Think Again!

Chapter 2: I Don’t Think I Want to Be a Part of This Confrontation • 33

intention of showing disrespect and was more or less just “thinking out loud.” To my embarrassment, I let the enemy work me over through devaluing, globalizing, and irrationality. Constant Rampage Every day, all day long, every single human being on earth is presented with thousands of thoughts and feelings that rampage through their minds if left unchecked. The deceiver never takes a day off. He never leaves anyone alone. If he would tempt the Lord Jesus with lies, you can be sure he won’t leave you alone either. You can be the most secure and Godly person and he will still throw false messages at you every day. The effect of believing these lies takes on many forms: anxiety, depression, mental illness, physical maladies, and broken relationships. The enemy’s pillaging extends even to suicide, which occurs every 12 seconds. For every person who succeeds, 25 others attempt to take their own life. 16 That means that the accuser convinces two people to kill themselves every second. He steals, kills, and destroys in dramatic ways. Although most people don’t go so far as considering suicide, nearly everyone is consumed by keeping up appearances, terrified of what others think. The enemy whispers words of fear, “You are a fraud and people are going to find out.” So we waste time and energy trying convince people to think well of us. We fear looking foolish, being useless, or becoming destitute. And because of those fears, we are constantly vulnerable to lies. Strongholds Are Built All we really want in life is to be loved, accepted, and to do meaningful work. We just want to count for something. God is ready to fulfill these godly desires, but the enemy provides a twisted alternative, a false solution that leaves God out of the equation and puts the sole responsibility on us.