“We’ve already moved twice since my father died. I’m trying not to focus on the fact that he’s not going to be around to celebrate me turning six. I recognize that there wont be the usual big celebration today. Daddy’s not coming around bringing balloons and a yellow cake and a new jewelry box with a dancing ballerina inside it. Time for my birthday party passes and the slow-mounting disappointment becomes a gut punch when I realize nobody’s going to show up.
When the knock on the door comes, it definitely surprises Mom and me. It’s a young girl named Anita who holds a pair of Hershey’s chocolate bars tied together with a red ribbon typically used for hair…
We proceed with our party even though its quite a bit smaller than planned. Later that night, in the darkness of my bedroom, I’m troubled by a notion that’s been swirling around me since my father died.
Somethings wrong with me. Only one person came to my party….
Instead of having my father lifting me off my feet and stirring my heart, I now feel stuck in this silence. I carry around a belief that fundamentally tells me I’m flawed and not worth being celebrated. And there’s nothing I can do about it.
If only Daddy could come back and tell me I’m wrong. Instead, the next few years will only reinforce this deep-rooted belief, time and time again.”
-Something Greater, Paula White-Cain
We know that only God is omniscient, knowing and seeing everything, and that only God is omnipresent, being present everywhere at the same time, and only God is omnipotent – all-powerful. However, because Satan and his forces no longer have their place in heaven (Revelation 12:7-12), he wanders to and fro on the earth and in the heavenlies (Job 1:7, Job 2:2), and he is not just sitting idle.
The enemy of your soul will try to send something into your life when you are 5 to keep you messed up until you are 85. The enemy of your soul is not flying by the seat of his pants, looking for opportunities to give you a bad day. If we want to understand life’s most painful, deeply wounding experiences, we can’t be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
The forces of darkness are methodical – Satan and his demons plan evil schemes on different levels, organize the execution of these plans, and send out soldiers to make them happen – the same way a king plans a war, delegates power to ranking officials, and these officials command soldiers of different kinds for warfare. So, even though the forces of darkness are in no way omniscient, omnipresent or omnipotent, they have observed certain things taking place on earth and in the heavenlies.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 (NASB)
The enemy’s forces, resources and time are limited and inferior to God’s power and manifold wisdom. Remember that when Satan was cast out of heaven, only 1/3 of the angels followed him (Rev 12:4), losing their places and changing irrevocably into an evil entity under Satan’s command. Since these forces, resources and time are so limited and inferior, the enemy knows he has to be strategic. Resources, plans and time cannot be wasted.
The “something” the enemy sends to pierce your soul at an early age is not just a coincidence. What message has the traumatic events of your life sent to you? What is the lie that the enemy of your soul has tried to perpetuate in your life? We have to face the traumatic events of our lives and identify the mental and emotional strongholds that the enemy has tried – and many times succeeded – to create in our minds and hearts, so that we can take the Word of God and allow the Word of God to disintegrate the lies embedded like swords deep in our psyche.
The message that you are flawed, that you are garbage, that you are not worthy, that you are not good enough, that no one will ever love you – it is strategic. The perpetual message designed to cripple you is part of a bigger plan. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe that you are worthless, unloved, forgotten and rejected, because you’re marked by God. If you ever found out who you really were, you would be a threat, capable of dismantling plans, tearing down strongholds and being a beacon of Gods truth! If you ever found out who you really are in Christ – you would be something to strike fear in the enemy’s heart. Stand up and find out who you really are in the name of Jesus!
You are His creation, created in His image and likeness, called to do good works that He pre-destined for you to do (Ephesians 2:10) You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14), which means you were created with a sense of awe and respect, and God made you completely unique and different from anyone else on the face of the earth. There is only one you, with your set of personality, attributes, gifts and talents. Can one person change anything? Can one person make a difference? You know the answer!
Father, in the name of Jesus, please show me the lies that the enemy has tried to sow in my heart about my identity. Show me who You really created me to be and open my eyes to Your plan. Help me forgive those people who hurt me, made me feel rejected, ridiculed and alone, and who abandoned me. Release Your love and forgiveness in my heart towards [name], [name] and [name]. I release them, and I pray the Word of God over them and over myself. I cancel every negative word I have spoken over myself and over them in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, please be with me and reveal to me where I’ve accepted any lies about my identity in Christ, and show me the truth of who You are. Pour Your love into my heart so that it overflows, and let Your rivers of living water flow from me to touch others. I start over today as the person You created me to be, and not anyone else. Thank You, God, for the gift of life. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
