Learning to walk in faith requires trusting God and allowing Him to direct the path that we take. As a child of God it is imperative to recognize that we will be attacked spiritually by Satan through individuals that try to guide our actions because they neglect how to examine our motives to insure that they line up with the Word of God. It is in our human nature to try and shape someone for what we think we see but it is wise to recall the Creator and what He teaches us in how to trust and believe. 

 We learn this lesson with Jesus and Peter in (Mat 16:23 KJV) “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

  See Peter did not want to hear what Jesus had to say nor did he want Jesus to face what He knew would come but Jesus followed God and addressed the evil spirit of selfish desires that was guiding Peter. Throughout history God has raised men and women to serve the good of mankind instead of only caring about themselves and these individuals were given a drive that many could never understand. For instance no one believed Noah nor understood the drive he had until it was too late. What about the resistance that Nehemiah encountered when he had a deep burden from God for his homeland? What about our founding Fathers who left Great Britain in seeking freedom for our children today? How about Martin Luther King Jr. when he wanted everyone to be treated equal in spite of the color of their skin? Or, how about the drive and strength of Rosa Parks who decided to make a stand?  

 As we are spiritually driven in this world it is wise for us to know the Word of God to help us insure the steps that are taken along with the objectives in properly serving the people. It is wise to examine every spiritual push that we encounter to the Word of God to help us insure the the right motives that are behind our actions. For Satan is very clever and deceptive to deceive us in our decisions for he never wants to see Gods children being set free.

 This is why it is so important for us to know the Word of God and to teach this to our children to develop their own discernment between good and evil. Spiritually Satan works diligently in our emotions because he knows how we often allow our emotions to misguide our actions. Our emotions are very dangerous and can even be misleading due to the way we feel especially when we are pushed for time. This is why it is so vital before we act  to take days or even years in prayer with God to examine the drive the decisions we make are being led by the Lord. 

  On the other side of the coin of waiting is another area in which Satan spiritually works as well. He places fear and doubts before us that often cause us to never make that step of faith in trusting God. For instance Satan spiritually works very close inbetween a child and his father because he knows the longer the father holds out the more discouraged the son can become and this often leads to rebellion when the child does not understand the obedience and self discipline that is taught in the Word of God. This lesson is taught in 2 Corinthians 2:11 in the warning Paul gave us to not allow Satan to spiritually outsmart us in his evil schemes.

 The Lord gives each one of us a different drive and heartfelt dream in order to serve His purpose and not our own. Unfortunately, many people that never develop a relationship with the Lord allow this dream to be suppressed spiritually by Satan due to the weight of the world and the discouragement of others that don’t understand who is guiding their actions. Then there are many that use their drive and the wisdom that God has given to uplift themselves instead of learning the importance of how to maintain success in God’s glory for their childrens’ future.

 Success is another area that Satan works diligently in to intervene within us today as he did with Job in the Holy Bible. For Satan knows how easy it is for us to lose our perspective and raise ourselves up when we begin to focus on the blessings that come in our obedience to our Father in Heaven. Staying dependant upon God is crucial to understand because it is so easy as it was for Job to become self reliant on the blessings of prosperity instead of staying humble in the family of God. 

 Staying humble is vital to maintaining the positions that the Lord gives us without allowing the spirit of pride and arrogance to take us down. Many people miss this lesson in life because they simply don’t seek the will of God and they forget who is really in control.  Spiritual resistance is something that we all encounter everyday whether in nature, in our homes, in our schools, in our work environments, in our country and unfortunately even in the church. The object is to know how to react in allowing the Lord to guide us through His Holy Spirit instead of allowing Satan to misguide us spiritually in our actions.

 So the next time you encounter someone with a drive or hear one of your children speaking of their dreams ask them these questions and learn to trust God for the end results. For we should never under estimate the Power of God in serving the people;

 Why do you feel led to pursue this ambition?

 Is it coming from your heart or is it coming from a personal desire?

 Have you prayed about this drive with the Lord and compared it to the Word of God?

What do you see being accomplished if you were to achieve your goal?

Do you know how to insure that something is of God by allowing Him to put together while you just do the work that is required each day that He gives?

 There are many other questions that can be asked without trying to squash someones drive or dreams and once we hear their answers it is our place to help instead of tearing them down. Spiritually Satan wants to tear down what God tries to raise up in us for the good of others and the next time you encounter a spiritual push recognize where it comes from to maintain the motives of God instead of man…Amen  

James A. Harrison

Balanced Life Ministry

http://balancedlifeministry.org

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