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Or should we ask – who are you listening to? John 10:10 tells us that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus comes that we may have life, and have it more abundantly.
Examining who we are listening to will determine how we are walking out our destiny. Consider this – If the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy, how does he accomplish that? He isn’t walking around on earth killing people or stealing our possessions or destroying our property. No, he simply speaks things into our thoughts that lead to the death of relationships, stolen inheritances, and destruction of God’s purpose in our lives. The devil wants to restrict you, using fear and unbelief and causing us to take our eyes off God.
The devil talked to Adam and Eve, he talked to Jesus, and he communicated through Peter. You can be sure that if he put thoughts, doubts, and fear in their mind, he will do it to us. He causes us focus on ourselves and not God. Adam and Eve immediately experienced fear, shame and blame when they gave attention to the devil’s taunting. Jesus was sent into the wilderness and was confronted by the devil. In both instances, the devil shared a portion of the truth, but not the whole truth. Adam and Eve veered off the truth enough to take them down a path of unbelief, which led to fear, shame, blame and destruction. Jesus knew the truth (the word of the Father) which kept Him protected.
Just after Peter proclaimed that Jesus was Christ, the Son of God, in Matthew 16:17, he put his eyes on himself and Jesus rebuked Satan, who was speaking through him, telling Peter that he was not mindful of God, but of the things of man (Matthew 16:23).
If the devil uses fear and unbelief, in Christ we have love, greater truth and peace.
However, if Jesus comes that we may have life and have it more abundantly, how do we access it? By agreeing with God’s word and applying it to every area of our lives. In Colossians 3:2, Paul tells believers to, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth”. The word “set” is from the Greek word ‘phreneo’ meaning ‘adopt a view’. It is from a root word, “phre” meaning heart, mind, thought. In other words – adopt God’s view in your heart, mind and thought. Romans 8:6 tells us, “To be fleshly (carnally) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. If the devil uses fear and unbelief, in Christ we have love, greater truth and peace. Romans 14:17 tells us that …” the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”.
So, I ask you again – what are you listening to? Today, pray that God will help you to continue to set your mind on things above so that you can live in his abundant life.
