Are You Helping Satan?

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
    has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
    before our God day and night.  Revelation 12:10

It is not secret that Satan accuses us. As the Bible says, he prowls about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). It is his desire to bring us down. In Revelation we are told that he accuses us before God day and night. Over and over again.

When I read this verse I wondered, Do I help him? Do I help Satan accuse my brothers and sisters by talking about them? Do I share stories that are not uplifting? Do I do it and stand behind a bunch of excuses that sound like there is a good reason for my sharing? I think sometimes we gossip or share things about others that we should not share and excuse ourselves with some trumped up guise that we think makes it alright.

The thought horrified me. The horrifying thought? That I am helping Satan in his battle against us by doing the same thing he is doing. Instead, I should be aligning myself with Christ and defending everyone against the lies that are being told.

There are three questions you can ask yourself before you repeat something about someone. The origins of these are disputed but the questions are excellent!

Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?

When I ask myself those questions before I speak, I've found that an awful lot is eliminated. It's a good reminder. I do not want to help Satan destroy any of God's kids.

The next verse in Revelation 12 says:

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
    and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
    that they were afraid to die.  (v 11)

Satan will be defeated by the blood of the Lamb first and our testimony second.  What will be your testimony? Will the words you speak reflect the Christ you know?

From Heart To Mouth

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
    for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
    for I give myself to you.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
    on a firm footing.
Psalm 143:8, 10 (NLT)

A few years ago my friend Denise and I went to spend a long weekend with another friend. She had a lot of things happening in her life that were creating a ton of stress and she needed to be kidnapped for a long weekend of girl time. Denise and I flew into town and she picked us up at the airport. We went back to her house, packed up the car and took off. As she drove us toward our destination, someone cut us off almost causing an accident. She moved her hand toward the windshield and said "Friend!"

Denise and I started laughing and making jokes about how that may not have been the "F" word we chose to use in a time like that. But that is her nature. She is probably one of the sweetest people I know. Made me wonder how you get to the point that you say "Friend" to someone who truly irritates you instead of other choice words.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with her a year or so before the "Friend" incident. One day we were talking and the subject came up about someone who had hurt her. As we started to talk she said "I really shouldn't comment on this because I haven't spent my time with God yet." And there you have it. Each day, she put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6). The covering that seeps into your thoughts and emotions so when things don't go just the way you want them to, it is God that comes through, not you. 

That's what I want. I want to hear him first thing - to hear of the unfailing love that saved me - to talk about his plans for the day and to follow where he leads. I want to put on the armor that reminds me even when things don't go right, I am covered. And most of all, I want a heart that calls someone who really ticks me off, "Friend."

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

Shhhh, Don't Say A Word

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)

A few years ago I was having some personal difficulties with someone. If I am to be honest in my feelings, this person was just downright mean. He said mean things and was about the business of shaming people. Not only that, he was in a leadership position in an organization where I volunteered. Man, did I want to give him a piece of my mind. Not only that, many other people wanted to share pieces of their mind as well. His behavior was toxic and was causing the organization to flounder.

I prayed and prayed asking God how I should address this. Could I tell him off? Could I share how hurtful he was? Could I let him have a piece of my mind? God only ever responded with one word "Mercy." Oh come on! Seriously? But the response every time I prayed was the same "Mercy." To be honest, I wasn't totally sure what "Mercy" meant but I did know I was being told to do nothing. What was super hard was when other folks came and said "What are we going to do? We should report him! We should do something!" I had to share what God said and I had to do nothing. I couldn't get on the bandwagon.

Recently I discovered what mercy actually means. I was reading something (sorry, I don't remember what it was) and it said that grace is getting something you don't deserve and mercy is not getting what you do deserve. I remembered this story and wondered why God wouldn't give this person what they deserved. And then it hit me, he does that with me every day.

Every day he extends grace and mercy to this soul who doesn't deserve either. Every day he overlooks my behavior and my not so kosher thoughts and shows me mercy. When I processed this, my heart overflowed with gratitude.

God is always about growing us and others. As I look back on this situation I am really thankful I didn't say anything. It wouldn't have changed a thing (honestly) but it did allow me to show God's love with my words (or lack thereof). No matter how I feel about someone's behavior, that is always the most important thing.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19 (NIV)