Where does the devil talk to you? The last time he showed up for a chat with me I was in the laundry room, reminiscing over how quickly the children had grown, left home, married and will soon bring a mix of teen T’s and 12 month “onesies” with them when they come to visit over the holidays.
It is amazing how quickly he can twist my thoughts from thankfulness for my children’s longing for home and family to guilty recollections of blunders made and “re-do” moments I wish I had. Equally amazing is how wonderful and marvelous it is that the Holy Spirit allows me to quickly recognize this is not the voice of my Good Shepherd but rather the voice of Satan, the thief, who comes only to steal the truth, kill my happiness and destroy my joy.
But I have the power to change my thoughts. I don’t have to listen. And, because I have heard and read the Word of God, I know God is greater than my worried heart. I also realize that, even though He knows all about me, when He forgave me He cast all my past sins into the deepest sea and, unlike me, remembers them no more. He also posted a “no fishing” sign there to keep me from letting the pain of the past destroy the peace of the present.
This is God’s way of shutting down debilitating self-criticism, even if there is something to it.
This Thanksgiving as you thank God for your many blessings, don’t forget to thank Him for forgetting.
“Let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.” I John 3:20 The Message
