Face YOUR "Self".

This is the year to receive the promises of God! I know it, I post it, I quote it and I believe it! How do we see the promises of God manifested in our lives? Will it be easy to walk in and possess the land? What happens when it seems like the opposite is what you see instead?

I began this writing with questions because it IS the year for manifestation; however, your enemy (and mine) will not just sit idly by and watch as we receive what God has for us. He will fight with all he has and then will try to entice us to forfeit our promises with ideas and false images or false realities that are designed to make us lose focus. Today's encouragement comes to enlightened you and makes you aware of some of the ploys of the enemy and how he operates.

I've always heard that the enemy's tricks are the same and they are; however, the way he presents them will be different and you must be aware of that to overcome them. Last week I was so excited... I'd made up my mind that I was about to begin a new exercise regimen. I'm moving towards something new and for that to be, I must be at my best. Not only will I feel better and look better; but, for the place I'm going, I have to BE BETTER. I'm excited, psyched and ready to move. I sat in on a meeting where I heard the instructor say something about choice and laying down his choice for a better choice (God's choice) even if it didn't feel good to his flesh.

I listened intently, I heard what was said and as awesome and as innocent as it was, the enemy began to throw up some things from my past that would have had me forfeiting my new found desire. In my past experience, men would always put demands on what I looked like physically, so much so, that I began to rebel. Purposely, I'd do the opposite of what they desired because I wanted to know that I was loved for me and not for my appearance. I needed to know that the love was sincere and how best to test it than to have them select me despite the fact that they didn’t get their desire. I realize that this thinking, though justifiable, was foolish. Foolish because in all actuality, I desired what they wanted as well; but, because it was stated in a manner that was offensive to me, I rebelled. Looking back... I admit, I didn't hurt them, I hurt myself. I was sabotaging my self and didn't realize it.

Well, as I walked last week, a part of my new routine, these thoughts came back into my head. Why make yourself this way for them? You'll never know if they love you if... and I finally saw past that to the truth. It matters most what our motives for doing a thing is. I am preparing for something wonderful, something valuable in the sight of God and man. The enemy would try to use this old, negative way of thinking to trap me and keep me bound. He doesn't want me to fulfill my purpose so he tries to pervert the thinking, pervert the process. “Do not become your best” is what he’d say to me, though it is a necessary requirement for the next stage of life, because of what someone else said that had absolutely nothing to do with me. WOW!!!

What kind of tricks is he trying to use on you? What old mindsets did you have that the enemy would try to use to keep you defeated? Think on that for a moment and then decide as I, to face your "self", deal with that issue and then walk over the defeated enemy in your life. Replace old mindsets with new ones. Check your motives in all things and KNOW why you are doing what you do. When you KNOW who you are... you also KNOW who you are not. Continue to live a valuable life that is in total agreement with what God has declared for your future.

Do not allow the enemy to defeat you this year. As you guard your heart (and mind) this season, KNOW that in doing so, you are protecting your investment; you are protecting your harvest! You are preparing and moving toward the manifestation of God's promise. Keep your eyes on the prize and you (we) shall definitely attain. Remember the PROMISE... Do the work... and WALK IN your DESTINY, one step at a time.

First step is simply: face yourself... for only when you do, can you... Renew YOUR MIND.

Live the PROPHECY,
~Debra D. Poole