Saturday, October 10, 2020

"Gaslighted"

 Reflections4LifeTM October 11, 2020

“Gaslighted”
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2 MSG
Scripture Contemplation: 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 7; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 4

*Note: Gas-lighting or gaslighting is a form of mental abuse in which information is twisted or spun, selectively omitted to favor the abuser, or false information is presented with the intent of making victims doubt their own memory, perception, and sanity.
I pray today’s Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. Though you may face some uncertain times in your life, be assured of the love and protection that God our Father has for you. Yield to His touch. Heed His call. Run into His outstretched arms. There is safety in the arms of God.
Beloved, there is a reason God tells us that the battle is not ours but His. If there is one thing we must come to understand is that we are no match for the enemy of our souls in one on one combat. For he has been around a long time and it is his number one goal to defeat and destroy not only who we are, but our relationships; especially our relationship with God. The enemy would love nothing less than for us to be separated from our Heavenly Father and not reach the promised destination that Christ has assured us.
We have been gaslighted by the enemy. We have been manipulated, lied to, and made to question what we believe; even as far as making us doubt our perceptions and sanity—filling us with doubt, fear, and eventually unbelief.
The enemy is crafty in his tactics. Using those we love against us. Using people to cause havoc in our lives. Even using those in leadership. This is why some people are toxic to our lives. Be it family, friend, or foe. Sometimes they are not even aware they are being used, and sometimes they are well aware of their actions.
When you are in a relationship and start to question your own sanity, things just are not adding up and you continue to see a pattern in circumstances and situations, you need to take a step back and listen; really listen to what God most likely has been trying to tell you for the longest time.
The enemy has one purpose for us beloved: to steal, kill, and destroy. And he has no qualms about who he uses to get it done. For this reason alone, our prayer life, our intimate time with God must be consistent and frequent. We must build our relationship with the Father that we know His voice. That we come to understand His ways. That we develop our spiritual gifts of discernment.
God's purpose for us trumps the enemy's plots and plans. God has given us power and authority over the enemy. The power and authority to shut down the enemy's camp. To stop him in his manipulating plots and ploys to destroy our lives and relationships.
Beloved, you deserve all that God has ordained for you. Too many have given their heart and love to those who did not deserve it, only to leave them with hardened hearts, broken spirits, no trust in God, and even some with their life taken. The enemy would love nothing more than to destroy who you are. To claim your life. But guess what? Greater is He in you than he that is in this world.
My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you.  Pray about everything, beloved. Seek God's face always. Allow God to develop that gift of a discerning spirit so that you may recognize the tactics of the enemy. And know: you do not have to remain a victim of the enemy's manipulation when God has declared and set you free. Move on from the past and grab onto what God has for you right now. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

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