Give Directions

This is an easy time to be drawn into darkness. Uncertainty is all around us, pulling at every thread of our being. Without even trying, we can let it overtake us. Looking at the world around us, our country, our city, and we can't help but think, what is going on?? Then we add in a family problem. A medical diagnosis. A mental health battle. And....we're sunk. There's no getting out.

Or so we'd be led to believe.

Have you ever encountered a hungry, tired toddler? It is the joy of living right there. After a day at the park, before dinnertime, my sweet girl turns into something otherworldly. Of course I'm joking, but we do not do well in this sort of situation. Yes, hangry is a real thing. Humans, in general, are not in their best shape for anything while being tired or hungry, much less both!

So when we look to the story of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), you might have some empathy on how he must have been feeling. It is really important to read the actual passage, not just talk about it, because there is so much within these few lines of text in the book of Matthew.

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4: 1- 11

a. The Greek for tempted can also mean tested. b. Deut. 8:3 c. Psalm 91:11,12 d. Deut. 6:16

e. Deut. 6:13 f. Isaiah 9:1,2

The most important part here, for today's purpose, is the quoting of scripture- not just by Jesus, but also by Satan. He, too, knows the word. He, too, believes in God. He, too, knows the darkness cannot overcome the Light!

Jesus was hungry, most likely tired and worn out, yet his weakness did not allow Satan to overcome him. Jesus commanded him to leave.

Do you know God gives us that same authority? We can give directions to make the evil spirits around us leave.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19

Satan does all he can to try to fool us to believe we cannot be victorious. A simple thought leaves us spiraling out of control so fast we don't even know which way is up. Have you been there?

It starts small. Something simple. Maybe something a little troubling. Then another thought comes. Grows with intensity. Grows rapidly. Suddenly, horrible thoughts are filling your mind and nothing can stop it, nothing else can enter your mind.

This is really what anxiety is like, but you don't have to "have" anxiety to make this happen. Aren't we all a little anxious about things today? Satan would love nothing more than to help you spiral.

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5: 7-9

If you let him, he will. Suddenly you will be believing his lies, and you won't even know it.

I come again back to Adam and Eve. Satan came to Eve and put thoughts- doubts!- in her mind through a conversation. "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" (Genesis 3:1, emphasis mine). Even through this question, he is making it seem worse than it is. No, he didn't say to not eat from any tree, just one tree. But oh so simply, he was able to get Eve thinking, doubting what God said, trick her to eat the fruit, and thus, separate her and Adam from God.

He is still up to this to this day. He wants us away from God, not knowing that even through extremely hard times, God is with us, fighting for us, giving us what we need for each day. This is why we must give directions. Direct satan to leave you, God is in this place. Direct the evil spirits to leave, God is here. Joyce Meyer even talks about naming the spirits individually to banish them- spirit of depression, spirit of jealousy, etc. I think this helps us recognize what exactly is bothering us in the first place. Don't get bogged down here, you can also be general if you're not sure.

I know if you have not heard this before it can sound weird and creepy. Maybe not quite true. The bible is clear on the realm of darkness around us.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Jesus gave us his example in this world. Just as he said, "Away from me, Satan!", you too, can give that same direction. And the darkness cannot remain in the Light.

Will it solve all the problems? Will it lift you instantly out of depression? Will you no longer have anxiety? Everyone experiences things differently, and I cannot say difficulty will instantly go away. It didn't for me. I still struggle with anxiety and have low days. I struggle with insecurity and pleasing people. But the spiral will happen less and less the more you give directions and look to God for guidance. You will have a lightness, a peace, a hope through the struggle.

And that, my friend, will set you free.

God, I need to know Your truth. Open my eyes to see and hear the lies that fill my mind. Help me recognize Your goodness. Help me see the lies that creep in so easily, and give me Your strength to banish them away. I cannot do it on my own. Let me experience Your peace.

Say out loud (Satan can't read your mind):

I bind the spirits of darkness that are around me (name them specifically if you want). You must leave. God is in this place!

Ways to know the truth vs. lies:

1. meet with God daily. You will begin to understand His spirit and the way He moves.

2. Read the bible. This helps you not only understand who God is, but also when you hear lies, if it does not line up with Scripture, it is not truth. Just as Jesus quoted scripture, you too can to bind the evil spirits away with exact scripture.

3. Pray. Ask God to reveal the lies to you.

4. Play praise music. It fills us with truth and also, satan can't be around when we're praising God!

All scripture obtained from New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011