BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION IN CHRIST
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PRACTICAL STEP: STUDY AND DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE, LIKE SIGNING UP FOR BLI. ASK QUESTIONS AND SEEK BIBLICAL ANSWERS INSTEAD OF TURNING TO WORLDLY PERSPECTIVES. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WISE, MATURE BELIEVERS WHO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH.