The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)
Pretension- Can be a claim made that is not supported by factual information. It can be a mindset sent to deceive or destroy the things that you know to be true.
The Past is Over
I was thinking this week about how life can load us down with things that keep us from keep us from fully thriving. One of the ways that happens is when it feels like the past is desperately trying to creep into the present. It may not necessarily be our sins, they try to creep sometimes too, but the things that we have already put behind us. It could be those bad choices, unhealthy relationships, or even old family drama. It is one of the tools of satan to keep us from progressing in life. He tries to resurface old issues and even our own old behavior patterns that we have already been healed and delivered from. They are DISTRACTIONS.
Just like that definition says, it is not factual information. It is not that we are in denial that those issues were real, but they are out of place now. In the past they may have been real struggles, but in the present they are false pretenses. I am not her anymore, you are not him. We are new in Christ. The scripture talks about casting down those high things that come against our knowledge of God, and that includes the awareness of who we are in God.
What are High Things?
I have found there are so many ways in which the enemy assaults our liberty.
- Relationships that take you out of the will of God, and cause you to live in a way that is against your own beliefs of what is wrong or right.
- Endless grieving over the loss of someone either in death or the end of a relationship. It sets up a lie in your mind that you can never heal or move forward without them. Grieving has an end date, and healing should happen. It makes their place in your life bigger than God.
- The attack on your identity. If you constantly hear the thoughts in your head that say you aren’t good enough, smart enough, you are worthless, unlovable, that you are a failure, and that God can never use you then you are hearing lies. Those are the thoughts that you have to take captive.
These are all high things that need to come down.
Setting the Record Straight
What do you do when you see that your past is hunting you down? Run? Hide? Surrender to shame? I think not! Here are a few things to consider:
- Today’s current problems are not God’s way of punishing you for past sins. Condemnation doesn’t come from God, forgiveness does. When we confess, He forgives.
- You can’t endorse old sins, bad behaviors, and unproductive relationships and expect to stay free from your past. When God sets us free we have to walk in that liberty. Recognize when you find patterns resurfacing in your life that God has set you free from. Confess according to Amos 3:3 that you won’t walk in agreement with any spirit that is not of God. Put on the whole armor daily.
- Be proactive about your spiritual growth. Get connected to strong Christians. The body of Christ is one of your greatest resources. If you are going through a tough time, someone else has been where you are and can offer prayer and spiritual support. Never allow a situation to make you become isolated. There is power in agreement.
- Never let the shame of your past abort the greatness of your present. Your life is in God’s hands. He isn’t shocked by anything and chose us even with our past. However, if we stay bound in the past we can’t embrace the greatness of our present. We are who God says we are. We can do and become all that God says we can.
As you recognize those cunning high things, cast them down in Jesus name. Receive and walk in the liberty God has for your life.
♥Liz