July 17th Devotion

Wreck the Devil’s Plan for Your Life
By Kelly Balarie


“(Love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Cor. 13:7

Does this person even want to have a relationship with me? I wondered that as I stared at my text message. I had sent them an audio recording from my heart. I got back a few words via text message. A week later, wanting to stay in relationship, I sent another text message. It took days until I heard back from them. Could they be upset at me? Could they be angry? Maybe they didn’t like me anymore… Thoughts of what-if and oh-no went through my head.

Ever been there? What do we do when we don’t know what someone else is thinking? Do we just assume what is going through their head? Do we make up a story in our mind as to what is going on with them?

Friends, I have done both things, for sure. And, I have also ended and wrecked relationships. Building a story so big and so detailed in my mind, I have convinced myself that the person is doing this because of that and I blow everything up. But were they even doing that, or did I just assume some wild conspiracy in my mind?

Assumptions and presumptions lead to destruction. Destruction is the devil’s plan for your life. At the same time, hard conversations forge enduring connections. Asking questions and seeking to understand open doorways of greater intimacy and trust (if we take the risk) For instance, I can ask my friend who didn’t text me a lot, “I was wondering, did I do anything to upset you?” They may answer, “No. I have been traveling outside the country for two weeks and didn’t have much internet access.”

Knowledge is power. Many times, when it comes to the unknown, we create mental stories. Half the time, these stories are wrong. The other half of the time, people may have a good reason for acting the way they do. They may be in their own process with God. We don’t have to believe the worst when we hit road bumps in relationships, we can extend people the benefit of the doubt and choose to believe the best.

Remember, there are no perfect relationships, just growing ones. Just as we want others to believe the best about us, we are wise to believe the best about others. Doing this, destroys the all the enemy’s schemes to wreck love and relational connection.

“(Love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Cor. 13:7

God is love. Against love the devil has no stand.
Posted in

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2024

Categories

Tags

10 nations 5th bowl judgment 6th Bowl Anxiety Armageddon Attributes of God Autism Battles Battle Be on Guard Be still Bearing with one another Being Still Bible Blessing God Bowl Judgment #2 Bow Busyness Christmas Comfort Coming of Jesus Contentment Content Courage Crown of righteousness Directing our paths Disappointment Discipleship Earthquakes Easter Encouragement End times Eric Lidell Eternity Evil Exemplary prayer Faith over fear Faith wavers Faithful with Litlle Feeding the Fire Fellowship with God Free Generosity Giants Gideon Giving thanks God at work God in our midst God is working God's Help God's Holiness God's Involvment God's Timing God's Whispers God's call on your life God's delays God's direction God's pleasure God's will Grattitude Guarding our words Hearing from God Heart of Service Heart of the problem Hidden Blessings His Love Hope If Only Incomparable Word Jesus' Kingdom Jesus' return Jesus Lightning Listen for His voice Listening Little by little Living godly Love Loving God's word Moments More Need New Covenant Not Looking back Obstacles One world religion People Persistence in prayer Pour in spirit Power Praise Praising God Pray without ceasing Prayer life Prayer Pray Progress Protection Proverbs Purpose Rainbows Reading the bible Reason Redemption Rejoicing Rock Self-Focus Serviing Setbacks Shepherd Singing Spiritual Vitamins Standing tall Stepping out Still on the throne Striving Thank God Thankfulness The Good News The Prize The Tongue The Word The gift Thunder Time with God Trumpet Two witnesses Vision Waiting patiently Waterfall Weak Weary Soul Wisdom Worry Worship You matter Your race all together antichrist assumptions balancing things best laid plans blessings coming of the Lord continuing in sin daily bible study darkness delight in the word of God delight distractions doubt drinking water endurance everyday faith family breakdown fear forest for the trees godlessness godliness godly life good times grace growing up grumbling hard times hearts towards heaven heat joy kings of the east knowledge lasting Covenant living for Jesus longing for God loving one another make a way mark of the beast miracles missing names of God needing Answers nothing goes right patience peace pleasing God prepared provision rapture relationships running searing seas turned to blood season set example setting out sing unto the Lord sin spend time with Jesus sunburn thanksgiving thanksgivi thought life trusting God two-witnesses unanswered prayers understanding unfulfilled desires waiting walk faithfully walk in the light walk with God walking with God want water to blood waver in prayers weapon white horse willingness word of God world chaos yes to God