Have you ever had someone say something to you, or about you, and it just went through you worse than normal? It either bothered you, made you mad or just hit you in a way that you couldn't explain. Have you ever came the realization later that the reason what the person said bothered you so bad is because you know there was a little bit of truth to it and you just didn't want to face it? I can be real and honest and say this has happened to me on more than one occasion.
Sometimes when the enemy comes at this happens to us too. Matthew 5:25 talks about agreeing with your adversary quickly lest your adversary delivers you to the judge. In this story the adversary is the enemy and God is the judge. What is meant by this is the same thing I mentioned above. If the enemy comes at you with accusations the one thing he is trying to trap you into doing is getting into a defensive 'argument' with him. Why? Because if he can get us on the defenses we will move into a place of self righteousness and begin to defend our thoughts, our actions...and even sometimes thing very things we did wrong. These things will harden our heart and cause us to lose focus on where our righteousness really comes from...Jesus. Satan knows that whatever he is accusing us of will eventually put us before our judge, God, and he would love us to go before that judge in an attitude of 'self defense'. However, if you want to knock the wind out from underneath satan's sails, then face him with humility in your heart. When you stop and realize that there is always going to be a bit of truth to the very thing the enemy is making you feel guilty about (because we are always falling short to sin), you can then go to God with a completely different attitude. With humility....admitting your weakness....recognizing the places you still need God's strength, wisdom, grace and mercy. Realizing that it is in Jesus' righteousness that we are anything...not our own.
So when the enemy comes at you accusing you, don't jump to the defense. Instead, look the enemy in the eye and admit your shortcoming...BUT...tell him that you are forgiven through Christ Jesus and you are going to let God do the work needed in that area of your life to help you not do that "thing" again. For example, if you know you had an argument with a coworker and said some things you shouldn't have...and now you know the enemy is all over you with guilt trying to make you feel condemned, say to the enemy "I was wrong. I let my pride get in the way and didn't represent Christ well there. God, please forgive me, show me the right way to handle or fix this and help me grow from this so I don't act like this the next time someone steps on my pride".
Don't walk in guilt and shame from the enemy. That is exactly what he wants. When he can cause us to feel that way, he can cause us to put distance between God and ourselves. That is always his goal and YOU have the power to say "NO, I'm not going to let you do this anymore. You may accuse me, but I will recognize the sin and humble myself enough to deal with it before God. Not stand in defense out of my own pride because that is exactly what you would want me to do!"
God, help us to be wise to the enemies tricks and not get caught up in defending ourselves. Your word says this world is full of sin and so are we, so help us see when we are wrong...even a little wrong...and bring that to You immediately so Your forgiveness, grace and mercy can cover us, correct us and keep us on the path that You want us to be on. Not letting the enemies accusations derail us. In Jesus name, Amen.
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