Welcome to our FACETS community.  We all need more community these days.  Don’t let yourself isolate. We need each other. We’re vulnerable when we are off by ourselves. Remember, you are not alone (Immanuel). We are God’s kids and we’ll get through this period of isolation together by reaching out to one another from afar.  Let us know how we can be praying for you!

As I (Tracy) consider our topic this month, I think a better question might be, “How DOESN’T the enemy try to silence you?”  Sometimes, his schemes can feel overwhelming, never-ending, relentless even.

But there’s good news in that.  (Really?)  Really!

in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”─2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV

We are not unaware of his schemes.  We know he lies. He destroys. His desire is to kill everything in his path. (John 10:10)  If you are living for Christ, he has it out for you.

But don’t lose hope.

He uses the same old bag of tricks. Again, we are not UNAWARE of his schemes.

If we were playing cards, he’d have to fold.  We know what’s in his hand. And we can call his bluff every time in Christ.

I do not recommend fighting the devil in your own strength.  He is stronger than us. He can outwit us as humans.  But he doesn’t stand a chance against us in Christ!

Good news #1:  

We are not unaware of his schemes.  Knowing the enemy’s methods of warfare, helps us know how to fight the good fight.

Know Ephesians 6 like nobody’s business.  The best defense is a good offense, they always say.  Right?  Okay, so then that means we should always use God’s Word as our offensive weapon.  Know what God’s Word says. Know the truth in its pages. It is for us. It is for today.

God’s Word has gotten me through some tough times!

Recently, there were false accusations made against me – publicly. (Okay, accuser of the brethren, we are not unaware of your schemes.)  I was fighting to hold my head up and keep walking forward. I couldn’t really defend myself in that situation, and I was feeling pretty downcast.

But the brilliance of God and His ministry through His Word, led me to this Scripture.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable─if anything is excellent or praiseworthy─think about such things.─Philippians 4:6-8 NIV

I’ve read this passage countless times, but God chose to highlight a few words that ministered to my heart. He wanted me to pay particular attention to “whatever is true”.  It was like He had taken His holy highlighter, and made those words jump off the page.

Whatever is true.

Doesn’t that sound like the perfect anecdote to the schemes of the biggest liar of all?

Satan doesn’t stand a chance when God is in our corner!

God guided me to write that Scripture down and carry it with me.  It’s still in my purse.

That way, whenever the enemy starts to taunt with his lies, I am fully prepared─not unaware.  There are times when I don’t wholeheartedly believe the opposite of the accusations against me (initially).  That’s okay.  I might not have power in the moment, but God’s Word does.  His Word will give my voice power.  Say it enough times and it starts to ring true.  Praise God!

Whatever is true─think about such things.

There’s more good news when we are under attack.

Good news #2:

The enemy doesn’t mess with us if we aren’t making kingdom impact. If we aren’t somehow radiating God’s goodness to others, we would not be on his radar.  When we love God and try to fulfill the calling He has placed on our lives, the enemy doesn’t like that, of course.  I’ve told others this, and sometimes I need to remind myself, when the enemy comes against us, we should consider it a compliment.

If we’re making no impact on Christ’s behalf, the enemy would leave us alone.  How do I know?  I have about 4 decades of proof before I became a believer.

Once the enemy had me mired down in sin – mine and others, he left me to my own devices.  He didn’t need to put a wedge between me and God or the things of God.  I was oblivious to them.

But now? Now, I love the Lord. I want to do what He wants me to do.  But like Paul, I don’t always do the things I know God would want me to.  So frustrating, can I tell you.  I do find comfort that EVEN PAUL had this struggle.  He was a brilliant follower of Christ, radically transformed, and talk about kingdom impact─we’re still walking in it today!  Yet for all this man did for Christ, he didn’t execute flawlessly, the way he hoped he would, the way he thought Christ would want him to.

In the apostle Paul’s words,

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do─this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.─Romans 7:15-20 NIV  (emphasis added)

Thank you, Saint Paul, for admitting your failures.  It helps us when we have them too! We can fail forward.

If you are reading this and you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, never judge Him by His followers.  We are not Him. We will get it wrong a lot of the time. Even when we don’t want to.  I have no idea why He thought it was a good idea to use normal, everyday people, to help others know who He is.  That might not have been my plan, just saying.  Except for, maybe this, it’s coming to my mind:

God loves us and uses us for good, beautiful, purposeful things in spite of us and our sinful nature.  He has this attribute called grace. And in His goodness He extends it to us, me and you, if we are saved.  And if you are not saved, if you didn’t say “yes” in your heart to Christ, He would want you to know He accepts you flaws and all.  You don’t have to be a certain way, to be perfect for Him to love you deeply just as you are.

In spite of our imperfect nature, God still uses us.

That leads me to one of the weapons the enemy tries to hurl my way, and I’m wondering if some of you can relate.

I have this deep root of perfectionism that trips me up. I can put unbelievable pressure on myself to perform.  It’s really off the charts sometimes.  I’m not fully sure how that root got wedged in place, but it’s deep. In my mind if I do one thing wrong, the whole thing is bad. Might as well toss it, or not do it at all.  If it can’t be done with excellence, it shouldn’t be done.

While that sounds good, maybe even noble or godly to want to do things with excellence (and I think it is okay to want to do your best),  God doesn’t expect perfect.  He just doesn’t.  He is the only One who could ever achieve that.  Intellectually, I’m on board. Practically, I still trip over the root.

I say things I shouldn’t. I do things I shouldn’t. And even when I can keep those things in check, I think things I shouldn’t. Ugh, Ugh, Ugh

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.─Philippians 3:12-14 NIV (emphasis added)

Did you catch that?

Sometimes, we need to strain toward what is ahead.  Push through the resistance. When we do? We are walking toward the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus to receive.

Just like Moses.

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. ─Hebrews 3:1-2 NIV (emphasis added)

As I read Priscilla Shirer’s words, I had to chuckle.

Excuse me? Moses? Faithful? Really?1

For those of you unfamiliar with Moses’ story, he was a bit flawed. For starters, he murdered an Egyptian. He wrestled with anger and insecurity. When the Israelites did dumb things (which was a lot, LOL), he’d lose his patience.   He wouldn’t be the poster child for righteousness, but we find him being called out as faithful in all God’s house.

Say what?

Here’s the thing:  God knew Moses’ heart.  Lean in a little closer as I share this next little nugget.  He knows your heart too, dear one!

God never, not once, assigned us to walk out life or our faith perfectly. In fact, He knew well in advance we wouldn’t.  Our imperfect nature reminds us that we need Him.

Well, that gives me some hope!  How about you?

I love Priscilla’s words here.  They are so encouraging.

In spite of all kinds of spills and sputters in the execution, Moses held fast to the calling the Lord had placed on his life. “He was faithful to the one who appointed him” (v 2 NIV). Even in the noisy wind tunnel of guilt and regret, even with loud music inviting him to dance with the decadent, he could still catch the faint whisper of heaven compelling him to forsake temporary feelings and pursuits for the sake of God’s will. And herein lies what separated him and his people from all others. He was not perfect, but he was purposeful. He wasn’t without mistake, but he was marked by God’s presence. … And even when it meant picking himself up off the deck of defeat and discouragement, he did not stop until God Himself allowed him to go no farther. He was called by heaven─an appointment that ordered his priorities, pursuits and passions. Not perfectly but persistently.1

The enemy would love nothing more than to silence me through the weight of perfectionism, even in my faith walk. But that’s when I take a deep breath, literally. Breathe and seek God.  Listen to what it is He has to say.

I pay attention to the places He leads me (like Priscilla’s book with well-timed words).

None of us can ever be perfect. But we can be purposeful.  When I read that, I cried – a sure sign God was reaching my heart to encourage me.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for your tender ministry toward my heart!

None of us can ever be perfect. But we can be persistent about getting back up, dusting ourselves off, and reminding ourselves God doesn’t even expect perfection. So if He is a giver of grace toward us …. maybe we should extend some to ourselves.

None of us can ever be perfect. But we can fix our eyes on His presence.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. ─2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV

We’re perfecting holiness, not perfect. And that’s okay. Don’t believe the enemy’s lies that perfectionism is required to be used by God.  It’s not true.  Remember, what is true.  Believe the truth.

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1 Shirer, Priscilla Evans. The Resolution: for Women. B&H Pub. Group, 2015.