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Refresher points about Fiery Darts…

Sep23
Ephesians 6:16

I know you are familiar with the term ‘fiery darts’. That is, if you have read my book, my blog, or Ephesians 6:16, NKJV:, “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (on which my book is based)

To be successfully in quenching these fiery darts, we need to be more than familiar with them. We must be able to recognize the source of the attacks. We must be able to recognize the why of the attacks. We must be able to recognize the method of the attack. And finally, we must be able to counter the attacks. 

Negative thinking aptly describes aspects of fiery darts. And the enemy’s skill in inserting negative thoughts into our struggles should not be ignored. After all, Satan is the father of all lies. A helpful question to ask ourselves is, “From where did that thought originate?” If it contradicts Bible truths, we can be assured it didn’t come from God. The enemy is the source. (But keep in mind, we must be a learning student of God’s word to recognize the contradictions.)

Why are we being targeted, should be a following question. Will succumbing to the negative thought weaken our faith? Will it distract us from seeking truth from God’s word? Will it put distance between us and God? Will it not only undermine our relationship with God but others as well? In other words, where will this negative thought take us if we persist in pondering it? pg 53-54 of ebook

What is the method used by the enemy? Has he cleverly disguised a lie to appear to be true to confuse us? Has he coerced us to take a verse out of context to distort the truth? Is he planting thoughts to bear the fruit of fear, anxiety, discouragement, despair? Is he attempting to create doubts about ourselves or God? Is he stirring up conflict? Has he increased a temptation that creates pressure to sin?

Once we discern the source, the why, and the method of Satan’s fiery darts, we need to come up with a counter attack. We do this choosing a Truth thought from Scripture that will extinguish the lies and deceptions and the manipulations of the enemy.

Allow me to give an example. Let’s say you are plagued by fear. There are many verses within the pages of the Bible to successfully combat fear. So here’s the drill:

When the fiery dart of fear intrudes your thoughts, first call on the verse Isaiah 54:17 and personalize it, “May this weapon formed against me not prevail.” Follow that up with of 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I recommend that every time that fearful thought (fiery dart) attempts entry into your mind quote these two verses to yourself. As often as is needed. Eventually, Satan will relent. But he will return. However, next time you will be stronger. You will increase in strength with every attack you encounter.

Tip: whatever negative thought you may be wrestling with go to your computer and type in the words, “verse about fear or doubt, or unforgiveness, or anger, etc.” Choose a Truth thought that speaks directly to your need. That’s your counter attack. (But be cautious. Check out the context of the verse to make sure it directly applies. A verse out of context is a weapon of the enemy)

Fear Reveals Our Focus

Mar23

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     My first night in Israel, I woke up around 1:30 am (Israel time) and wasn’t able to go back to sleep. Thoughts were popping into my mind, demanding I pay attention to them. (I had to be considerate of my friend who shared the room with me and not turn on any lights). Finally, there was nothing to do but grab my phone, go to my Word app, and begin recording those thoughts. The following are the words that forced themselves upon my mind that night. At the time, I thought they were a personal word for me. Up to a point they were. But after I returned home following my pilgrimage to Israel right smack in the middle of the Coronavirus fallout, I feel those words were also meant for such a time as this.

     Two themes encased my thoughts that early morning–Perspective and Fear.  Our perspective is determined by our focus. But before we choose our focus (and it is a choice, by the way) there is a viewpoint to be considered.

     First,

we need to view our lives within the context of God’s plan for them. He has given us assignments that are fashioned by that plan. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Second,

we need to be aware that Satan also has a plan:

To steal, kill, and destroy God’s plan for us. (from John 10:10a)

     Unfortunately, our human nature is too often susceptible to the manipulation and deception of our enemy, Satan. When we succumb to his temptations, we limit ourselves from fulfilling God’s plans for our lives. How does this happen?

    Satan’s premiere plan is to keep us ignorant of God’s plan. So how does Satan pull this off?

     By distracting us from spending time with God in prayer and His word. Make no mistake about it, that is the foundation stone on which Satan’s destructive tactics are built.

     Now, let’s bring this all down to the trial we are facing at present–the Coronavirus.

     Do we think for one minute that those thoughts of fear and despair come from anyone other than Satan? Of course not! But we are being tempted to take on a perspective of fear, are we not? Then how can we avoid or resist such temptation?

Consider the following:

     A fearful thought will come to our mind. That thought, if allowed to take root, will produce more fear and put us in panic mode. We will begin to behave irrationally. Thoughts of self-preservation at all costs will be entertained.

    YET, if we will but recognize that thought as a fiery dart from the enemy, there is a plan to nullify its effect. Here’s how it works:

Recognize that thought of fear as a fiery dart

Reject it outright. Don’t allow its deadly poison to take root

then Replace it with Truth thoughts.

     This is critical. We can’t just reject fear and expect to be done with it. But when it returns it needs to find no room to plant itself. This is where Truth thoughts come into play. The Truth thought found in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”, will quench such a thought. Just as it says in Ephesians 6:16, “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

Therefore, the plan we focus upon will determine our perspective in facing the Coronavirus pandemic.

     

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Tempted to fear? Then read on!

Sep14

These are perilous days in which we are living!

      Over the weekend another beheading took place and an attack on an US embassy by a terrorist group was foiled in a major African country. U.S. citizens there are being asked to be watchful and careful!

      Fighting in Israel has disrupted daily life now for months. In my own country, a Jewish friend fears for her safety when attending the synagogue to celebrate upcoming holy days. I understand that it’s typical to have armed guards surrounding the synagogue during these events.

        All over the world, persecution of Christians is on the rise. Much of it originating within terrorists cells, not only targeting Christians but Jews as well.

        I have friends in the city where the US embassy was put on guard. They are okay at present but have been warned to be careful and alert. I also have family members living in a not too distant area from there.

Am I tempted to fear? You bet, I am!

Do I give into fear? Not as long as I do the following:

First, as soon as the temptation to fear enters my mind, I RECOGNIZE it as a fiery dart.

Second, I put up my shield of faith and RESIST it.

Third, I REPLACE the fearful thought with a Truth thought, and in this case it’s 2 Timothy 1:7,For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Every single time a fearful thought seeks to embed itself into my thinking, I shift into Recognize, Resist, and Replace mode of behavior.

What is the effect of this behavior?

God tells me that fear is not something from Him. So on that fact alone, I reject it! ! ! ! ! 

   God tells me He has given me the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, instead. Therefore, any action I take, any words I speak, or thoughts I think, having to do with the evil running rampant in this world today should be defined by what God has given me–

NOT FEAR! ! ! ! ! ! 

Based on the following blog post:  https://fierydarts.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/the-3-rs-of-fighting-fiery-darts-revised-plan/