Are my thoughts true? Sometimes I have thoughts that don’t seem to go away. Most times now, as a senior having lived many years, I can tell when the thoughts are not what they should be. They don’t align with what my Abba tells me. He tells me that I am loved, beautiful, His child and part of His family. But there are times, times that I don’t hear His words, but I hear the words that can echo from the past, from old wounds; other times when Satans voice rang louder than the truth.
His words usually came in the form of negative comments. “You are the most ugliest, stupidest person around, no one will ever want you.” And other comments that I knew were not true, but listened anyway. I know most people hear their own past thoughts as well. This is a way that Satan gets under our skin, making us mad, at first, but then we start to believe what he says.
But when those words don’t seem to work, when we learn to recognize what is happening, he starts in with things that seem to be good. Things that make a person feel loved, beautiful, wanted.
“Have a drink, it is okay, and will make you feel so good.” So you have one, and feel like you are the most wonderful and perfect person at the party.
“Have another piece of cake, it is so sweet, just like you!” And so you do, and it tastes so good, how could it be bad.
“Let’s watch this show, it is all about ‘love’ for one another, and will show you how you can love someone.” So you watch, but not realizing that the love portrayed here is not the love you need.
These are all lies that Satan puts in our heads; lies that for a moment make us feel good. So, we keep on doing more and more of what he says is good. Since the lies are told us in the form of good, to make us feel good, loved, wanted, we do not see the wrong. But the problem is, each one of these is another stone in his stronghold on us.
Usually when I hear the word stronghold, I think of a fort, a defence against the enemy. Gods word is my stronghold and refuge. (Psalm 9:9, 91:2) This is a stronghold that defends us, and protects us. But there is another type, since a stronghold is meant to keep things in as well as out.
The drink to an alcoholic, another and another, feeling better, or so you think. The cakes and candies that taste so good, to me, are over time weighing me down, literally and figuratively. But they do taste so good. Looking for love in all the wrong places, as the song says, will lead only to a momentary sense of love, but of the wrong kind. And to some, driving fast, playing video games, the thrill of winning. For others, shopping for the best bargains, even when you don’t need more things.
All of these things, and more, make you feel good, at least for a while. But did you, or I, know, these are also strongholds, but strongholds made to keep us in and keep God out. Satan puts up one stone at a time, each one a stronghold of his, encircling us, without us even knowing what is happening. The tower of his stones keeps getting higher and higher until, unexpectedly, we find ourselves in a pit so low we cannot even see the sky, wondering how we let ourselves get there. And suddenly, the drinks, the new clothes, the cakes and pizza and foods, all things that looked good, seemed good, all these things we can now see as Satans stones building his stronghold around us. It is holding us in, not allowing even Gods word to get through.
Do you know, it is really dark in that pit. And lonely, cold, sad. The furthest thing from the good, wonderful, and pleasant feelings that we had before. We start wondering ‘how did we get here’ ? I know this. I was there, many, many years ago. I found myself in that pit. For some, this is the only way back to our Father, to be so low that we let go of all earthly desires and look to Him to rescue us. He is there, listening for our cry. Psalm 40 tells of one person calling out to God. You notice the first thing they do is “wait patiently for the Lord.”(v.1). I think that is one of the hardest lessons I ever learned, to wait. But in these days, we all have a little more time to wait, and we need to learn to do this patiently. He is there, he is listening. I would suggest that everyone read Psalm 40, and read it with patience, slowly, taking in each word and see what Abba is doing for all of us. In verse 12 the writer says “the evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see;” Satan had built a pit around him. He tried to keep him in a stronghold of his making, but God took him out of the pit.
It is not an easy journey to knock down the walls and climb up out of the pit, and for most, we need help from friends and family. They will help tear down the wall and travel forward with you, but you do need to ask. The walls were built up one stone at a time, and will come down, one stone at a time. But most of all, we need to ask for Gods help. He is there waiting, ready for us to ask, ready to take down the walls.
Treasures 3927 