I have a two year old. And like most two year olds, she believes that she is the master of her universe. Her vocabulary is littered with "Flower do it" and "no me" and "mine." As she asserts her independence she is certain that her decisions are the best and everyone else's, especially Mommy's, need to be discarded. And although she is absolutely adorable in declaring herself the center of the universe, she is wrong. My job as her parent is to guide her to an understanding of her proper place and lead her to follow authority in her life--both from her earthly parents and from her heavenly God. It would be easier to let her do her own thing, but her future would look pretty bleak.
"Satan's ultimate lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life, and his ultimate bondage is getting you to live as though his lie is truth."
~ Neil Anderson ~
So often I am like a two year old. I begin to believe that I am the center of the universe. I take my own advice, buy my own publicity, go my own path. I act as if my decisions are best, and all other decisions, especially God's, can be discarded. But Satan is not a good parent. He has no interest in curbing that selifishness that makes me my god. (god=who I place as the centering point of my life to worship and follow (Mipa's definition)) In fact, his goal is just the opposite. He cheers me on. He fuels the flames. He tells me that, indeed, my decisions are best and God's are not for my interest. Satan lies to me until I buy the whole deal: I'm god/center of my world and God is not. Then he backs away, leaving me to live the bleak future that I have created in my own power. Because once my eyes are totally on me and not on God, I have no future and I am no threat. And that is living in bondage.
Instead of believing Satan's lies, may we trust God's faithfulness:
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Today's In Other Words is being hosted by Christine at Fruit in Season. Please join us!
13 comments:
Satan does fuel the flames and delights when the fire rages out of control. I love your analogy to your two-year-old. So true!
So true! We do share the same perspective as a two-year old.
Great post!
I love the way you contrast God and Satan as parents. That's a great way to make your point!
Thanks for being part of IOW today!
I can so relate to the 2 yr old view! way too true!
I so agree with you, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I love the way you've connected this to the view of a 2-year old. Well done, Mipa!
Using your 2 year old is so good because that's exactly how we act with God.
Thanks for sharing
Blessings
I love what you said about Satan cheering you on fanning the flames. It is so true. I think Satan also works through others around us who cheer us on in our search to get enough "me time" or who encourage us to "take care of our own needs". Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer
"Because once my eyes are totally on me and not on God, I have no future and I am no threat. And that is living in bondage."
That is the worst kind of bondage that you can be in, too. If he can just get us to focus on ourselves, then he has sprung the trap. Thanks for reminding me! Blessings!
amen, and well said.
"Instead of believing Satan's lies, may we trust God's faithfulness"
YES!! This was so good. I love, love, love that verse from 1 Thess. What a blessing to read it today. Thanks you for such a great post.
Wow! Great post!
Great post! Isn't parenting a wonderful visual in showing us where we need work in our submission to God?
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