Friday, June 30, 2023

The Phone Conversation From Hell

I knew a lady who talked so fast and so long that she forced others to be seemingly rude in order to be able to leave a conversation.
One time a friend of mine got a call from this woman and tried to tell her that her "soap-opera" was coming on and she had to go.
The woman acted like she didn't hear her at all and continued talking. So my friend put down the receiver next to the base and went off for an hour to watch her soap. When my friend came back to the receiver. The woman on the other end was still talking and didn't even know she had been gone.
This is common for narcissists to see a body standing right in front of them but have no acknowledgment that the body is a person and not an object.
When an entire culture views everyone as objects to be used it will become deeply unconcerned about its fellow man.
The devil will use people in our lives to cause frustration, his arrows are flying on overdrive to discredit and anger the born-again believers, we cannot allow him to do this.
When we encounter the devil's arrows we can remain calm, even see the sense of humor in it while faithful to the fruit of the Spirit Who lives in us. Our clear conscience is far more important than what anyone does to us.
Let's not treat the narcissist the way they treat us, let's frustrate the devil by deflecting his arrows through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:11-18
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints'"
1 Peter 5:8-10
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

Loving God is Protection to Those Who Love Him

For those who think God's ways are "restrictive."