Tag Archive | bondage
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!
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!
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.
Ever been plagued by thoughts such as these?
The following chart is copied from page 42 of my book, Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice.This is just a brief example of the type of thoughts that plague many and hold them in bondage; undermining the work of God in their lives. My book will show you how to identify such thoughts, how to reject them, and how to select Truth thoughts to replace them.
FIERY DARTS |
GOD’S TRUTH |
REFERENCES |
| It’s impossible | All things are possible | Luke 18:27 |
| I’m too tired. | I will give you rest | Matthew 11:28-30 |
| Nobody really loves me. | I love you. | John 3:16, John 3:34 |
| I can’t go on. | My grace is sufficient | II Corinthians 12:9,
Psalm 91:15 |
| I can’t figure things out. | I will direct your steps. | Proverbs 3:5-6
|
| I can’t do it. | You can do all things. | Philippians 4:13 |
| I’m not able.
|
I am able. | II Corinthians 9:8 |
| It’s not worth it. | It will be worth it. | Romans 8:28 |
| I can’t forgive myself. | I forgive you. | I John 1:9, Romans 8:1 |
| I can’t manage. | I will supply all your needs. | Philippians 4:19 |
| I’m afraid. | I have not given you a spirit of fear. | II Timothy 1:7 |
| I’m always worried and frustrated. | Cast all you cares on Me. | I Peter 5:7 |
| I’m not smart enough. | I will give you wisdom. | I Corinthians 1:30 |
| I feel all alone. | I will never leave you or forsake you. | Hebrews 13:5 |
The result?
FREEDOM!
John 8:32, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”NIV
Cooperating with the enemy!
It’s been about 6 years since I first began promoting the message contained within my book, pictured above. My heart has been encouraged time and again when readers share with me their testimonies of successfully defeating a fiery dart attack after applying the concepts from my book. These testimonies motivate me to persevere in promoting this liberating message. (As a matter of fact, I am working on an expansion of my book–adding chapters covering parenting, teens struggle with self-worth, and difficulties of loosing a spouse to death. I will need your prayerful support for this is a daunting task!)
But as I listen to comments from some of those who have been exposed to the message of fiery darts, it is apparent that something is missing. Even for those who are making the connection between fiery darts and negative thinking, I’m still hearing comments flavored by too much defeat and frustration.
When I think of the bondage in which negative thinking held me, on how it almost destroyed me then compare it to the freedom in which I now live, I can’t imagine why anyone would desire to remain in such bondage!
I do believe people are becoming more aware of how to identify the fiery darts with which they are wrestling, especially after making the connection between negative thinking and fiery darts. However, I’m getting the feeling that they think the battle is over just by identifying the fiery dart thought that attacked them. Yet, just saying, “That’s a fiery dart,” does absolutely nothing to deflect the negative thought.
May I respectfully remind you that after the fiery dart is acknowledged, it’s imperative that it be rejected, and following that you MUST replace it with a Truth thought! (refer to the tab entitled, The 3R’s of Fighting Fiery Darts, of this blog)
WHY?
Because that fiery dart will return until its mission has been accomplished.
(which is, remember, to steal, kill, and destroy the works of God in your lives!)
Just acknowledging the fiery dart’s attack does little to eradicate it. And rejecting it only leaves a void that must be filled. When it returns, as it surely will, if it is does not find a Truth thought in its place each and every time it attempts to enter your mind, it will pick up where it left off, poisoning attitudes and actions designed to weaken your faith and make you ineffective as a Christian. Just what the enemy had in mind all along.
Who’s Messing With Your Self Worth?
The Cognitive Triangle
First we entertain a thought. That thought will cause certain related feelings. Thus, behavior is based on our thoughts and feelings. p.16, FD
Several years ago and over a two year period of time, I suffered from a serious bout of depression. I remember battling suicidal thoughts and deep sadness to the point that my prayers became a desperate cry for God to hold on to me because I had no strength left to hold on to Him. I survived that dark time in my life but that’s about it. It wouldn’t be until several years later as God initiated my training in fiery dart recognition that I would be able to recognize the bondage that defined my existence during those two years.
Here’s what happened to me and I see this same overused but deadly effective tactic of Satan’s still being used today!
Refer to the diagram above. In my case I was a people pleaser. If I felt significant people in my life approved of me, then life was good and I felt good about myself. On the other hand, if there was strife or conflict in these relationships life was not good and I became convinced I had little reason to feel good about myself. Self approval you see was strongly connected to what others thought of me. (Or what I thought they thought!)
Do you see the pattern?
First this negative thought (fiery dart remember) would plant itself into my head producing some very negative feelings or emotions. Never mind that these negative thoughts had no basis in Truth! The poison of these fiery darts seeped into my thinking producing destructive attitudes and behavior.
The purpose of these fiery darts, you see, was to diminish any sense of self worth that I might still possess. I was an easy target because it was way too important for me to have the good opinion of those significant people in my life. As relationships with these people deteriorated, so did my self worth.
I wonder if I have touched a nerve?
Are you sad seemingly all the time? Are you convinced you don’t measure up and that significant persons in your life don’t approve of you? Does the dangerous thought that your family would be better off without you ever sneak into your mind? Please hold on, for I have glorious news for you in my next post. In the meantime hold on to the following verse,
For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
