Have accusing thoughts ever attacked you after you tried to help someone know Jesus better? Have you left a Bible study group wishing you hadn’t opened your mouth?

What’s up with that?

Years ago, a knowledgeable guide entertained a group of moms and kids on a fieldtrip to a local historic site. However, I sensed her emptiness and wanted to talk to her about the Lord. My conversation didn’t go as I’d hoped. That’s when the negative self-talk began.

Internal accusations pelted me as I drove away. Why did you say that? You really botched an opportunity. You’re a poor excuse for a Christian.

The Bible says, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephes. 6:12 NIV).

We have an enemy who doesn’t want people to know the truth about God. When we try to grow closer to God or tell others about Him we invite spiritual attacks. This knowledge shouldn’t scare us but prepare us.

[bctt tweet=”The enemy doesn’t want us to know the #truth. When we try to grow closer to God or tell others about Jesus we invite #SpiritualAttacks.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

Paul told us how to win the battle in our minds.

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5 NIV).

Here are two filters to help you recognize and defeat damaging self-talk.

1. Know the Truth.

Those trained to identify counterfeit money study real money. The better we know the truth the quicker we’ll discern lies. God’s Word is truth.

Notice the difference between what Satan said to Jesus and what the Father said about Jesus.

Satan: “If you are the Son of God…” 

The Father: “This is my dearly loved Son.”

Do you know what the Father has said about you? Do you know the truth about how He sees you?

When we know the truth we’ll recognize the lies.

2. Know the Shepherd’s Voice

It’s not enough to know what the Bible says. We must know the character of the One who wrote it.

Satan knows the Bible better than we do. He quoted Psalm 91 to tempt Jesus. But Jesus knew Scripture was never intended to tempt, harm, or condemn God’s children. God’s word corrects, comforts, instructs, and strengthens us.

Do you hear a harsh tone when you read the Bible? Are your thoughts condemning and accusing? That is not the voice of our gentle Shepherd.

The better we know our shepherd’s voice the quicker we’ll take every thought captive.

The better we know Jesus, the quicker we discern and defeat our enemy.

We must learn to filter our thoughts. Ideas that argue against the truth or don’t line up with our Shepherd’s voice must be captured and made to submit to Him.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (Jn. 10:27 NIV).

{First published at debbieWwilson.com 5/29/18}

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My e-book Give Yourself a Break from Renegade Thoughts and Messy Emotions released yesterday for $.99. I hope you’ll try it and let me know what you think.

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP is open! Today, my friend @DebbieWWilson reminds us that ideas that argue against Truth or don’t line up with our Shepherd’s voice must be captured and made to submit to Him. Join us & share your blog! ” username=”PatHolbrook”]