Recently I went through a horrific trial that challenged my faith.

Satan was gloating because he thought he had won a victory.

Unbeknownst to him, the Lord was using that trial to do some reconstruction in my life. Little did I know what lay hidden in the recesses of my heart.

Through this trial I was confronted with pride, indignation, disobedience, and judgments.

When I was brought to my senses the Lord in his mercy revealed to me that I was not who I thought I was!

Keep in mind that the Lord asked me a few years back after I had gone through a different trial,
“Do you want me to deal with you now or on that day? “

I said, “In this life, Lord.”

That being said, I sat back to do some self examination.

What I found was that I fell into carnal activities because I had been bamboozled by the enemy.

This was accomplished through using the carnal activities of other Christians.

These Christians were not surrendered to the Lord. In actuality they were being used by the enemy to further his agenda. They did not even know it!

Satan was having a hey day in my space!
Causing discord, disunity, pride, factions and sectarianism.

In response what did I do? Fall right into the devil’ s trap!

Now I did not participate in the same things those Christians were doing because I saw through it. However my reaction to it was carnal.

My response was to handle things in the flesh. I outright rejected those Christians because they were behaving horribly. They didn’t even see their sin! My reaction to them was somewhat rude.

Now don’t get me wrong I did pray about the situation but that in turn riled up the spirit of witchcraft they were operating in. I had no end of spiritual warfare over the situation!

Another point to consider is that while I am an evangelist and teacher I am not a pastor! I like dealing with people problems about as much as I like having a root canal! Just being honest.

I’d rather be preaching in the streets to needy people than dealing with carnal Christians on their high horse.

Anyway, here I am finding myself in a situation absolutely unbearable.

Due to my abhorrence of attending Christian social clubs, participating in table serving and listening to people problems, I wanted to hightail it out of there!

Only one problem. The Lord stopped me.

After revealing to me just how carnal I was in my snobbish reaction, he showed me that I needed to learn how to deal with these kinds of situations. For one thing the church is loaded with carnal Christians! Running into them cannot be avoided unless I wanted to live under a rock.

Also, I needed to remember that we are all sinners saved by grace. All of us have faults. All of us fall short of God’s glory!

I really did not want to hear what the Lord was saying to me. 

My flight and fight was mobilized! I did not want to retreat!

After a lengthy discussion with the Lord about the matter he gave me this word, “Speak the truth in love. Rise above your situation.”

I thought, “Well I can do the first part… but the rest? How do I rise above that stuff?”

As I continued praying I got more revelation.

First of all remember that you are a sinner and have faults as well. That way you can extend grace to others.

Second of all don’t battle in the flesh.
The weapons of your warfare are not carnal.

Speak the truth in love.
Don’t lambast like an obnoxious Bible thumper!

Lastly, guard your heart.

Guard my heart in this situation?

How do I do that? I asked the Lord.

I pray the Scriptures over myself, I do spiritual warfare. What am I missing?

Guard your heart, the Lord told me.
Watch over it. Protect it.

Let’s see, if I was being dive bombed by a swarm of mosquitoes it would be useless to use a fly swatter!

How about a mosquito net. That’s a guard to keep them out!

What’s my spiritual guard?

God’s word!

But I was doing that! I put on my full armor ever day!

The Lord said, That’s good but….

But what?

What are you thinking about?

Huh?

What are you thinking about?

Yikes! Negative things!

Mulling about the situation. Going over things in my mind like a tape on fast play!

You are letting in the mosquitos!

Yikes! My net has holes in it!

Yes. What are you going to do about it?

What does the Bible say I asked myself?

I know, cast down imaginations!

And?

Bring every thought captive…

To what?

To obey Christ!

Yes! Now you are getting it!

How do I do that? I asked the Lord.

Replace those negative thoughts with “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, —think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

I can do that!

It’s a lovely day today Lord.

Yes.

Your word is true, Lord. Your mercy endures forever.

Yes.

I think I will put on some praise music, Lord!

Good idea!

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 

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