Friday Fight 201: Accept and Except
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF201.
How often have circumstances in our lives changed slowly, and suddenly, we find ourselves unquestioningly accepting these changes? Maybe it's a habit of someone close to us, like a partner's new addiction, or a prayer that feels like it will never be answered. Sometimes, we think we will never be healed after praying for a particular period of time, so eventually, we focus our prayers elsewhere. What happens to our spiritual perspective when our acceptance of things changes, and how can this impact our spiritual lives?
Accept and Except:
In our acceptance, we often inadvertently give permission to the enemy of our souls to manipulate us. Even if we are not claiming something out loud, acknowledging it as a potential truth is a step in the wrong direction. Let's unpack this further. What if we accept that the person we have prayed for will never find freedom? Eventually, we relent and slowly begin to change our prayer. Maybe we have received the lie that we will never be forgiven or that God is not going to heal us. Being mindful of what we accept can help us decipher truth from lies, which can ultimately be spiritually impactful. Has Satan convinced us that the dream we had for our lives will never happen because it has not happened yet? When we are unaware of some of the maneuvers and manipulations of darkness, we can easily believe that everyone except us is being showered with blessings and answered prayers.
Living in the mindset of acceptance can quickly change to believing we are excluded from God's love, which can welcome doubt. While our doubt may waver, we must root ourselves in the truth that we are never excluded from His love, grace, and mercy. But remember, we are not missing the blessings or healing, nor have we been excluded from the power of forgiveness. Psalm 25:5 says, "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Holding onto hope can keep us grounded and aligned with the Holy Spirit's guidance, enabling us to fully embrace what's ahead. When we distrust God, it decreases our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's leading, and we could miss something intended for our journey. Don't accept any lies from darkness; speak the truth over your life and claim victory over any situation or person that has been slowly removed as our topic of prayer.
Speaking truth over our lives, especially in times of trial, can also help reclaim our focus and bring peace to our hearts. Be aware of the words accept and except in keeping a prayerful attitude that provides opportunities for a deeper connection with God.
Pastor Shannon
River Church