Christian Living

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SATAN’S SECRET WEAPON, EMOTIONAL ABUSE
© 2007

Frances Loftiss Carroll
July 28, 2007


Every 9 seconds a woman is battered in the United States. Domestic violence is the single major cause of injury to women and it is spreading. In 60% of reported cases people say that abuse is happening in the home on a routine basis. My point, the devil is having a field day, in our homes, our families and in our land by hurting and devastating people that God deems as people of value. So what does this have to do with being a Christian and our lives you ask? What if we continue to believe Satan’s lies and allow him to tear apart our self-esteem? That’s of no interest to God, or is it? Does God really care about the emotional abuse some of us have carried around with us most of a lifetime? Yes, He does!

First and foremost, you unquestionably must grasp that GOD does NOT want you to be abused by ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANY TIME! God created us distinctively and completely unique and no person has the right to exploit us emotionally, physically or spiritually. God wishes us to display the difference he makes in our life of faith while the devil manufactures lies to convince us that we are nothing, nobody, and worthless to be accepted by others as we are. We are, he would tell us, nobody’s and nobody cares about us. And we believe his story and his lies continue to build seeking to destroy us so we will not know God. But that’s not in God’s plan for us. Lies are one of Satan’s most functional tools, if only he can destroy the human spirit, the rest will soon follow along shortly if they fail to have faith in the Lord.

The devil does this because he knows that among the most compelling witnesses any person can hear is the plain testimony of a person who has had their life and heart changed by that special relationship only Jesus can offer; eternal life.

If the devil can damage what we say, and demolish our self-esteem then he can make us less effective “witnesses” or “tellers” of the blessings that only the Lord can give. And, this is the way most people come to know Christ, is through someone else’s having come to know Christ.

What I am talking is the emotional abuse issues that blanket many of us 24 hours a day. We are afraid of life because we have emotional and mental issues that must be dealt with as we become more centered on the Lord than we are ourselves. We become dedicated to Christ and it is He who can give stability to everything in life. I am concerned that this problem is more serious than any of us grasp.

Our emotional stability starts in early childhood, and how we deal with much of life is learned early on. Misdirected emotions causing hurt and pain will influence us for an indefinite period of time, or at least until we face up to who should lead our life and our ways. It is a problem less recognized than most of us think, as we have not understood that God’s leading is better than the devil’s misdirecting us into all sorts of problems and setbacks.

Putting down people is a way of gaining power and control over them. Ever been told as a kid, “You’ve got big ears?” “You dress funny. You’re ugly? I think you are fat. I’m better than you are. I don’t like you and I won’t invite you to my party or you’re trash! I don’t like you or love you. I wish you would die. You are a mistake and a burden. I hate you!”

Those are some of the ever so cunning stabs thrown at damaging a person’s character that may be thrown in our face. The enemy seeks to make us less useful persons by using put-downs and in the eyes of our intimidators “put-downs” makes them think more highly of themselves because they hurt control us with their bully behavior. This behavior can be picked up by anyone and yet another abuser may enter our life as we grow and move into various stages of life.

Please understand that not all people respond to words and actions in the same way. You might say something to me and I take it highly personal or find it deeply condemning, yes, even cruel to my spirit and my way of thinking. Or you may say the same thing to my sibling and he may not think a thing of it. All of us are different and we are all in need of understanding of how Satan chips away at our weaknesses. If he can hurt us enough we may not seek God because we feel we have no importance to anyone, let alone to God.

Several times, within the last few months a childhood friend has said, “I never knew that about you. I never knew that about you. You always seemed to be okay. You were always so serious, now I know why. I never knew you were treated like that at home…” People don’t or won’t talk about low self-esteem and emotional issues very much but I have begun seeing this more and more as people frequently turn down the opportunity to work within the church.

Christians, we are the walking wounded but our wounds are not fatal when we seek God’s help to gain healing from our injuries. Many of us think we can do nothing that will be helpful in God’s work because we feel so poorly about ourselves. “I can’t. I don’t know how to…” I never…I have no talent…I can’t teach…I’m no good at…”

Do you think that God doesn’t know what you are capable of doing with your abilities and talents? Satan knows that too and that’s why there are so many fights to bamboozle you and make you think you “can’t” help at church when you “can” do something priceless for the church and the community.

Do you think God is pleased with you being bullied by His and our enemy the devil? NO! He is not! He wants us to get over being deceived and get on with life so we can achieve more spiritual potential and grow in faith. We must stop being “bullied” by negative influences and see our lives, as God’s desires us to be seen. We must be helping, caring, serving, reaching out past what we feel about ourselves knowing that God has and will train us to do those things that we are called upon to for Him. No wonder we feel so spiritually drained. No wonder we are so dry and withering, lifeless spirits, we have believed the devil and not believed God!

The LORD WILL teach you and disclose to you how to do things His ways. Simply follow the direction of the Holy Spirit and say “yes” when the Lord calls you to service. You must move out in faith. The Lord knows how “you can” teach the children in church and should you need help “ASK” for it, there are people willing and ready to help and assist you. There are no excuses for ignoring the call to Christian service but there are just a lot of people unwilling to submit to what God wants them to do due to personal fears. So quit being misled by Satan’s idiotic lies. The Devil is doing a really good job of taking away the joy of a lot of Christians due to inflated fears and low self-esteem. He has whispered into our ears a chain of lies that may make us think we are insufficient to do anything in the church or community. And we fall for it! STOP IT!

Reader, if you don’t step up and make a changes in life and a failing society, who will. If you don’t say, “Satan, I know you are a phony and I believe God,” then you will keep letting the “worse bully of all” restrict your every move and stall your faith.

Don’t miss what the Lord wants you to be because the spirit of failure lurks within your heart. God won’t disappoint you. He NEVER disappoints those who follow Him. I promise and He promises.

The way to find real purpose in life is to stop let God make you well and whole and to let Him lead you down the path of life.

Allow God to increase a new godly self-esteem in everything you say and do. This joy is yours by making a genuine commitment to really follow God 24- 7. It’s time to remove the emotional abuse from of your mind and heart and be renewed in your walk with Christ.

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