KNOW YOUR ENEMY BEFORE YOU FIGHT THEM: PART 3

Did you know that of all the enemies you can have you are your greatest enemy? You are probably asking how possible it is for one to hate themselves, seek to destroy themselves, have ill feelings toward themselves,…Mmmh quite right. Of them that can destroy you, you are one of them and that reflects self-hatred.

How many times have you held onto those grudges? For how long have you warmed yourself up in their embrace, cuddling them afraid of letting go? Getting used, too attached to them that you don’t know what you would do without them?

How many times have swam to the flow of temptation giving in to lust of life? “My body couldn’t resist it, the pressure was too much on me.” “The decolletage sight could not let go my eyes and you know,…. I’m only but human. I couldn’t resist taking my hands to where my eyes were. I did not want to give in but the sight magnetic was way stronger than me. It’s just unfortunate that I was an unlike pole.” Wooooow and you are not done justifying yourself yet.

And for how long have you kept yourself locked out of the world because you kissed the boy in the neighborhood and you liked it or did not, whichever? “Mummy would kill me if she found out !” “What does God think of this unworthy human being claiming to be His child?” “Wabaya just confirmed how filthy I am. There’s even no point in singing in the worship team again. I just don’t know how foolish I could get.” And I’m standing at this edge of the corner wondering how much longer you will keep condemning yourself.

Absalom hated his father David and plotted to kill him. Sadly, he caused his own death. He could not bear forgiving his “rapist of a half brother” Amnon. After feeding the grudge, he killed him creating a rift between him and his father. Ever thought, “What if Absalom had forgiven Amnon and let him be punished through the proper channels?” Ever thought “What if Absalom had forgiven himself for killing Amnon and amended his ways?”

“Saul has killed thousands, David has killed tens of thousands!” Yes! Such a mighty man; one who killed Goliath with a sling and a stone, killed a lion and a bear but couldn’t kill his flesh until he did. I mean, for a king so strong to win all battles until the sight of Bathsheba? Then goes to extremes to cover up for his sins… Your greatest enemy is you.

Just imagining what was going through Judas’ mind, “How could I betray my Lord? After all He’s done for me?” What if he knew about the Savior’s love and forgiveness? For sure, the unseen enemy is the most treacherous of them all, you.

What if you knew how to deal with this silent monster? No matter what enemy you are dealing with, thus far what I have learnt is that there are constant factors.
Know your enemy, you, and allow grace. Be patient even with you and allow God to mold you. Falling in different circumstances is inevitable. Whether to rise or not is a decision only you can make. Give yourself the benefit of doubt. After all, what is the worst that could happen?
Forgive you. Forgive yourself for having hated Janet when she spread wrong rumors about you. Forgive yourself for having shared a kiss with Tom. Forgive yourself for having broken your mother’s trust. There is no condemnation for those in Christ. You can work on making things right better when you forgive yourself. You will heal when you forgive you.
Love you. “Love your neighbor as you do yourself.” If you love you right, you will love them right. Give yourself that pleasure of loving you and building up on self-trust. You can shake and move much when you love you enough to believe you can.
Don’t forget to pray for you. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Strengthen your inner man in prayer and that way the flesh will have no choice but to bow to the spirit man because self-control is possible, forgiveness is easy, just like humility and love are.

SHALOM 😀