If you have been wounded by anger, perhaps you need to read this!

There’s the person who exhibits anger (last post).

Then there’s the person who gets wounded by such anger (this post).

Okay, someone close to you has a temper and far too often you bear the brunt of it. How do you deal with it? Do you coward down and allow yourself to become victimized and manipulated by their anger? If this is the case, then let’s be clear about where this path will lead.

I would encourage you to remember that you choose victory or defeat. And know that by refusing to choose, you actually choose to fall and suffer defeat. p 65, 3rd edition FD

The Bad News!

th-18

Living in fear (heavy duty fiery dart) that something you might say or do will incite an angry response from a loved one is like living in a dark dungeon. The darkness hides any route of escape. The longer you remain in that darkness, the more your thoughts will be controlled by that darkness. You will become vulnerable to the lies of one fiery dart thought after another (each one progressively worse). You will become so distracted by this fiery dart thinking that it will begin to rule you. Satan’s plan to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a) is set in motion.

That’s the bad news! The good news is that we possess the means to undo Satan’s plan to sow the seeds of destruction . . . By becoming a student of God’s Word and communicating with God on a regular basis, we are in possession of everything we need to foil Satan’s plan. It’s that simple! p. 70, 3rd edition FD

The Good News!

th-8

The very very first thing you must do is to collect a store of Truth Thoughts (refer to the 3 R’s of FD’s page of this blog) with which to extinguish each and every fiery dart thought that’s aimed at you. I offer the following practical advice on how to do this:

I have also found a simple electronic concordance to be especially helpful when searching for verses to combat fiery darts. Or try doing an Internet search for a verse that relates to a struggle you may be having with a fiery dart/negative thought. p 62, 3rd edition FD

Remember, your loved one isn’t the enemy!

They are being controlled and manipulated just as you were by Satan’s fiery darts. By focusing on the Truth Thoughts God will lead you to, you will learn how to center your thoughts on God. This will have the blessed benefit of shining light into that dark dungeon you were in. And your route of escape to the abundant life God has planned for you (John 10:10b) will be revealed.

This will transform your thinking and how you respond to the anger of your loved one. You will begin to see beyond their anger and will be in a position to lead them to their own freedom and healing.

Angry? Maybe you should read this!

Feb25

There is such thing as righteous anger but this post considers the opposite–unrighteous anger. The natural end of such fiery dart thinking is sin.

These thoughts are designed for your destruction. Knowing that sin will certainly proceed from thoughts of this nature, Satan’s plan to destroy us is set in motion. Therefore, if the thought’s natural end is sin, it is obvious that Satan’s fiery darts have been influencing your thinking. p 54 3rd edition FD

Anger is a common emotion. We all experience it.

Therefore, due to its common occurrence, it behoves us as Christians, especially, to learn how to manage such a destructive force. So let’s examine some Truth Thoughts from Scripture that not only expose but advise us on how to manage the fiery dart of anger.

What anger does!

Does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20 NIV)

Stirs up strife & causes much transgression (Proverbs 29:22 ESV; Proverbs 15:18 ESV)

Stirred up by harsh words (Proverbs 15:1)

th-16

Biblical advice in managing anger!

Sometimes it’s good to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11 ESV)

Being slow to anger quiets contention (Proverbs 15:18 ESV)

A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

If we are tempted to be angry, it would be advisable to heed the following before we lash out and inflict wounds:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 ESV

th-17

Learning how to let God help!

Feb9

th-3

I’ve come to realize that crying out to God concerning my problems is not all there is!

Pouring out our hearts to God does offer some relief from the burdens we carry. But, if we walk away after depositing our load at Jesus’s feet, then we have left prematurely! And I wonder if it’s not too long before we find ourselves carrying that very same burden again, finding it just as heavy as it was before.

Ever been there? Then join the club!

For most of my Christian life, unloading my burdens in prayer was a faithful ritual. The temptation (or fiery dart) of that was in thinking that was all that was required of me. My real problem was I had been doing a lot of talking, but very little listening.

If I could put into words, here is what I sensed my LORD was saying to me:

You pour your heart out to me, pretty consistently! That is good! And I listen to you, but I can’t say that you listen to Me. I want to help you with your problems, but you will have to do less talking and more listening for that to happen.

You see I was going to the Source for the answers to my problems but as soon as I got through unloading them on God, I’d say Amen, then go on my way. I would ask God for His help, but I wouldn’t hang around long enough to find out how He planned on helping me!

You know what? I didn’t really know how to listen to God. Which meant I didn’t know how to let God help me.

So, how do we let God help us?

When we spend time with God as we read and study the Bible, He will lead us to the very verses that addresses our problems. It’s in accepting and applying those truth’s to those problems that will lead to the solutions we are so desperate for. That’s how we listen! That’s how we learn!

Something to prayerfully consider!

Feb2

fiery-darts-coverrevised

The purpose of this blog is to offer practical applications in how to fight fiery dart temptations and thinking. The book, however, reveals the full facets of this menacing weapon and what we need to know to contend with it successfully. I have inserted a table of contents below to reveal the extent of these facets concerning fiery darts.

After reading over this table of contents and the back cover comments, perhaps you would desire to delve deeper in your understanding of this spiritual warfare? If so, click on the words “Order Now” on the right side of this page, to secure your own copy.

An e-book version is available as well.

May we learn to extinguish all the fiery darts of the enemy victoriously!

Ephesians 6:16

To Worry or not to Worry! That is My Question!

Jan23

I have a hard time trusting God when it comes to money matters. I wonder if those reading this blog do as well.

For example, I was led to believe that a small monthly increase would be starting in January with an income check I receive, but guess what? The cost of insurance payments increased as well! So much so that those increases ate up that pay raise and left me receiving less this year than last year. Ouch!

Oh yeah, the temptation to worry is poised and ready to inflict my thoughts with worry. Yet my training has taught me I must resist such thinking and replace it with Truth thoughts (p. 93 FD 3rd edition).

I desire to be like the flowers who don’t worry. But this is an area where I am especially vulnerable to Satan’s fiery darts. It’s a challenge for me to trust God with such abandon. Calling upon verses like the following is my only recourse:

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 HCSB

Knowing what I know, I am faced with two questions,

What if I choose to worry over this dilemma ?

It’s vital that you keep in mind Satan’s plan to steal, kill, and destroy. When a suspicious thought enters your mind, ask yourself this question, “If I consider this thought and act upon it, will good come from it?” If you cannot answer in the affirmative, then put up your shield of faith and stand your ground in deflecting such thinking! p. 54 FD 3rd edition

Or what if I choose not to worry?

On the other hand, consider Galatians 5:22-23. This is the familiar verse describing the fruits of the Spirit. When God puts a thought into your mind, then, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control, for example, is the desired end. The purpose behind thoughts influenced by God is meant to conform us into the image of His Son. p. 54 FD 3rd edition

Therefore, if I choose to keep my thoughts centered on God’s faithful provision then the enemy looses. His grip weakens and my spiritual muscles grow stronger!

Making America Great Again!

Jan14

make_america_great_large

This is a popular phrase heard in our country today. Many people believe that since the presidential election, we have our first chance in years to actually accomplish this.

And that’s brings me to why I’m publishing this post!

If we believe that only a Trump administration can make America great again, then we will have succumbed to a dangerous fiery dart! Embracing an attitude such as this implies that we are placing the responsibility for restoring America’s greatness on the shoulder’s of an elected official. It implies that our job is done.

Okay, that’s the fiery dart we should reject,

so what’s the Truth thought with which we should replace it?

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

If God is to save & heal our land, then He must hear from us! And who are the ‘us’ in this verse? Christians!

What must He hear from us? The humble prayers of confession and repentance.

THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

The Fear of Witnessing?

Jan9

I listened to a sermon today, that revealed a fiery dart that too many of us fall prey to! May I ask you something, as one Christian to another?

Does the idea of witnessing to someone strike fear in your heart. Do thoughts like:

I’m just not cut out for this witnessing thing; not my gift!.

I wouldn’t be able to remember any of the verses, much less quote them.

What if they get mad at me or make fun of me?

I don’t think I am a good enough Christian to witness.

Think about it my friends. If Satan can convince us that we don’t have what it takes to share Christ with others, then the weapon he has formed against us, has prevailed.We allow ourselves to be convinced we can’t witness and you know what? That’s a lie!

As I listened to this pastor, it became clear to me that our hesitation in sharing Christ was based on two things: 1)failure to spend time with God in prayer 2) failure to spend time with God in His Word.

It’s quite simple really. Allow me to illustrate.

As we spend time with God in prayer and bible study, we are becoming equipped to deal with the trials in our life. (James 1:2-4) Not only will we learn how to deal with these trials we will grow stronger as a result. From Scriptures we learn to have a grateful heart in the good times and as well as the bad. Philippians 4:6-7 Peace will guard our hearts as a result. Fear will be kept at bay. 2 Timothy 1:7

The more this happens the more our love for Christ grows. Our thoughts will center less on ourselves and more on Christ. We will want to share what Christ has done in our lives. Especially when we see others who are living in the bondage that Christ set us free from. 2 Corinthians 1:4

The Bible contains the answers to life’s questions. When we find it working for us, we will be compelled to share those answers with others. It will come as naturally to us as breathing. There will be nothing to fear. So learn to recognize this fiery dart, reject it, and replace it with these Truths.

(Refer to The 3 R’s of Fighting Fiery Darts, page 7 of this blog)

Fiery darts defined!

Jan4

In conversation with my grandson, after my 3rd edition of Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice was published, he asked me a very pointed question. “So what is a fiery dart?”

If you have wondered this too, read on.

First, while Satan cannot read our minds, he can influence our thoughts. Thus, the Bible instructs us to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11 NIV)

So how do we recognize fiery darts? Examine the effect the “suspicious thought” has on you. Does it produce confusion, fear, doubt, anger, inferiority, indecisiveness, jealously, judgment, or selfishness, for example? p 53, 3rd edition

A negative action is often the result of negative thinking. Understandably, if Satan can negatively influence our thinking, then the temptation to act negatively will be hard for us to resist. p 27, 3rd edition

A realistic view of our areas of vulnerability, or weaknesses, in our flesh, or sin nature, is vital for understanding how the Enemy will attack us. While each of us may have different areas of vulnerability, we need to understand that our area of weakness will be the prime target for Satan’s fiery darts. p 29, 3rd edition

When a person becomes a Christian they are given a new nature, one that is the direct opposite of their old nature. Formerly, their will was directed by their old nature, but at the point of salvation, their old nature was dethroned. Their will is now directed by their new nature. … With this comes a hunger to study the Bible and to maintain consistent communication with God through prayer. The old nature, the flesh, resists such desires. Eventually, Satan arrives on the scene with his first and most formidable fiery dart—tempting their old nature with powerful distractions, making it harder and harder for new believers to commit to consistent Bible study and time in prayer. p 44, 3rd edition

Therefore,

If our (Christians) clarity of right and wrong has been diminished by infrequent time in Bible study and prayer then our vulnerability towards Satan’s temptations (fiery darts) is seriously compromised. And those temptations can influence our minds to think negatively.

If we allow ourselves to continue avoiding these two disciplines (bible study and prayer), then, our will is more easily influenced by our flesh and is drawn more to the world. Our attitudes and actions will begin to contradict the choice we made to follow Christ’s example. The weaker we become in our Spirit, the more easily we can be manipulated by Satan’s fiery darts.p 47, 3rd edition

To Wrap it Up

Fiery darts are the temptations of Satan.

Fiery dart thinking is the result of giving into those temptations.

Tempted to despair in this New Year?

Jan1

Tonight 2016 comes to a close and tomorrow 2017 starts out anew and fresh!

Yet, in spite of the hope of fresh beginnings, despair has the potential to overshadow such optimism.

How does this happen?

It’s quite simple, actually! But, oh, so powerful!

It’s a matter of focus.

Despair consistently and predictably acts like a magnet, attracting thoughts of self. The force of this pull is powerful. One self-focused thought after another bombards our thinking, and the downward progression begins.

When our thoughts reflect less of what we are learning during our study of the Bible or what God’s Spirit communicates to us in prayer then a downward progression is set in place, p 46 3rd Edition FD

In the past, I fell victim to this force time after time! With each thought, I became more confused as to what Truth was. I felt justified in my thinking and condemned all at the same time. Depression was the outcome!

Recently, that all too familiar pull of despair, began to invade my thoughts. And in spite of the hope of fresh beginnings of the New Year, I felt myself tempted to surrender to its force.

But I was reminded of those dark days prior to learning about how to counter the attack of fiery dart thinking. I now was living in freedom from that bondage and I was determined not to go there again!

I knew what my plan of action must be. I knew that God’s Word contained the answers to resist the temptation to despair. Therefore, I began making a conscious effort to replace the lies that attempted to rule my thinking with the Truth thoughts below.

Once again Satan came at me with lies that in the past had prevailed over me. But not this time. Not since God taught me the Truths that would displace those lies!

Fiery Darts featured by Certa Publishing

Dec8

img_4415_ig

I am very excited about Certa Publishing’s featuring my book on their Facebook page on Friday, 12/9/16.

Please check it out and note the sale price!

Many Christians are unaware of the most powerful, yet subtle weapon in Satan’s arsenal. My book identifies this weapon and gives insight and instruction on how to break free of the bondage this weapon creates. A bondage that too often is unrecognized!

There’s the person who exhibits anger (last post).

Then there’s the person who gets wounded by such anger (this post).

Okay, someone close to you has a temper and far too often you bear the brunt of it. How do you deal with it? Do you coward down and allow yourself to become victimized and manipulated by their anger? If this is the case, then let’s be clear about where this path will lead.

I would encourage you to remember that you choose victory or defeat. And know that by refusing to choose, you actually choose to fall and suffer defeat. p 65, 3rd edition FD

The Bad News!

The Good News!

The very very first thing you must do is to collect a store of Truth Thoughts (refer to the 3 R’s of FD’s page of this blog) with which to extinguish each and every fiery dart thought that’s aimed at you. I offer the following practical advice on how to do this:

I have also found a simple electronic concordance to be especially helpful when searching for verses to combat fiery darts. Or try doing an Internet search for a verse that relates to a struggle you may be having with a fiery dart/negative thought. p 62, 3rd edition FD

Remember, your loved one isn’t the enemy!

This will transform your thinking and how you respond to the anger of your loved one. You will begin to see beyond their anger and will be in a position to lead them to their own freedom and healing.

Share this:

There is such thing as righteous anger but this post considers the opposite–unrighteous anger. The natural end of such fiery dart thinking is sin.

Anger is a common emotion. We all experience it.

Therefore, due to its common occurrence, it behoves us as Christians, especially, to learn how to manage such a destructive force. So let’s examine some Truth Thoughts from Scripture that not only expose but advise us on how to manage the fiery dart of anger.

What anger does!

Does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20 NIV)

Stirs up strife & causes much transgression (Proverbs 29:22 ESV; Proverbs 15:18 ESV)

Stirred up by harsh words (Proverbs 15:1)

Biblical advice in managing anger!

Sometimes it’s good to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11 ESV)

Being slow to anger quiets contention (Proverbs 15:18 ESV)

A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

If we are tempted to be angry, it would be advisable to heed the following before we lash out and inflict wounds:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Share this:

I’ve come to realize that crying out to God concerning my problems is not all there is!

Ever been there? Then join the club!

For most of my Christian life, unloading my burdens in prayer was a faithful ritual. The temptation (or fiery dart) of that was in thinking that was all that was required of me. My real problem was I had been doing a lot of talking, but very little listening.

If I could put into words, here is what I sensed my LORD was saying to me:

You pour your heart out to me, pretty consistently! That is good! And I listen to you, but I can’t say that you listen to Me. I want to help you with your problems, but you will have to do less talking and more listening for that to happen.

You see I was going to the Source for the answers to my problems but as soon as I got through unloading them on God, I’d say Amen, then go on my way. I would ask God for His help, but I wouldn’t hang around long enough to find out how He planned on helping me!

You know what? I didn’t really know how to listen to God. Which meant I didn’t know how to let God help me.

So, how do we let God help us?

When we spend time with God as we read and study the Bible, He will lead us to the very verses that addresses our problems. It’s in accepting and applying those truth’s to those problems that will lead to the solutions we are so desperate for. That’s how we listen! That’s how we learn!

Share this:

After reading over this table of contents and the back cover comments, perhaps you would desire to delve deeper in your understanding of this spiritual warfare? If so, click on the words “Order Now” on the right side of this page, to secure your own copy.

May we learn to extinguish all the fiery darts of the enemy victoriously!

Ephesians 6:16

Share this:

I have a hard time trusting God when it comes to money matters. I wonder if those reading this blog do as well.

Oh yeah, the temptation to worry is poised and ready to inflict my thoughts with worry. Yet my training has taught me I must resist such thinking and replace it with Truth thoughts (p. 93 FD 3rd edition).

I desire to be like the flowers who don’t worry. But this is an area where I am especially vulnerable to Satan’s fiery darts. It’s a challenge for me to trust God with such abandon. Calling upon verses like the following is my only recourse:

Knowing what I know, I am faced with two questions,

What if I choose to worry over this dilemma ?

Or what if I choose not to worry?

Therefore, if I choose to keep my thoughts centered on God’s faithful provision then the enemy looses. His grip weakens and my spiritual muscles grow stronger!

Share this:

This is a popular phrase heard in our country today. Many people believe that since the presidential election, we have our first chance in years to actually accomplish this.

And that’s brings me to why I’m publishing this post!

Okay, that’s the fiery dart we should reject,

so what’s the Truth thought with which we should replace it?

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

If God is to save & heal our land, then He must hear from us! And who are the ‘us’ in this verse? Christians!

What must He hear from us? The humble prayers of confession and repentance.

THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

Share this:

I listened to a sermon today, that revealed a fiery dart that too many of us fall prey to! May I ask you something, as one Christian to another?

Does the idea of witnessing to someone strike fear in your heart. Do thoughts like:

I’m just not cut out for this witnessing thing; not my gift!.

I wouldn’t be able to remember any of the verses, much less quote them.

What if they get mad at me or make fun of me?

I don’t think I am a good enough Christian to witness.

Think about it my friends. If Satan can convince us that we don’t have what it takes to share Christ with others, then the weapon he has formed against us, has prevailed.We allow ourselves to be convinced we can’t witness and you know what? That’s a lie!

As I listened to this pastor, it became clear to me that our hesitation in sharing Christ was based on two things: 1)failure to spend time with God in prayer 2) failure to spend time with God in His Word.

It’s quite simple really. Allow me to illustrate.

(Refer to The 3 R’s of Fighting Fiery Darts, page 7 of this blog)

Share this:

In conversation with my grandson, after my 3rd edition of Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice was published, he asked me a very pointed question. “So what is a fiery dart?”

If you have wondered this too, read on.

First, while Satan cannot read our minds, he can influence our thoughts. Thus, the Bible instructs us to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11 NIV)

So how do we recognize fiery darts? Examine the effect the “suspicious thought” has on you. Does it produce confusion, fear, doubt, anger, inferiority, indecisiveness, jealously, judgment, or selfishness, for example? p 53, 3rd edition

A negative action is often the result of negative thinking. Understandably, if Satan can negatively influence our thinking, then the temptation to act negatively will be hard for us to resist. p 27, 3rd edition

Therefore,

If our (Christians) clarity of right and wrong has been diminished by infrequent time in Bible study and prayer then our vulnerability towards Satan’s temptations (fiery darts) is seriously compromised. And those temptations can influence our minds to think negatively.

To Wrap it Up

Fiery darts are the temptations of Satan.

Fiery dart thinking is the result of giving into those temptations.

Share this:

Tonight 2016 comes to a close and tomorrow 2017 starts out anew and fresh!