SPIRITUAL WARFARE ~ Abandonment Example

One of Satan's tactics to hurt God is to try to distance us from God, he can try to steal God's gifts to us here on earth of peace and joy, by keeping us busy...too busy for God. Satan watches us from day 1. He listens to us. He knows our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities. He doesn't really have to DO anything, all he has to do is orchestrate the smallest of scenarios in our life and because of our past hurts, we react and "run with it". Satan doesn't have to do much, we help him plenty.

One example is, if I feel a certain way, is that a truth? If I feel abandoned, am I? So I "feel" estranged from someone I care about, the actions involved appear to point towards being left hanging or abandoned. Oh, no, I don't have all of the facts, I don't have context, I don't know exactly why I'm not hearing from this person. Nope not at all, I'm basing it on a feeling and conclusions that I'm drawing from my past.  In fact, nothing is factual, except for the fact that I haven't heard from them in awhile...

• I happen to know that they have a lot going on and that they are busy
• My "rationale" (based on "logic" and past history) says that if I mean what I think I do, to that person, then we would have talked by now
• However, they are in transition, I don't know the mailing address, they may not be online, they may have gotten a new cell phone and not have access to the old numbers, and they may honestly be really busy
• I do know that this person doesn't do things to hurt others intentionally
• I do know that this person has a lot of personal things to deal with at this time

My history says that other people have left me hanging with no closure, no ending, no goodbye and that this points towards that end and I should treat it as a similar situation. If I act on this feeling based on my experience, that would mean me being upset, having no peace, feeling hurt, feeling devalued, feeling rejected and basically unwanted....if I were to go down that road, of course.

That is Satan trying to reel in my emotions with his lies. Why?

Because, you see, I am NOT EVER abandoned because God says he will never leave me.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”      ~ Matthew 28:20 (New Living Translation)

And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. [a]” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:18 (New Living Translation)

No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. ~John 14:18 (New Living Translation)

[Jesus Speaking] You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.                    ~ John 15:16 (New Living Translation)

That is the truth. If that is the truth then the idea that I could ever be abandoned is a lie. I have fallen prey to it because of how I have defined things that have happened in my life. It is a vulnerable area for me that Satan preys on. He simply orchestrates circumstances that have the "appearance" of something I am fearful of and that has hurt me in the past and my reaction is to put up walls, self-protection, and in believing the lie, I close off opportunities for good things to happen in my life.

Whereas, if I stay focused on the Truth, despite what lies are laid before me, and if I speak the truth, focus on the truth, believe the truth and place my hope in the truth, then I can see through the lies.

That is why it is so important to read God's Word, to be familiar with it, to know it, to commit it to memory, to imprint it on your mind and on your heart... For when you find yourself in a tough situation, the Holy Spirit will pull that scripture up from the depths of your soul and to the forefront of your mind to remind you of the Truths that you believe. It is your greatest weapon in moments of weakness or struggle...and it is provided by God. Because He knows we need weapons against this spiritual enemy.

Spiritual warfare is a real war. If you don't acknowledge that the enemy exists and you don't know his tactics and stategies AND you don't have the proper weapons to fight back (or even realize that you CAN fight back), then you are the easist of targets for Satan.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.   ~ 1 Peter 5:8

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.      ~ Ephesians 6:12

Keep the faith, stay alert, know the Truth, and don't let the GREAT DECEIVER, deceive YOU.