In Part 1 we talked about relenting our control to satan, instead of submitting to God and resisting the devil with the power and gifts God has given to those who are saved in Christ. If you missed Part 1, please click here!
Let us talk about things that create a situation where we lose control. One example could be that you are living a lie. Let me use myself as an example. I lived a lie for a very long time and pretended to be fine when in fact I was not. Being sexually molested at the age of five, impacted my self-esteem and I only realised that, when I became a young adult.
I hid it for such a long time and always looked fine and in control, yet lying to myself and the world, by pretending. I never shared it because I felt guilty of the things that happened in my life as a child. I hid that lie so well and tried to stay under the radar, being invisible so that no focus would be placed on me. That meant putting a lot of pressure on myself to perform well in every area of my life as to fill that gap.
I lived that lie to protect myself, although I was only a child. Off course that lie was not from God and hence it controlled me. The devil used it against me and constantly pulled me into his deceit. However, when God healed me, He revealed to me what the actual issue was and only then when I could acknowledge what happened and how it impacted my life, I could work through those things and take back control over my life. Only then did I start standing up in my real identity in Christ.
Maybe you find yourself in a situation where you are lying about something. Maybe you had an affair whilst married, maybe you have lied to your boss on your whereabouts when you should have been at work or maybe you have taken money at the office. Whatever it may be, it left you feeling guilty and now it is controlling you.
Anything that involves lying and you cannot come out with the truth, means that the devil has control over you in that specific area. He is controlling you with fear that the truth will come out and it will hurt people that you love. Just remember that the minute fear steps in, then the peace of Christ, which is a gift from God, gets pushed to the side because you allow the fear to overwhelm you.
What you must know is that the devil knows that when the truth comes out, it will set you free so he will fight to keep the control. He only has a past and if you give him even a little bit of leeway, he will take it. He can only control what you relent.
I have shared but one area where we give the devil control. Whatever it is that you are facing and where you have relented control, remember that Christ came to set all of us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). So, we are not supposed to live as the devil’s puppets but as more than conquerors through Christ who loves us and gives us strength (Romans 8:37).
Today, right now, draw the line. Take back control, not some of it, ALL of it! Acknowledge what it is, ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9), submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7).
Remember Luke 10:19? You have been given the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy! Now use it!
Love in Christ
Princess K