This blog post is the fruit of a conversation I was having with my mom the other day. As my mom has been a Christian longer than I've been alive, she has wonderful Godly wisdom and spiritual maturity to share...and that's just what she did as I was having a meltdown/pity party/frustration session/hormonal bonanza (yes, I still have them! ha ha ha!).
But as she listened to my tantrum, which was filled with phrases like, "it's never going to work out, it's hopeless, I should just give up, I think my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and landing back on the floor." She interrupted me and said, "Don't listen to the strange voice, honey." I stopped immediately and said "WHAT?"
She went on to say that the words that I was saying were not of God, but of a strange voice, satan's words and sentiment that he tries to convince us ALL of.
Things like, "God doesn't love you, He doesn't care because if He did you wouldn't be struggling, He doesn't hear your cries."
My mom's spiritual discernment was right on the money, I HAD been listening to those lies of satan that were swarming around my head like flies on a pile of fresh poop! Ha ha ha! I had been soaking in the strange words of stranger, rather than the familiar and loving voice of my God and Father. No wonder I was feeling like I was in the pits! I had followed the stranger right out of my Father's House, and into the PIT!
Think of this, a dog won't respond to a stranger's voice, but rather waits to hear the familiar voice of his master before following a command.
Sometimes we aren't particularly bright, and a dog shows more intelligence! This is one of those times for me! Ha ha ha!
So when you begin to hear that strange voice, grab your Bible and start claiming the Word of God out loud, these are the FAMILIAR, FATHERLY and HOPE filled words that are good and true for our lives! God will never lie to us, but satan is actually referred to as "the father of lies." Just another reason to avoid listening to that strange voice that breeds depression, hatred of life itself, confusion and hopelessness.
John 8:44 "...He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (This is referring to satan).
So we know who the strange voice belongs to...now we need to focus on the guiding, loving and nurturing voice of God.
These are a few of the verses I hold dear to my heart which remind me of who my Father is:
Deuteronomy 7:13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land--your grain, new wine and oil--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.
Psalm 107:9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
(Jesus speaking here) John 10:27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
I pray that you are inspired to hid God's word in your heart, aka memorize it, so that the voice of God will be the familiar voice in your life, not the lies from a strange voice who only seeks your destruction.
We need to remember that God can make a way where there is none. Remember in Exodus, when the Hebrews where being pursued by the Egyptian army and where stopped at the edge of the Red Sea? It did LOOK bad. But God made a way...straight through the water! This is our God, He is the same then as He is now. He hasn't lost His hearing or love for us! Know this deep in your heart, make it sink in so that when you need to know this...the truth will be anchored there!
For all of my beloved friends, grace and peace to you from God our Father,
Tiffany
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteYour words couldn't have come at a better time. I too have been struggling some lately with that stranger's voice and your words made it all very clear. It is also very empowering to recognize what that voice for what it is. Thank you for blessing my life today. I wish YOU blessings and HUGE love!
Claudia
I agree. I really liked this post. It came at a good time. It was one of those days where I have felt so down on myself. I have been feeling this for a long time. And sometimes it feels like I have such low hope in myself. The stranger was reminding of how can I do this-I cant accomplish this,everyone is at this point in their lives and things are passing me by-how can i catch up?..bla,bla,bla. The post did really help to focus where this is coming from & that I need to believe God will take care of it. I want things to change-I want me to change. I guess I am just very impatient lol. Thanks for the post Tiffany:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tiffany. You dont know me but you hit the nail on the head for me. I have been debating back and forth on getting a divorce. I know as a Christian that goes against God and my vows, I just kept listening to that strange voice that it was the right decision, but in my heart just couldnt bring myself to stand on that. Now more than ever I am sure that there is nothing my husband, myself and our marriage cannot get through. Thank you soo much again.
ReplyDeleteI have been asking for prayers over my mind lately, because I know that is the only place the enemy can try to mess with me. I'm dealing with a mass growing near my eye. I'm not scared of death or cancer because I know where I am going and who I'll be with. I dedicated myself as a living sacrifice the moment I surrendered my heart and life to God, so scary stuff doesn't scare me. HOWEVER.... the instant I realized what was going on, I felt this was more a struggle for my mind. I'm so grateful our Father has already overcome for us and we are victorious through Him. I have to keep my flesh in check through constant connection with Gods Holy Spirit. I noticed I started feeling and even acting MEAN because of the steroids they have me on to shrink the booger near my eye. I started having negative thoughts and I recognized that it was NOT me and the enemy was able to use this opportunity while I am on those nasty meds to mess with my mind. I started to ask God that His Holy Spirit within me be stronger than the medications effects. I have been amazed at how much better things are since beginning to pray that. I just have to recognize, that any voice which does not speak truth and light is NOT of GOD. I'm so glad you have your mom as a mentor. Her smile is so precious! She has been blessed with two amazing daughters and I pray for your families! So grateful for your blogs <3
ReplyDeleteThank you friends for sharing your life back with me, it bless me to hear your experiences and perspectives. I appreciate and always read all the comments made.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm praying for you all too, that you won't listen to long before you realize WHO it is and shut it down! And I hope you pray for me too:-) Huge love to you!!!
This past week has been horrible and each day piling up the anxiety. I keep hearing that strange voice telling me to give up, that I have no purpose, there is no plan for me and I should just end it all. Since I don't believe in suicide, I believe it's a sin as God is the giver and taker of life, then I feel tortured that I can't live well and I can't end my life. This past week the Lord's been telling me to read His word but I can't bring myself to as I see the Bible as a burden to read as it is living and I am just reminded of all the crap I need to sort through and fix via God's help.
ReplyDeleteBut still even when it gets so dark and so hard I always seem to end up sitting with something encouraging searching for hope be it in a book, like Joyce Meyer, or via the various Christian blogs I read. It's like I can't help it as God's truth is just that, the truth, and no matter how hard or dark it gets in my spirit and soul I know that my only hope is in Christ.
Today I prayed for God to send me a friend and a few minutes later a friend of mine called, who is also having a hard time, and we were able to carry each others burdens and pray for each other! Prior to her call I ran into your blog here, Tiffany, that I'd forgotten I'd bookmarked and was reading it for over an hour. Nothing was sticking and I just felt like "yeah, that's great for HER but not for me anymore.". I still felt depressed and tormented in my spirit but I kept reading cause I knew better.
After I got off the phone with my friend, after we prayed for each other and talked, I felt so much better! The scriptures about carrying one another's burdens and comforting others with the comfort we've been given are so true. Now I'm back to reading your posts and the fog has lifted and I'm feeling better and able to be encouraged by your posts! Isn't God good?! : )
Keep these posts up Tiffany! God is using you and your mother and Kandee in a big way. I know cause I'm benefitting from your posts as well as the ones from your sister and of course the things both you gals share about what your mother has taught both of you. The world is getting darker and darker and though that makes our candles brighter it still means that we will need God's love/care/guidance/discernment/etc. , and the help and prayers of other believers, to get through it even more. Your blog and your sister's blog are both candles in a dark world and I'm very thankful for the way God is working through both of you, or rather all three because of your mother. Your momma done raised you gals right! ; )
Also I will keep you all in prayer. I'm sorry to hear about your father.