Overcoming Satan, Overcoming Guilt part 1
Good Morning!
In my experiences with criticism and feeling accused, I realize that the greatest accuser is within my own pattern of thinking. I think that I am hard-wired to guilt, a wiring created way back in childhood. It seems to be my default reaction.
We each have our own set of ‘faulty wiring.’
The Lord, however, is REWIRING our brains, through the renewing of our minds!
He is a Master Electrician!
Much love in Christ,
Joy
#188 Overcoming Satan, Overcoming Guilt 2 Corinthians 12:7
“And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me—to keep me from exalting myself!” 2 Corinthians 12:7
There are various interpretations regarding the thorn in the flesh that Paul spoke of here. One is his eyesight, which was impaired when he saw the glory of Christ on the road to Damascus. He never fully recovered his sight, and therefore had to write with large letters. Galations 6:11 It is possible that this was the thorn, #4647: “ the point, prickle, the annoyance or disability” that is referred to. This annoyance of the flesh was given to him by God, with the intention to keep him humble. It was a messenger of Satan, the Accuser, to buffet him. (Buffet: #2852 Kolaphizo: to strike with clenched hands, to buffet with the fist—Vines). Perhaps it was the memory of his persecution of the church that buffeted his conscience since the day of his conversion when he lost his eyesight. “I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:9 Even this battle with guilt was used by God for good. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
We also may have annoyances and limiting factors in our human nature. They can become overwhelming at times. Our interpretation of these patterns and limiting factors may be a battle with the accuser through Satan, or through the accuser within ourselves, an exaggerated, troubled sense of guilt.
It is important to remember that thorns in the flesh are given by God. They are a gift. They are a provision.
It is important to remember the intention of God, to keep us close to Him and to keep our realization of our need for Him in the forefront of our awareness.
"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8 He who has buried his own will completely in the will of the LORD can know no disappointment; but in every affair of his life he sees by faith Divine appointment or supervision, and hears the Word of the LORD in all of life's affairs assuring him, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." It is one of the evidences of reaching the graduation condition of heart, when we are able to take the oppositions of the great Adversary and of the world and of our own flesh patiently, uncomplainingly, unmurmuringly, "joyfully"—as a part of the disciplinary experience meted out to us by our all-wise and all-loving LORD. R2412! (Manna 7/3)
The focus needs to be on HIM: “I have set the LORD always before me,” not on the irritation or limitation.
To thank the Lord for our natural patterns and His intention to USE THEM for our growth frees us from resistance that blocks the ability to see the good in what our Heavenly Father is accomplishing within us.
Every irritation and limitation of our human nature, even a hard wiring to guilt is a gift of God, intended by God to train and mature us in Christ.
The first step in the re-wiring process is to thank the Lord for the thorn.
In my experiences with criticism and feeling accused, I realize that the greatest accuser is within my own pattern of thinking. I think that I am hard-wired to guilt, a wiring created way back in childhood. It seems to be my default reaction.
We each have our own set of ‘faulty wiring.’
The Lord, however, is REWIRING our brains, through the renewing of our minds!
He is a Master Electrician!
Much love in Christ,
Joy
#188 Overcoming Satan, Overcoming Guilt 2 Corinthians 12:7
“And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me—to keep me from exalting myself!” 2 Corinthians 12:7
There are various interpretations regarding the thorn in the flesh that Paul spoke of here. One is his eyesight, which was impaired when he saw the glory of Christ on the road to Damascus. He never fully recovered his sight, and therefore had to write with large letters. Galations 6:11 It is possible that this was the thorn, #4647: “ the point, prickle, the annoyance or disability” that is referred to. This annoyance of the flesh was given to him by God, with the intention to keep him humble. It was a messenger of Satan, the Accuser, to buffet him. (Buffet: #2852 Kolaphizo: to strike with clenched hands, to buffet with the fist—Vines). Perhaps it was the memory of his persecution of the church that buffeted his conscience since the day of his conversion when he lost his eyesight. “I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:9 Even this battle with guilt was used by God for good. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
We also may have annoyances and limiting factors in our human nature. They can become overwhelming at times. Our interpretation of these patterns and limiting factors may be a battle with the accuser through Satan, or through the accuser within ourselves, an exaggerated, troubled sense of guilt.
It is important to remember that thorns in the flesh are given by God. They are a gift. They are a provision.
It is important to remember the intention of God, to keep us close to Him and to keep our realization of our need for Him in the forefront of our awareness.
"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8 He who has buried his own will completely in the will of the LORD can know no disappointment; but in every affair of his life he sees by faith Divine appointment or supervision, and hears the Word of the LORD in all of life's affairs assuring him, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." It is one of the evidences of reaching the graduation condition of heart, when we are able to take the oppositions of the great Adversary and of the world and of our own flesh patiently, uncomplainingly, unmurmuringly, "joyfully"—as a part of the disciplinary experience meted out to us by our all-wise and all-loving LORD. R2412! (Manna 7/3)
The focus needs to be on HIM: “I have set the LORD always before me,” not on the irritation or limitation.
To thank the Lord for our natural patterns and His intention to USE THEM for our growth frees us from resistance that blocks the ability to see the good in what our Heavenly Father is accomplishing within us.
Every irritation and limitation of our human nature, even a hard wiring to guilt is a gift of God, intended by God to train and mature us in Christ.
The first step in the re-wiring process is to thank the Lord for the thorn.
